(3) Richard III

Question 1

What is evidence of Richard’s unpopularity?

Answer 1

i) Richard had a very poor reputation- he was considered by many to be a usurper and child murderer
ii) Many Northern families failed to support him at Bosworth e.g. Stanley
iii) No Southern nobles fought for Richard at Bosworth
iv) Richard claim to the throne was not accepted, he had claimed the princes were illegitimate and he was the rightful heir, most people did not accept this.

Question 2

What support was Henry Tudor able to gain for Bosworth?

Answer 2

i) French- money and men
ii) Yorkist support- he had promised to marry Elizabeth of York if he became King
iii) Welsh support- he landed in Wales and was able to recruit in an area which favoured him
iv) Henry Tudor was able to exploit Richard III with propaganda which helped him raise support.
BUT Henry Tudor was still outnumbered at Bosworth 8000 to 12000 (approximately)

Question 3

What was the military error that Richard III made on the battlefield?

Answer 3

Richard left his vantage point for one on one combat with Henry Tudor, he was cut down and killed.

Question 4

What was the significance of the Stanleys intervening on Henry Tudor’s side?

Answer 4

They had approximately 3000 men.

Question 5

What was the legacy of the Wars of the Roses for the Battle of Bosworth?

Answer 5

• Many people were unprepared to commit themselves wholeheartedly to Richard’s side, after monarchs had come and gone rapidly in recent years, and they knew that backing the wrong side could lead to execution.
• Many heads of families had fallen in wars so less committed, more cautious men prevailed. The Stanleys were an extreme example, but most families were concerned with not getting caught on the wrong side.