King Richard III (2 October 1452 o 22 August 1485)
King of England from 26 June 1483 o 22 August 1485


I have chosen this skin to mark the positive identification of King Richard III on February 4th 2013 (from the mitochondrial DNA of a fellow Canadian), as well as the end of what is known as the Medieval Age and the beginning of the Early Modern Age (coincidentally also the end of King Richard III).

Here is his story:

King Richard III was the last Plantagenet King of England and the last English Monarch to perish in battle. Richard never enjoyed the popularity of his court or his people, to them he was a scheming and murderous hunchback. It is believed through contemporary sources that Richard (the brother of the previous King Edward IV) had his nephews murdered while they were locked up in the Tower of London (for their supposed protection). One of these nephews was already recognized as King Edward V (although no coronation had taken place yet), Edward IV's 12 year old son. This secret was not a very good one, soon all levels of the English citizenry were whispering the bloody details to each other, especially when Richard had stylized himself as King Richard III of England. Because of this, when a claimant to the English throne appeared to challenge Richards claim many of the English Nobility ended up split on who to support, so began the War of the Roses.



The War of the Roses became a bloody affair, battles lasted hours and in some cases a couple days (battles of the medieval period were short, lasting only a couple hours at a maximum). King Richards III's Yorkist army (white rose) and Henry Tudors Lancaster army (red rose) clashed on multiple accounts, their men fighting tirelessly for hours on end. Until the the fateful day of August 22nd 1485, the Battle of Bosworth Field had raged for hours, both armies were exhausted and near breaking point. Seeing his opportunity King Richard III charged his cavalry into the Lancaster lines, the charge was fierce and came close to accomplishing its goal as the charge broke into Henry Tudors entourage, even killing Henry's flag bearer. As both Royal entourages clashed and fought King Richard was suddenly unhorsed amidst a fray of men on horseback, Richard broke away and ran from the field along with a few of his fellow men... only to be cut down.

It is said that Henry Tutor crowned himself King Henry VII that very day with Richards crown. His legacy lived on in the William Shakespeare play "Richard III" .