Why a Booktrail?
1452 – 1485 : The last Plantagenet king remains one of England’s most famous and controversial monarchs.
Richard III: Brother, Protector, King
What you need to know before your trail
A dedicated brother and loyal stalwart to the Yorkist dynasty for most of his early life, Richard’s personality was forged in the tribulation of exile and the brutality of combat. An ambitious nobleman and successful general with a loyal following, Richard was a man who could claim to have achieved every ambition in life, except one.
Within months of his brother Edward IV’s early death, Richard stunned the nation when he seized the throne and disinherited his nephews. Having put to death his rivals, Richard’s two-year reign would become one of the most tumultuous in English history, ending in treachery and with his death on the battlefield at Bosworth.
Locations
Reset- England - London
- A: HM Tower Of London
- England - Northamptonshire
- B: Fotheringhay - Fotheringhay Castle
- England - Leicester
- C: Bosworth Battlefield
- D: Leicester Cathedral
Travel Guide
Richard III
The 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: Richard III: Brother, Protector, King
Destination: Leicester, London, Fotheringhay Author/Guide: Chris Skidmore Departure Time: 1452 – 1485
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