Richard III
Born in Fotheringhay, NorthamptonshireBorn on 2nd of October 1452
Died on 22nd of August 1485
Richard III was born on the 2nd October 1452 at Fotheringay Castle in Northamptonshire, he was the youngest son of Richard Plantagenet, Duke of York, and his mother Cecily Neville. During his early years Richard was well tutored and spent much of his young years at Middleham Castle in Wensleydale, and several other castles whilst his father, was away fighting wars, his mother often accompanied her husband who constantly made excursions into Ireland, Scotland and France. It was during the bloody Battle of Wakefield that Richard's father and brother Edmund were killed. Richards' brother Edward ascended to the throne as King Edward IV, Richard took a leading military role and was given the title of Duke of Gloucester, Edward however, executed his other brother George on the grounds of treason.
Richard married Anne Neville on 12th July 1472, their son Edward was born a year later. Devastation took hold of both Richard and Anne when their son died after just a short illness, and just a year later Anne also died in 1484, she was buried in Westminster Abbey.
Edward died in 1483, he had two sons Edward, who was 12 years old, and Richard 1st Duke of York was aged just nine years of age. They were next in line to the throne, Richard was made Lord Protector of The Realm.
Richard decided to take the two princes to the Tower Of London, he then ordered that a proclamation be read out declaring that he would be taking the crown, as he should be next in line, as his brothers marriage was invalid, therefore, the two young princes were illegitimate, the proclamation was read outside St Paul's Cathedral in London on the 22nd June 1483.
Richard crowned at Westminster Abbey on the 6th July 1483 his reign proved popular with his subjects he was renowned for his loyalty and fairness, he passed several important laws such as all books should not only be written in Latin, but should be in English, so that the common people could understand.
Richard died at the Battle of Bosworth, a defeat that would cease the reign of the Plantagenet Dynasty and see the Tudor era begin, he was killed on the 22nd August 1485 aged just 32 years. He was buried at Grey Friars Abbey in Leicestershire.
Richard III was the last King of The House Of York, succeeded by Henry Tudor who ruled as Henry VII. He was also the last King of England who was to die in Battle, and famously immortalised by the penmanship of William Shakespeare.
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