Born at Fotheringhay Castle on 2 October 1452, Richard III held the throne of England during a tumultuous two-year period that ended his life and the Plantagenet dynasty. As the final monarch to perish in active combat, his brief reign remains a central point of transition between the Middle Ages and the early modern era.
Rise to Political Power
Richard was the son of Richard, 3rd Duke of York, and Cecily Neville. After his brother Edward IV ascended to the throne in 1461, Richard was named Duke of Gloucester at age nine. He also maintained a governing role in northern England and participated in the 1482 invasion of Scotland.
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Following the death of Edward IV in April 1483, Richard was appointed Lord Protector for the 12-year-old successor, Edward V. Subsequent investigations declared the marriage of Edward IV to be bigamous, rendering the children of that union illegitimate. Proclaimed the rightful king by a gathering of lords and commoners, Richard underwent his coronation on 6 July 1483. His short rule faced immediate internal resistance, including an unsuccessful 1483 revolt involving the Duke of Buckingham.
Death and Archaeological Discovery
The reign of Richard III concluded at the Battle of Bosworth Field on 22 August 1485, where he was killed during the confrontation against Henry Tudor. Initially buried at Greyfriars, Leicester, his grave was lost for centuries. In 2012, an excavation at the former Grey Friars Priory site uncovered human remains. DNA analysis and radiocarbon dating conducted by the University of Leicester confirmed the identity of the remains, leading to his eventual reburial in Leicester Cathedral in 2015.
Fast facts
- Born: 2 October 1452, Fotheringhay Castle
- Died: 22 August 1485, Bosworth Field site
- Monarch of England: 1483-1485
- Duke of Gloucester: 1461-1483
- Lord High Admiral: 1471-1483
- Religion: Catholicism
- Final Resting Place: Leicester Cathedral
Questions readers ask
When did Richard III rule England?
He served as the monarch of England from 26 June 1483 until his death on 22 August 1485.
How were the remains of Richard III identified?
Researchers used radiocarbon dating, physical examination of skeletal trauma, and mitochondrial DNA comparisons with living descendants to confirm the identity of the remains discovered in 2012.
