The Battle of Bosworth Field was fought 528 years ago today. Although it would eventually lead to the Tudor monarchy, the creation of the Church of England, the reign of Queen Elizabeth, the English Civil War, and the Glorious Revolution, I prefer to think of it as the day when those brutish Tudor thugs overcame the beleaguered Richard III, who was many things but probably not a nephew-murderer (and probably not a wife- or brother-murderer either), became the last English monarch to die in battle. It was also the first step in an unfortunate series of events that would lead to his grave getting paved over for a car park. Now the cities of York and Leicester are fighting over who gets the remains, and bored historians are debating over whether or not this actually changes anything. (Spoiler! Some say yes, others say no, everybody gets kind of worked up about it. You know, academia as usual.)
Richard III (1452-85)
unknown artist, early 16th century
Society of Antiquaries of London
It’s okay Richard. I’ve been on your side all along.
Other people devoted to the Ricardian cause: The Richard III Society
The only novels historical sources I need:
Daughter of Time, by Josephine Tey
The Murders of Richard III, by Elizabeth Peters
Hey, it’s not my period or my subject, I feel free to let fiction guide me here. 😀
Harriet Vain 