How does Richard III become king?

Question 1

What happened in early April of 1483?

Answer 1

unexpected death of Edward IV

Question 2

Step 1?

Answer 2

via Lord Hastings, Richard applies for role of protector

council refuses

Question 3

Step 2?

Answer 3

Richard intercepts Earl Rivers and Edward V as they head south and Rivers + Grey (one of E Woodville’s sons from previous marriage) arrested
Richard manages to intercept because he asks them to meet with him in Hampton to show that Both sides of the family are unified

Question 4

Step 3?

Answer 4

Richard delays coronation from May to 22nd June

Question 5

Step 4?

Answer 5

Richard asks the council to have Earl Rivers put on trial for treason, they refuse

Question 6

Step 5?

Answer 6

Elizabeth Woodville flees into sanctuary in Westminster with her children

Question 7

Step 6?

Answer 7

Richard asks council for Richard, Duke of York (younger brother of Edward V) to join Edward V in the tower
they refuse

Question 8

Step 7?

Answer 8

Lord Hastings murdered without trial during council meeting

Question 9

Step 8?

Answer 9

Richard gets Richard, Duke of York out of sanctuary and into the Tower

Question 10

Step 9?

Answer 10

coronation delayed for 4 months

Question 11

Step 10?

Answer 11

Buckingham announces that Edward IV’s marriage to Elizabeth Woodville was illegal (already agreed to marry another woman when he marries E W), meaning that all their off spring would be illegitimate and so only Richard has the right blood to be king

Question 12

Step 11?

Answer 12

Rivers + Grey - sham trial in which they do not even speak then executed

Question 13

Step 12?

Answer 13

6000 troops stationed in London to suppress any dissent

Richard III crowned very quickly - 6th July 1483

Question 14

Step 13?

Answer 14

Richard and his wife, Anne Neville, go on a royal progress to sell their rule
plot to rescue princes is foiled - plan was to set fire to buildings in London, while RIII was not in London, allowing the princes to escape amongst the chaos - Richard’s spies inform him - realises he has to kill princes as too much of a threat to power

Question 15

Step 14?

Answer 15

Mid - late September 1483, princes in the Tower are presumed dead by everyone

Question 16

How does Shakespeare describe Richard?

Answer 16

bottled spider