RICHARD III: Monstrous or

Misunderstood?

Richard III’s Lifetime: The End of the “Middle Ages”

Richard III: born: 1452 reigned 1483-1485Key Events in European History:1453: The Fall of Constantinople to the Ottoman Turks (left: French depiction of the last siege of Constantinople)1454: The Wars of the Roses Begin1455: 1st Printing of the Gutenberg Bible1473: Lopo Goncalves Becomes 1st European Sailor to Cross the Equator1476: William Caxton introduces the Printing Press to England1485: The Battle of Bosworth Field andthe End of the Plantagenet Dynasty

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Richard’s Contemporaries: “Renaissance Men”

Ferdinand of Aragon (1452-1516)Isabella of Castile (1451-1504)

Christopher Columbus (1451-1506)

Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)

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The House of York:Richard III’s Place in the Plantagenet Dynasty

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“Richard Liveth Yet” Richard III’s Family“Sir, aftir the tyme of longebarynesse,/God first sent Anne, which signifyeth grace,/In token that at her hertis hevynesse/He as for barynesse would fro hem chace./Harry, Edward, and Edmonde, eche in his place/Succedid; and after tweyndoughters cam Elizabeth and Margaret, and aftir William. John aftir William nexte borne was,/Which bothe he passid to Goddis grace:/George was next, and after Thomas/Borne was, which sone aftir did pace/By the pathe of dethe into the heavenly place./Richard livethyet;but the last of alle/Was Ursula, to him God list calle.” –“A Dialogue between a Secular and a Friar” on the children of Richard of York and Cecily Neville

Richard III’s parents: Richard, Duke of York and Cecily Neville

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The Outbreak of the Wars of the Roses1452 – The future Richard III is born1453 – Hundred Years War ends with decisive English defeat. Henry VI becomes incapacitated due to mental illness1454 – Richard, Duke of York appointed Protector of the Realm1455 – Henry VI makes a partial recovery, Richard, Duke of York ceases to be Protector, 1st Battle of St. Albans begins Wars of the Roses – Richard of York seizes control of Henry VI1459 – Richard, Duke of York defeated by Lancastrians at Battle of Ludford Bridge, flees to Ireland, attainted as traitor. Wife Cecily and children, Margaret, George and Richard captured by Lancastrians but pardoned1460 – Richard of York invades England. Act of Accord makes Richard of York heir to Henry VIRichard and son Edmund are killed at the Battle of Wakefield an his sons George and future Richard III go into exile in Burgundy1461 – Edward IV becomes King following victory at Towton, future Richard III returns to court.

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Edward IV, Elizabeth Woodville and Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick, “the Kingmaker”

Edward IV, his queen Elizabeth Woodville and his chief advisor (and Richard III’s future father-in-law) Richard Neville

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Richard III’s Adolescence: The Neville Family

Warwick Castle

Middleham Castle

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Richard’s wife, Anne Neville

“The marriage of the Duke of Gloucester with Anne before-named was to take place, and he was to have such and so much of the earl's lands as should be agreed upon between them through the mediation of arbitrators; while all the rest were to remain in the possession of the Duke of Clarence“ – the Croyland ChronicleModern stained glass window depicting

Richard III and Anne Neville in Cardiff cathedral

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Richard as Duke of Gloucester “Loyalty Binds Me”

1472 – Richard creates the “Council of the North” for governing the North of England. 1475 – Richard fights alongside Edward IV in France1476 – Richard and Anne’s only child, Edward of Middleham is born1478 – George, Duke of Clarence is convicted of treason and executed, reputedly by drowning in a barrel of malmsey wine1482 – Richard achieves victories against the Scots on England’s northern border1483 – sudden death of Edward IV and accession of 12 year old Edward V.

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1483: The Year of 3 Kings: April 9: Edward IV dies.

April 11: Edward V (at Ludlow Castle in Wales) proclaimed King. April 20: Richard declared Lord Protector

April 29: Richard intercepts Edward V, arrests his guardian, Anthony Woodville

May 1: Elizabeth Woodville, her 5 daughters and 2nd son, Richard, Duke of York go into sanctuary in Westminster Abbey

May 4: Edward V and Richard arrive in London

June 5: Richard’s wife Anne Neville arrives in London

June 10: Richard writes to the city of York for military aid against the Woodvilles: ‘which have intended and daily doth intend to murder and utterly destroy us’

June 13: Edward IV’s closest friend Lord Hastings arrested and executed

June 16: Richard, Duke of York removed from sanctuary in Westminster Abbey and lodged with Edward V in the Tower of London

June 22: Edward V and his siblings proclaimed illegitimate due to a previous betrothal to Lady Eleanor Butler

June 25: Beheading of Anthony Woodville and other Woodville supporters

June 26: Richard asked to accept the throne by his council

July 6: Richard’s coronation then progress around England

July 13: Italian envoy Dominic Mancini: "I have seen many men burst forth into tears and lamentations when mention was made of him (Edward V) after his removal from men’s sight, and already there was a suspicion that he had been done away with. Whether, however, he has been done away with and by what manner of death, so far I have not at all discovered.“

July 15: The Duke of Buckingham becomes Constable of the Tower

September: Buckingham’s Rebellion Supports Henry Tudor, suggesting the Princes were believed dead

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The Princes in the Tower: Edward V and Richard of York

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The Suspects: Richard III (1452-1485)Royal Descent: Younger brother of the late Edward IV, uncle of Edward V. House of York descended from the 2nd&4th sons of Edward III

The Evidence: The confession of Sir James Tyrell during Henry VII’s reign. The rumours circulating among foreign diplomats of the period

The Motive: Removal of rival candidates to the throne

The Opportunity: As King of England, Richard had the power to decide the fate of the Princes

The Defense: Richard III had already discredited Edward V by declaring him illegitimate.

