Edward V and his brother Richard, Duke of York, are last seen in the Tower of London. Their mysterious disappearance remains one of history’s most debated events. Many have accused Richard of ordering their deaths, though no conclusive evidence exists.
October 1483 – Buckingham’s Rebellion
A failed uprising led by Richard’s former ally, the Duke of Buckingham, seeks to place Henry Tudor (later Henry VII) on the throne. The rebellion collapses, and Buckingham is executed.
1484 – Death of Edward of Middleham
Richard’s only legitimate son and heir dies at age 10. The loss is personal and political, weakening Richard’s dynastic position.
March 1485 – Queen Anne Neville dies
Anne dies, likely of tuberculosis. Her death further isolates Richard. Rumors spread that he poisoned her to marry his niece, Elizabeth of York—rumors which Richard publicly denies.
Fall and Death at Bosworth
August 1485 – Invasion of Henry Tudor
Henry Tudor lands in Wales with French support, aiming to challenge Richard’s rule. Richard gathers his forces to meet the threat.
22 August 1485 – Battle of Bosworth Field
Richard leads his troops personally in battle. In a bold but fatal charge aimed at killing Henry Tudor, he is surrounded and slain. His death marks the end of the Plantagenet dynasty. Henry Tudor is crowned King Henry VII, founding the Tudor dynasty.
Aftermath and Rediscovery
1485–1486 – Richard’s body buried at Greyfriars Church, Leicester
After his death, Richard’s body is buried in a modest grave, and his reputation is blackened by Tudor propaganda.
2012 – Discovery of Richard III’s remains
A skeleton found under a Leicester car park is confirmed to be Richard III through DNA analysis. The find sparks renewed interest and debate about his life and character.
26 March 2015 – Reburial at Leicester Cathedral
More than 500 years after his death, Richard III is reinterred in a state funeral attended by thousands. His legacy is re-examined, with historians offering a more nuanced view of the king once described as a villain by Shakespeare.
Legacy
Richard III's reputation was shaped by centuries of Tudor and Shakespearean propaganda, which portrayed him as a deformed villain and ruthless usurper. However, modern historians view him as a complex figure—a skilled military leader, a competent administrator, and a product of the brutal political environment of late medieval England. Whether villain or victim, Richard III remains a compelling symbol of one of the most turbulent eras in English history. shutdown123