Richard III ruled England from 26 June 1483 until his death in the Battle of Bosworth on 22 August 1485. Born at Fotheringay on 2 October 1452, he was the eleventh born child of Richard 3rd Duke of York and Cecily [Neville] Duchess of York. Richard was created Duke of Gloucester following his brother, Edward IV‘s, taking of the crown in 1461 and spent his formative years being taught the ways of court.
In 1471 Richard aided his brother in reclaiming the Crown, being one of the commanders at the Battles of Barnet and Tewkesbury. Richard married Anne Neville in 1472 and subsequently built up a position as preeminent magnate in the North of England. Alongside this ‘northern’ role, Richard as Duke of Gloucester retained national positions and acted as a commander in the armies raised in 1475 for the intended Invasion Of France and in 1482 for the Invasion of Scotland.
Following the death of Edward IV, Richard was firstly named as Protector of England for the minority of Edward V, then then elevated to the throne itself upon the declaration of the illegitimacy of the marriage of King Edward IV to Queen Elizabeth [Woodville]. Richard IIIs reign came to an end on the battlefield of Bosworth as he fell fighting against the army of the invading Henry Tudor, who succeeded Richard as King of England bringing about the start of the Tudor Dynasty.
Richard III’s Family
Wife – Anne Neville, married 1472
Son – Edward of Middleham, Prince of Wales. The only child of Richard and Anne.
Illegitimate children of Richard III
John of Gloucester, also known as John of Pontefract.
Katherine Plantagenet.
Parents and Siblings
Father – Richard 3rd Duke of York
Mother – Cecily Neville Duchess of York
Brothers – King Edward IV, George Duke of Clarence, Edmund Earl of Rutland.
Sisters – Margaret of York Duchess of Burgundy, Elizabeth of York Duchess of Suffolk, Anne of York Duchess of Exeter
Articles about the life of King Richard III
Richard as a child and as Duke of Gloucester
2 October 1452: Birth at Fotheringay of Richard, later King Richard III.
November 1470: Attainder of Richard Duke of Gloucester by the Readeption Parliament
6 May 1471: Richard Duke of Gloucester passed judgement on captured Lancastrians at Tewkesbury
18 May 1471: Richard Duke of Gloucester appointed Lord High Admiral and Great Chamberlain
21 September 1474: Commission of oyer and terminer held at Pontefract Castle
12 May 1482: Richard Duke of Gloucester appointed Lieutenant-General of the north
22 May 1482: Raid on Dumfries
12 June 1482: Richard duke of Gloucester appointed to lead invasion of Scotland, 1482
1483: Richard becoming King of England
April – July 1483: How did Richard III become King?
8 May 1483: Richard Duke of Gloucester appointed Protector
10 June 1483: Richard wrote to the City of York about a threat to his life
June 1483: Trial and Execution of William, Lord Hastings
22 June 1483: Dr. Ralph Shaa preached a sermon about the legitimacy of Edward IV and Elizabeth Woodville’s children.
6 July 1483: Coronation of King Richard III and his Queen Consort Anne
King Richard III
8 September 1483: Investiture of Edward of Middleham as Prince of Wales
October 1483: Buckingham’s Rebellion
19 December 1483: Richard III issued orders relating to the Duchess of Buckingham
1484: Richard III’s priorities in 1484
28 October 1484: Richard III ordered the Earl of Oxford’s transfer from imprisonment in Calais
7 December 1484: Royal Proclamation was made regarding the expected invasion by Henry Tudor.
5 April 1485: Proclamation against Sedition issued by King Richard III
1485: Richard III’s response to news of the Tudor Invasion
Other articles related to King Richard III
Middleham Castle. A childhood home and seat of Richard’s northern power.
Did Richard III plan to marry Elizabeth of York?
DNA and The Princes in the Tower
Conflicting ‘Proof’ and the Missing Princes. Note that there have been claims made by several parties since the publication of this article. The basic premise remains the same though and has not been significantly altered by any ‘proof’.
Biographies of King Richard III (Online)
Royal Family. Biography of King Richard III from the website of the Royal Family.
History Extra. An overview of King Richard IIIs life accompanied by articles on key aspects of his life and kingship.
Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. A detailed biography authored by Rosemary Horrox.
Source Material on Richard as Duke of Gloucester and as King
National Archives. Documents from the National Archives relating to Richard’s life.
British Library. Richard III: fact and fiction. From the Medieval Manuscripts Blog of the British Library.
Hathi Trust. Letters and papers illustrative of the reigns of Richard III and Henry VII. Catalogue entry with links to freely accessible versions of this 19th century collection of translated letters and papers.
Featured Image
Richard III by an unknown artist; oil on panel, late 16th century. NPG148 © National Portrait Gallery, London.