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Richard III, the Princes in the Tower and Bosworth
Edward IV's Queen, Elizabeth, had seven children - her two sons were aged 12 and nine in 1483 when the King was suddenly struck down by an illness and died. Richard of Gloucester, the King's brother became Protector. Richard put the Princes in the Tower and set about invalidating Edward's marriage to Elizabeth thereby proving his right to the throne was greater than theirs. He executed or exiled their supporters. Parliament accepted Richard III as their King. The new King's first task was to murder the Princes.
The murder of the Princes outraged the people and the Duke of Buckingham conspired with the Countess of Richmond to put her son, Henry Tudor, the Earl of Richmond on the throne. Buckingham paid with his head.
In 1484 Richard III's only son died and Henry Tudor became the rival claimant and successor to the throne. In 1485 Richard marched against him and lost the battle of Bosworth and his life.
Richard III |
RICHARD III (1452-1485) - King of England 1483-1485)
- The fourth son of Richard of York
- Created Duke of Gloucester in 1461
- Remained loyal to his elder brother Edward IV
- Married Anne Neville
- In 1482 he led an army against the Scots and won the battle of Berwick
- After Edward's death in 1483 he was declared Protector of Edward V (elder of the Princes)
- On 26th June 1483 the boy was deposed and Richard was proclaimed King
- Edward V and his brother were imprisoned in the Tower of London and disappeared
- Lost many of his supporters who backed the Duke of Buckingham in his rebellion in October 1483
- Suppressed the revolt
- Richard's only son died in 1484 and Henry Tudor claimed he should be Richard's successor
- They met at the Battle of Bosworth, Richard died fighting
Richard III is said to have asked Sir James Tyrell to make sure the princes were murdered. Much of this evidence is based on Tyrell's confession while imprisoned in the Tower for a separate crime in Henry VII's reign. However, a strong body of historical opinion insists that Richard III was not responsible for the deaths and his reputation should be universally re-assessed.
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1471 | Edward IV lands in England, defeats Warwick at Barnet Imprisons Henry VI who is later murdered
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1483 | Edward IV dies Edward V, King of England Richard of Gloucester imprisons Edward V and his brother in the Tower where they disappear
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1483 | Richard III declared king of England
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1485 | Henry Tudor defeats and kills Richard III at Bosworth Crowned Henry VII, King of England
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1486 | Henry VII marries Elizabeth of York
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