Richard III is the most controversial King ever to sit upon the throne of England. His reign the most contentious and argued about in the history of the Monarchy. Yet it lasted barely three years. Demonised in both literature and art he was also the only Monarch to have appreciation societies established around the World ready to rush to his defence. Why?

Richard III

Richard Plantagenet, a son of York, and the future Duke of Gloucester was born at Fotheringay Castle (the future prison of Mary Queen of Scots) on 2 October, 1452. He was a sickly child and was not expected to live much beyond infancy. That he did was the result of a combination of tender care and good fortune. He grew to be a handsome young man. He was small of stature, dark, and contrary to popular belief, free of any physical deformity. It did not go unnoticed, however, just how dissimilar to his brother, the blond, 6′4 inch, athletic future King Edward IV he was. It had long been rumoured that Edward was illegitimate, the issue of a liaison between their mother and a French bowman. If this was so then Edward’s children, the so-called Princes in the Tower, would have been illegitimate also, and Richard would have been the rightful heir to the throne upon his brother’s death. Hence the rumours that were to sweep the country following Richard’s Coronation that he had had his young nephews killed; Rumours that have persisted ever since fuelled by the propaganda of the Elizabethan stage. Yet there is little evidence of Richard’s culpability other than Qui Bono (who benefits) and the Tudor’s benefited every bit as much as Richard, if not more so.

Richard had in fact been an attentive and kindly uncle. He had also been a loyal servant to his brother, Edward. He was an educated man and the well-thumbed, heavily notated books in his personal library show he took his learning seriously long after any formal schooling had finished. He was also devoutly religious but he never allowed his personal piety to interfere with his political life, consequently he rarely shrank from violence and upon ascending the throne was quick to dispose of his enemies. He was also implicated in the murder of his brother George, the Duke of Clarence, overseeing his drowning in a vat of wine, at the behest of his other brother, the King.

The Usurper

It was at the Battle of Bosworth Field on 21 August, 1485, that Richard was to meet his nemesis. Though his army was numerically superior to that of his opponent Henry Tudor on a scale of 2 to 1 his troops could not be relied upon. His legitimacy as King had never been recognised by the English people and he was suspected of having murdered his way to the throne. His reputation had also been blighted by so many years as his brother’s enforcer, and he had made many enemies in his name. Richard doubted that his army would fight for him. As the two protagonists faced one another on that sunny but wet morning the two armies of Lord Stanley and his brother William stood to one side. Together they outnumbered Richard’s force. Moreover, he knew they would betray him and would only come over to his side if he was seen to be winning. As a precaution he had taken Lord Stanley’s son as a hostage, so as to secure his fidelity. On hearing of this Stanley simply responded by saying “I have another”.

Displaying an unwillingness to kill the young Stanley despite being urged to do so, Richard began the battle aware that treachery was in the air. His army fared badly. Just 30 minutes into the battle, Lord Catesby rode up to the King declaring that all was lost and that he must flee while the road was still open. Richard, scanning the battlefield saw in the distance the Standard of the Red Dragon. He knew that it was there that he would find Henry Tudor. Taking just a few loyal Lords and knights of his personal household he resolved to charge into the heart of the enemy and kill the usurper in single combat. Waving a battleaxe high above his head he cut and slashed his way through the enemy as his own men fell around him. As he neared his prey he could see that the Stanley’s were attacking his army. Crying Treason! Treason! He was just yards from Henry, who recoiled in fear and had to be steadied by a knight, when he was unhorsed. With his men by now all dead, Richard fought on alone. On foot and surrounded by his enemies Richard fought ferociously before being cut down.

It was a gallant denouement. Even Henry Tudor’s official historian felt compelled to write:

“King Richard, alone, was killed fighting manfully in the thickest press of his enemies”

After his death Richard’s body was stripped and mutilated before being dragged around naked for everyone to see. The crown was found hanging from a thorn bush. Henry Tudor had usurped the throne. He had no real legitimate claim to the throne whatsoever. It was a fact that was to haunt him for the rest of his life.