Battle of Bosworth Field

The Battle of Bosworth or Bosworth Field was an important battle during the Wars of the Roses in 15th century England. It was fought on 22 August 1485 between the Yorkist King Richard III, the last of the Plantagenet dynasty, and the Lancastrian Henry Tudor, 2nd Earl of Richmond, who wanted to become king. It ended in the defeat and death of Richard and the beginning of the Tudor dynasty. Historically, the battle is thought to have marked the end of the Wars of the Roses, although smaller battles were fought in the years that followed as Yorkists unsuccessfully tried to become king again.

Battle of Bosworth Field
Part of the Wars of the Roses
Date22 August 1485
Location
In the area of Market Bosworth in Leicestershire, England

52.60°N 1.41°W / 52.60; -1.41
Result Decisive Lancastrian victory
Belligerents
King Richard III of England, House of York Henry Tudor, Earl of Richmond, Lancastrians French Mercenaries
Commanders and leaders
Richard III of England† Earl of Richmond
Earl of Oxford
Philibert de Chandée
Strength
6,000[1] 5,000

The place of the battle is not precisely known. Memorials have been built in some of the possible locations.

Shakespearian dramatization

The Battle of Bosworth is an important part of William Shakespeare's play Richard III. The action of the play ends with this battle.

Notes
  1. Richard III had 15,500 men, but Lord Stanley with 4,000 and his brother, Sir William Stanley with 2,500 betrayed him, and Henry Percy, Earl of Northumberland with 3,000 did not join the king.

Further reading
  • Bosworth 1485: A Battlefield Rediscovered by Glenn Foard and Anne Curry (2013: forthcoming) - The archaeology of the battle
  • Bosworth: The Birth of the Tudors by Chris Skidmore (2013) - Overview of the battle in its historical context
  • Battle Story: Bosworth 1485 by Mike Ingram (2011) - Analysis of the battle by a military expert

Other websites


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