Richard III of England: The Crippled King

Richard III, also known as Richard the Hunchback, was the King of England from 1483 until his death in 1485. He was definitely not the most popular monarch England has ever had, but boy was he memorable!

Early Life

Richard III was born on October 2nd, 1452 in Northamptonshire, England. He was the youngest of three brothers and suffered from poor health throughout his childhood. He was born with a crooked spine, which earned him the nickname “Richard the Hunchback”. This would come to haunt him for the rest of his life, both physically and socially.

The War of the Roses

Richard went on to play a significant role in the “War of the Roses”, a series of battles between the House of Lancaster and the House of York. He fought with his brother, King Edward IV, against the Lancastrian army and was a key figure in their victory at the Battle of Barnet.

The Murder of the Princes in the Tower

In 1483, Edward IV died and his son, Edward V, was to be crowned king. However, Richard had different ideas. He literally stole the crown from the young prince’s head and locked him and his younger brother (Richard, Duke of York) in the Tower of London.

Despite promising to keep them safe, the two princes were never seen again. It is widely believed that Richard III had them murdered to eliminate any potential claim to the throne.

The Battle of Bosworth Field

Richard’s reign as king was short-lived. In 1485, Henry Tudor (later Henry VII) landed in Wales with an army and marched towards Richard’s army. The two sides met on August 22nd, 1485 at the Battle of Bosworth Field.

Despite his reputation as a skilled soldier, Richard III’s army was quickly defeated. According to historical accounts, Richard fought bravely and even killed Henry Tudor’s standard bearer, but he was ultimately killed in battle. What a way to go!

Legacy