Historians Who Think Him Guilty: Rosemary Horrox, David Starkey, Alison Weir

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The Suspects: Henry Stafford, 2nd Duke of Buckingham (1455-1483)

Royal Descent: Descended from Edward III’s 5th

son, Thomas of Woodstock

The Evidence: Contemporary document stating that the Princes were killed on “the vise” of the Duke of Buckingham, French envoy’s remarks. Criticism of Richard III’s character coincides with Buckingham’s prominence

The Motive: Removing claimants to the throne before Buckingham’s rebellion of 1483

The Opportunity: Buckingham was appointed Constable of the Tower in the summer of 1483

The Defense: Buckingham’s remote place in the succession, the risk of acting alone

Historians Who Think Him Guilty: Paul Murray Kendall

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The Suspects: Henry VII (1457-1509)Royal Descent: Henry’s father, Edmund Tudor was a maternal half brother of Henry VI. Henry’s mother, Margaret Beaufort, was descended from Edward III’s 3rd

sonThe Evidence: Failure to explicitly accuse Richard or Buckingham, target of plots during his reign by Elizabeth WoodvilleThe Motive: After becoming king, Henry married Elizabeth of York and restored her legitimacy. The Princes had to be dead for their sister Elizabeth to be the senior Yorkist claimantThe Opportunity: Limited as he was based in France during Richard III’s reign but had prominent supporters in EnglandThe Defence: Lack of opportunity, never accused in any contemporary sourcesHistorians Who Think Him Guilty: Sir Clement Markham, author of "Richard III: A Doubtful Verdict Reviewed"

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The Death of Anne Neville & King’s Reputation

Elizabeth of York, Richard III’s niece

“[Already by Christmas 1484] it was said by many that the king was applying his mind in every way to contracting a marriage with [his niece] Elizabeth, either after the death of the queen or by means of a divorce for which he believed he had sufficient grounds. He saw no other way of confirming the crown and dispelling the hopes of his rival [Henry Tudor]. A few days later the queen began to be seriously ill and her sickness was then believed to have got worse and worse because the king himself was completely spurning his consort’s bed. Therefore he judged it right to consult with doctors…About the middle of the following March (1485)…Queen Anne died and was buried at Westminster…the king was compelled to make his excuses at length, saying that such a thing had never entered his mind…Shortly before Easter, therefore, the king, in the presence of the mayor at the citizens of London, in a clear loud voice, carried out fully the advice to make a denial of this kind – as many people believed, more by the will of these counsellors than his own.” – the Croyland Chronicle.

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Henry Tudor and Opposition to Richard III“[Henry Tudor, Earl of Richmond] was paid just enough money for the passage of 3 or 4000 men. The present king [of France, Charles VIII] gave those who were with him a large sum of money and some artillery. He was taken by ship from Normandy to land in his native Wales. King Richard marched to meet him, but the Earl of Richmond was joined by Lord Stanley, and English knight and husband of the earl’s mother, with reinforcements numbering more than 26,000 men. A battle was fought. King Richard was killed on the battlefield and the Earl of Richmond was crowned King of England on the field with Richard’s crown.” – Philippe de Commines, French diplomat

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The Battle of Bosworth Field in 1485

‘King Richard fell in the field, struck by many mortal wounds, as a bold and most valiant prince’. – The Crowland Chronicle

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The King’s ReputationMonstrous: “Richard, the third son, of whom we now entreat, was in wit and courage equal with either of them, in body and prowess far under them both: little of stature, ill-featured of limbs, crook-backed, his left shoulder much higher than his right, hard favoured of visage, and such as it is in states called warlike, in other men otherwise. He was malicious, wrathful, envious, and from afore his birth, ever [perverse].” – Thomas More

Misunderstood: “In the belief that many features of the traditional accounts of the character and career of Richard III are neither supported by sufficient evidence nor reasonably tenable, the Society aims to promote, in every possible way, research into the life and times of Richard III, and to secure a reassessment of the material relating to this period, and of the role of this monarch in English history.” – Mission Statement of the Richard III Society

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2012: The King in the Car Park

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What the Remains Say About Richard IIIHeight: 5’7 to 5’9

Health: Scoliosis developed in adolescence, roundworm infection

Diet: A high protein diet including plenty of seafood

Cause of Death: "The most likely injuries to have caused the king's death are the two to the inferior aspect of the skull – a large sharp force trauma possibly from a sword or staff weapon, such as a halberd or bill, and a penetrating injury from the tip of an edged weapon. Richard's head injuries are consistent with some near-contemporary accounts of the battle, which suggest that Richard abandoned his horse after it became stuck in a mire and was killed while fighting his enemies.“ – Professor Guy Rutty, University of Leicester

Books by Carolyn Harris