King Richard III (1452 - 1485)
"Richard was the last Yorkist king of England, whose death at the Battle of Bosworth effectively ended the Wars of the Roses. He has become infamous because of the disappearance of his young nephews - the Princes in the Tower - and through William Shakespeare's play 'Richard III'.
In 2012, archaeologists and researchers began excavating beneath a carpark in Leicester, hoping to find Richard's final resting place. The search captured the public's imagination and the remains subsequently found were confirmed as those of Richard.
Richard was born on 2 October 1452 at Fotheringhay Castle in Northamptonshire. His father was Richard Plantagenet, Duke of York and his mother Cecily Neville. Richard had a claim to the English throne through both parents. We now know that Richard had a curvature of the spine, but the withered arm and limp of legend are almost certainly either fabrications or greatly exaggerated.
Wars of the Roses
His father's conflict with Henry VI was a major cause of the Wars of the Roses, which dominated Richard's early life. His father and older brother died at the Battle of Wakefield in 1460. In 1461, Richard's brother, Edward, became Edward IV and created him Duke of Gloucester. In 1470, Edward and Richard were exiled when Henry VI was briefly restored to the throne. The following year, they returned to England and Richard contributed to the Yorkist victories at Barnet and Tewkesbury which restored Edward to the throne.
The Princes in the Tower and seizure of the throne
When Edward died in April 1483, Richard was named as protector of the realm for Edward's son and successor, the 12-year-old Edward V. As the new king travelled to London from Ludlow, Richard met him and escorted him to the capital, where he was lodged in the Tower of London. Edward V's brother later joined him there.
A publicity campaign was mounted condemning Edward IV's marriage to the boys' mother, Elizabeth Woodville, as invalid and their children illegitimate. On 25 June, an assembly of lords and commoners endorsed these claims. The following day, Richard III officially began his reign. He was crowned in July. The two young princes disappeared in August and were widely rumoured to have been murdered by Richard.
The beginning of the endA rebellion raised in October by the Duke of Buckingham, Richard's former ally, quickly collapsed. However, Buckingham's defection, along with his supporters, eroded Richard's power and support among the aristocracy and gentry.
Death of a warrior king
In August 1485, Henry Tudor, Earl of Richmond, who was a Lancastrian claimant to the throne living in France, landed in South Wales. He marched east and engaged Richard in battle on Bosworth Field in Leicestershire on 22 August. Although Richard possessed superior numbers, several of his key lieutenants defected. Refusing to flee, Richard was killed in battle and Henry Tudor took the throne as Henry VII."
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The Statue
The statue was sculpted by Linda Thompson and a plaque at the base of the statue describes it.
Since Richard III's death in 1485, there has been much debate about his character, appearance and actions. A demon on his left shoulder represents the challenges Richard faced during his lifetime and his later portrayal. A legendary basilisk on his back reflects the deadly reputation. The basilisk hand and demon tail meets at the Yorkist sun and rose on his chest. He stands on a white boar, the heraldic symbol of Richard and his followers.
The basilisk at the rear of the statue is a legendary reptile reputed to be a serpent king, who causes death to those who look into its eyes.
Middleham Castle
It is believed that a wooden castle was built nearby in 1086, but the present castle dates from sometime in the late 12th century and was extended a number of times.
In the 15th Century the castle was held by the Earl of Warwick. On the accession of Edward IV as king in in 1461, his younger brother, Richard, was made Duke of Gloucester. In 1465, at the age of 13, Richard entered Warwick’s household at Middleham, remaining there until towards the end of 1468.
Following Warwick’s death in 1471, Richard acquired the Neville lands in the north, including Middleham and the castle. Richard became Protector of the Realm upon Edward IV’s death in 1483. Later that year he was crowned Richard III, usurping his 12-year-old nephew, Edward V. Richard continued to spend time at Middleham, staying there for several days in 1484 after his son, Edward, died at the castle.
These days the partly ruined castle is an English Heritage property and maintained by them. The castle is open to the public on a daily basis for an entrance fee. English Heritage recommend booking online in which case the entrance fee is reduced by 10%.
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