Richard III

Also known as: Dikon / K. Richard the third / King Richard / Richard Plantagenet, Duke of Gloucester / Richard duke of Glocester / king Richard the third / lord Richard duke of Glocester · Family: House of York · Role: younger son of Richard, Duke of York · First appears: Henry VI 65

Richard III, a Yorkist and younger son of Richard Plantagenet, Duke of York, was sent overseas with his brother George Plantagenet, Duke of Clarence to Utrecht, where Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy received them. After Edward IV gained the crown, he made both brothers dukes, and Richard became a trusted military commander. He fought Edmund Beaufort, Duke of Somerset (the younger) at Teukesbury, helped secure victory there, and later served Edward IV as lieutenant general in the Scottish campaign, working with Henry Percy, fourth Earl of Northumberland, Thomas Stanley, Earl of Derby, and Edward Woodville. He was also associated with the reported murder of Henry VI and with the suspected destruction of George Plantagenet, Duke of Clarence.

After Edward IV died, Richard became uncle and protector to Edward V and Richard of Shrewsbury, Duke of York. He removed the young king’s attendants, took control of his governance, and allied with Edward Stafford, Duke of Buckingham and William Hastings, Baron Hastings against the queen’s relatives, including Anthony Woodville, Earl Rivers, Richard Grey, and Thomas Vaughan. He arranged for Hastings to be arrested and beheaded, while William Catesby helped him secure power. Richard’s claim was advanced through John Shaw’s sermon and declarations that he was the lawful heir of Richard Plantagenet, Duke of York; his supporters then cried, “King Richard, king Richard.” In 1483 he took the crown, was crowned with Anne Neville, and appointed Thomas Howard, Duke of Norfolk, Francis Lovell, Viscount Lovell, and others to positions of authority.

As king, Richard ordered John Greene to have Robert Brackenbury put the two princes to death; when Brackenbury refused, he gave James Tyrrell the Tower’s keys, and Tyrrell later reported the murders. His partnership with Henry Stafford, Duke of Buckingham collapsed, and Richard had Buckingham beheaded at Salisbury. He opposed Henry VII and suppressed supporters including William Collingbourne, while Thomas Stanley, Earl of Derby was made to confine Margaret Beaufort, Countess of Richmond. In 1485 Richard marched to Bosworth, where he fought Henry VII, killed William Brandon, and was eventually slain after William Stanley brought reinforcements. His body was carried to Leicester and buried at the Grey Friars church; the account says, “Thus ended this prince his mortall life with infamie and dishonor.”