Why a Booktrail?
1452 – 1485 : The official inside story of the life, death and remarkable discovery of history’s most controversial monarch.
The King’s Grave: The Search for Richard III
What you need to know before your trail
On 22 August 1485 Richard III was killed at Bosworth Field, the last king of England to die in battle. His victorious opponent, Henry Tudor (the future Henry VII), went on to found one of our most famous ruling dynasties. Richard’s body was displayed in undignified fashion for two days in nearby Leicester and then hurriedly buried in the church of the Greyfriars.
Fifty years later, at the time of the dissolution of the monasteries, the king’s grave was lost – its contents believed to be emptied into the river Soar and Richard III’s reputation buried under a mound of Tudor propaganda. Its culmination was Shakespeare’s compelling portrayal of a deformed and murderous villain, written over a hundred years after Richard’s death.
Locations
Reset- England - London
- A: HM Tower Of London
- B: Shakespeare's Globe
- England - Northamptonshire
- C: Fotheringhay - Fotheringhay Castle
- England - Leicester
- D: Bosworth Battlefield
- E: Leicester Cathedral
Travel Guide
Richard III
The four major sites to visit in order to follow in the footsteps of Richard III
The Tower of London
“The Princes in the Tower” refers to the two princes Edward V, King of England and Richard of Shrewsbury, Duke of York. The two brothers were the only sons of Edward IV of England and when they were 12 and 9 years old, respectively, they were lodged in the Tower of London by tRichard III. He was supposedly looking after them until Edward’s forthcoming coronation as king. Richard took the throne and the boys were never seen again.
Fotheringhay Castle
Fotheringhay Castle was a favoured residence of Richard, who became Duke of York . His son Richard III was also born here in 1452.
Mary, Queen of Scots, was imprisoned for some 18 years at nearby Sheffield Castle spent her final days at Fotheringhay, where she was tried and convicted of treason.
Battle of Bosworth
The Battle of Bosworth Field was the last significant battle of the Wars of the Roses. Richard III, the last king of the House of York, was killed in the battle. Henry Tudor was victorious and became the first English monarch of the Tudor dynasty.
Leicester Cathedral
The final resting place of Richard III whose remains were found underneath a carpark. There’s also a statue of the main himself holding his crown.
Booktrail Boarding Pass: The King’s Grave: The Search for Richard III
Destination: Leicester, London, Fotheringhay Author/Guide: Philippa Langley Departure Time: 1452 – 1485
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