Richard III

1483 - 1485

aka Richard Crookback

Richard was small and lacked physical strength but he was nonetheless brave in battle. He led the York army at both the Battle of Barnet and Tewkesbury. Lacking the charisma of his older brother Edward IV, to whom he was devoted, Richard shunned the frivolity of life at Court. He was considered handsome, ruthless and ambitious. He showed no qualms in executing dissenters. Even the deaths of his own brother George, Duke of Clarence and two young nephews are attributed to him.

Richard’s early life was spent in Yorkshire. He was under the protection of Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick, along with his brothers Edward and George. In 1461, with Nevllle’s support, Edward deposed Henry VI and became King Edward IV. On becoming king, Edward gave Richard the title Duke of Gloucester while he was just a boy. Richard proved to be a loyal brother to the new king. He even accompanied him into exile in 1470 after he had fallen from Neville’s favour. Edward had refused to marry the woman Neville had chosen for him. In retaliation, and in a spectular display of disloyalty, Neville worked against Edward and helped restore Henry VI to the throne.

On returning from exile in 1471, Richard and Edward defeated and killed Neville at the Battle of Barnet. Three weeks later Henry VI’s heir died at the Battle of Tewkesbury. This firmly secured the crown for Edward. The following year 19 year old Richard married Anne Neville, the 15 year old widow of Prince Edward and daughter of Warwick. Richard had grown up at Middleham Castle, under Anne’s father’s protection. It was a financially advantageous match for him but harder to understand for Anne. After all, Richard had been involved in the death of her first husband.

All this time Richard was loyal to his brother Edward. His brother George, Duke of Clarence, however was not. He joined Neville’s side against Richard and Edward. While Edward appeared to forgive George over time, he never lost all suspicion of him. George was eventually charged as a traitor and killed at the Tower of London. Richard is said, along with Edward, to have been behind his murder.

On Edward IV’s death, Richard became Lord Protector. Edward had wanted his brother to protect his son, Edward V, and his interests. However Richard’s ally, Lord Hastings, warned him that Edward V’s mother was plotting against him. Elizabeth Woodville was a powerful figure due to her husband’s favouritism. She wanted her son crowned quickly to reduce Richard’s influence. Richard swiftly accused Edward’s uncle, Earl Rivers, and half-brother Sir Richard Grey of treason and had them executed. Elizabeth Woodville took refuge at Westminster Abbey while the young Prince Edward was taken to royal apartments within the Tower. Very shortly afterwards the Bishop of Bath claimed that Edward IV and Elizabeth’s marriage had been illegal. It was claimed that Edward had been betrothed to Lady Eleanor Butler before his marriage. Parliament declared Edward IV’s marriage to Elizabeth Woodville invalid and their children illegitimate. Edward was duly deposed in favour of Richard.

Two months later, Prince Edward and his younger brother Richard disappeared from view. Sightings of them playing in the inner gardens of the Tower ceased. Richard’s popularlty with his subjects was low. He was believed to be responsible for the princes’ disappearance. Henry Tudor, Earl of Richmond, led a rebellion in the south of England and staked a lancastrian claim to the throne. He was joined by Richard’s former ally, Henry Stafford, Duke of Buckingham. Richard routed the rebels and executed Stafford. Henry Tudor took refuge in Brittany while his support back home grew.

Two years later Henry landed at Milford Haven with French mercenaries to add to his English support. Richmond marched into England, to growing support. On the 22nd August, 1485, Richmond and Richard’s armies met at the Battle of Bosworth. Progress on either side was slow. Eventually Richard spotted his opportunity. He saw Richmond with a small entourage and charged towards him. He cut down Henry Tudor’s flag, clearly identifiable as the King by the crown on his head. While he was undoubtedly a skilful and brave warrior, he misjudged the boggy ground and found himself surrounded by Richmond’s men. Rather than retreating, he stood his ground and fought for his life. After his death, his crown was found hanging from a hawthorn tree. His muddy, bloody and naked body was strung from a pole and paraded through the streets of Leicester.

Sir Thomas More wrote a biography on Richard III during the reign of Henry VIII. Richard was depicted as the greatest villain of all time. More alleged that Richard III was a hunchback, with a withered leg that he dragged behind him. It was even said that he was born with a full set of teeth. It has since been acknowledged that this image of Richard is less than accurate. It is presumed to justify Henry’s usurpation of Richard’s crown. Shakespeare also depicted Richard III as a cruel, hunchbacked tyrant. The biggest baddy of all time and undoubtedly responsible for the death of the Princes in the Tower. Shakespeare was writing during the reign of Elizabeth I, a Tudor queen. Once again, it is alleged that Richard was vilified to justify Henry’s actions.

Richard III Factfile