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As the last ruler of the Plantagenet dynasty and the House of York, his defeat at the Battle of Bosworth Field marked the end of the Middle Ages in England and the rise of the Tudor dynasty.
Portrait of Richard III of England at the National Portrait Gallery in London, England.
Richard III of England’s life, reign, and legacy remain a subject of intense debate among historians.
Early Life and Background
Born at Fotheringhay Castle in Northamptonshire, Richard was the eleventh child of Richard, 3rd Duke of York, and Cecily Neville.
Richard was then proclaimed king.
Silver groat of Richard III of England.
What happened to the Princes in the Tower?
Edward V and his younger brother Richard of Shrewsbury disappeared from the Tower of London in mid-1483. King Henry VI resumed his reign only briefly, however.
It was announced that his remains will be re-interred in Leicester Cathedral in 2014.
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He was killed in battle, becoming the last English king to die on the battlefield. This long and bloody civil conflict is known as the Wars of the Roses. Warwick was instrumental in deposing Henry VI and replacing him with Richard's eldest brother, Edward in 1461.During the reign of his brother, Edward IV, Richard demonstrated his loyalty, as well as his prodigious skill as a military commander, and was rewarded with the title Duke of Gloucester in 1461, and the position of Governor of the North in 1469.
The Biography.com staff is a team of people-obsessed and news-hungry editors with decades of collective experience. Despite his hard-fought efforts, Richard III only enjoyed a brief stint as monarch. However, modern historians debate this, with some emphasizing his legal reforms and administrative competence.
What were Richard III’s key achievements?
He introduced legal reforms, including improved bail conditions and protection for the poor in court.
By the time of his last stand against the Lancastrians, he was a widower without a legitimate son. He is credited with the responsibility for several murders, including those of his nephews Edward and Richard as well as of Henry VI. William Shakespeare portrayed him as a tyrannical ruler in his play, King Richard III, but modern scholars have pointed to evidence that Richard III was a successful leader.
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Quick Facts
FULL NAME: Richard Plantagenet
BORN: October 2, 1452
DIED: August 22, 1485
BIRTHPLACE: Northamptonshire, England
SPOUSE: Anne Neville
CHILD: Edward
ASTROLOGICAL SIGN: Libra
Early Life
Born in Northamptonshire, England, on October 2, 1452, King Richard III remains one of England’s most infamous rulers.
Richard’s loyalty to his brother Edward during this time brought the prince great rewards, including lands that once belonged to those who rose up against the king. He is the last English king to have died in battle.
One of the most popular depictions of Richard III is that of a hunchback with a withered arm and limp, which are most likely to be fabrications of William Shakespeare in his eponymous play and the result of Tudor propaganda.
Arguably the best-known adaptation of the play is the 1955 version directed by Sir Laurence Olivier who also starred in the main role.
On 4 February 2013, the Universtity of Leicester confirmed that remains unearthed under a car park in Leicester in 2012 were those of Richard III, the last Plantagenet King of England.
His rediscovery has reignited debates about his true nature, with some viewing him as a capable ruler undone by circumstance.
- 1452: Born on 2 October at Fotheringhay Castle, son of Richard, 3rd Duke of York, and Cecily Neville.
- 1461: Created Duke of Gloucester after Edward IV ascends the throne.
- 1472: Marries Anne Neville, daughter of Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick.
- 1482: Plays a key role in the English invasion of Scotland, recapturing Berwick-upon-Tweed.
- 1483 (April): Named Lord Protector after Edward IV’s death.
- 1483 (June): Edward V and his siblings declared illegitimate; Richard is proclaimed king on 26 June.
- 1483 (July): Crowned as Richard III.
The “Princes in the Tower” disappear.
- 1483 (October): Duke of Buckingham rebels but is defeated and executed.
- 1485 (August): Henry Tudor lands in Wales; Richard is killed at the Battle of Bosworth on 22 August.
- 2012: Richard’s remains are discovered in Leicester.
- 2015: He is reburied in Leicester Cathedral.
How did Richard III become king?
After the death of his brother Edward IV, Richard was named Lord Protector for the young King Edward V.
However, Edward IV’s marriage was declared invalid, making his children illegitimate. He played a key role in military campaigns, including battles at Barnet and Tewkesbury.
How did Richard III die?
Richard III was killed at the Battle of Bosworth Field in 1485 while fighting Henry Tudor’s forces. Richard and Anne only had one child together, a son named Edward, around 1476.
In the early 1480s, Richard distinguished himself in battle.
Lord Hastings, a trusted adviser to King Edward IV, was executed on charges of treason. Both Edward V and his younger brother Richard were taken into Richard III’s custody. His early years were shaped by the Wars of the Roses, a conflict between the rival Yorkist and Lancastrian factions. He was the youngest surviving son of Richard Plantagenet, 3rd Duke of York, and his wife, Cecily Neville.
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Richard III: Biography
Richard III, portrayed by Shakespeare as a hunchback tyrant, is now famous for being the King in the car park after his remains were discovered in Leicester in 2012.
Richard was born on 2 October 1452 at Fortheringay Castle in Northamptonshire.
When their elder brother Edward IV claimed the throne in 1461, Richard returned and was named Duke of Gloucester, beginning a career in military leadership and governance.
Most Important Battles of the Late Middle Ages
Rise to Power
Richard’s loyalty to Edward IV was unwavering, earning him key military and administrative roles, particularly in northern England.
His role in the campaign against Scotland had increased Richard’s prominence and power.
Rise and Fall of King Richard III
When King Edward IV died in 1483, his oldest son took power as Edward V. The new king was only 12 years old at the time. Since then, many famous actors have played him on stage and in films, including Laurence Olivier and Al Pacino.
Discovery of Richard III’s Remains
In September 2012, a team of archaeologists from Leicester University uncovered a body believed by some to be the remains of Richard III.
The skeleton was uncovered at the former site of the Grey Friars church in Leicester, where Richard III was reportedly buried.