Bosworth Field, in Leicestershire, England, was the site of the battle that ended the struggle between the Yorkists and the Lancastrians for the throne of England in the 1400’s. The battle took place on Aug. 22, 1485. King Richard III, of the House of York, had become unpopular with his people and with many of his nobles. Henry Tudor, Earl of Richmond, the leader of the Lancastrian party, decided to attack Richard.
Henry sailed from France with a small army and landed at Milford Haven, in Wales. There, local commanders joined forces with Henry instead of attacking him. Henry’s army met Richard’s at Bosworth. A force led by Lord Stanley was also nearby. Richard was uncertain of Stanley’s loyalty and ordered the Duke of Northumberland to command a force to watch Stanley’s movements. Richard attacked Henry’s army and sent a message to Northumberland to join him. Northumberland refused and did not intervene when Stanley’s forces attacked Richard’s flank. Richard and most of his household were killed. Henry Tudor took the throne and was crowned Henry VII.
In his play Richard III, William Shakespeare graphically depicted Richard’s courage in the middle of the Battle of Bosworth. Fighting on foot, Richard at one point calls out dramatically, “A horse! A horse! My kingdom for a horse!”
