On this day in history, the 22nd August 1485, in rural Leicestershire near Market Bosworth, the armies of King Richard III and Henry Tudor faced each other in a battle that would see the death of the King and the beginning of a new dynasty: the Tudor dynasty.
You can read more about the battle in the following articles:
- The Battle of Bosworth Part 1 – The Wars of the Roses
- The Battle of Bosworth Part 2 – The Battle
- The Road to Bosworth by Sarah Bryson
- The True Location of the Battle of Bosworth
If you’re a Tudor Society member then you can enjoy the following articles on the Battle of Bosworth from the archives of Tudor Life magazine:
- Bosworth’s Lost Commander by Susan Fern – see March issue at https://www.tudorsociety.com/march-2015-tudor-life-magazine/
- Henry Tudor, Richard III and the Stanleys by Mike Ingram – see December issue at https://www.tudorsociety.com/tudor-life-december-2014/
- Bosworth: The Day the Tudors Came by Mike Ingram – see January issue at https://www.tudorsociety.com/tudor-life-january-2015/
Also on this day in history…
- 1532 – Death of William Warham, Archbishop of Canterbury and administrator to Henry VIII, in Hackington, Kent. Warham served Henry VIII as Keeper of the Great Seal, and Lord Chancellor. Warham was buried in Canterbury Cathedral, having left instructions to be buried near the spot where Thomas Becket was killed.
- 1545 – Death of Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk, magnate, courtier, soldier and close friend of Henry VIII, at Guildford, while making preparations to lead an army to Boulogne. He was laid to rest in St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle. Click here to read more about him.
- 1553 – Execution of John Dudley, Earl of Warwick and Duke of Northumberland, on Tower Hill for his part in putting his daughter-in-law, Lady Jane Grey, on the throne in place of Mary I. He was buried in the Chapel of St Peter ad Vincula, at the Tower of London, and is thought to lie under the Chancel floor next to Edward Seymour, Duke of Somerset, and between Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard. Northumberland’s friends, Sir John Gates and Sir Thomas Palmer, were also executed on this day in 1553 for supporting Northumberland.
Quite an interesting day, then.
Remember before God Richard lll by grace King of England, this day pitifully slain while bravely fighting in the thickest press of his enemies, 530 years ago and all those who died with him at Bosworth. Remember also Sir William Brandon, Sir William Blackenbery, Sir John Percival, John Howard, Duke of Norfolk, faithful beloved cousin, and many more. May they rest in peace. Honour and Dignity to Richard at last, granted now, a proper resting place, he was granted a peaceful sleep in Greyfriars, even though he was humiliated by the shameful treatment of his body before this, now amends have been made and he is buried as King at last.
Amen to that.
Ditto.
Philippa Langley’s vow to uncover the truth about the princes in the tower is now pivotal and vital to the historical analysis of ‘Who did what and when”, and to discover, at last, despite church and crown, the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. Having said which…well, fingers crossed with that!