On this day we remember King Richard III, who fell at the Battle of Bosworth, and those who were faithful to him.

Loyaulte me lie.

Illustration on the left:  King Richard III,  © Andrew Jamieson, www.medieval-arts.co.uk

on the right:  The Church of St James, Sutton Cheney, where the Richard III Society commemorates King Richard III in its annual memorial service in August. It is said that Richard III heard his last Mass at this church.

Tags: Bosworth, Henry Tudor, Richard III

A 36ft (approx. 11 m) long sign has been erected at Bosworth Battlefield saying “Bosworth 525”.  It is supposed to draw attention to the Anniversary Re-enactment of the Battle.  The sign is so large that it can be seen from a mile away.

This year marks the 525th anniversary of the Battle of Bosworth in which King Richard III was killed on 22 August 1485.

It is questionable whether such a Hollywood style sign is appropriate to mark the death of a person, whatever your personal view of him.  It creates the image of a Disney World extravaganza rather than an interpretation of an actual battle based on factual evidence.

Source:  BBC Leicester

Tags: Bosworth, Richard III

To mark the 525th anniversary of the Battle of Bosworth this year, Bosworth Battlefield has launched an international search for the descendants of those who fought at the battle on 22nd August 1485.

The Visitor Centre has a list of names of many men who fought in the battle, but there is still much to be learned about them and bring them back to live, so to speak.  As Curator Richard Knox explains:  “We have a list of names of men who fought at the battle from sources, including the Italian historian Polydore Vergil, but we know very little else about them. We would love to hear from families who believe their ancestors are connected to the battle and start to add some flesh to the bones of the Bosworth story.”

One of those they found is James Orrell, whose ancestor Ralph Orrell was a cousin of Lord Thomas Stanley, whom he helped to decide the battle for Henry Tudor. As a reward he was paid ten marks a year for life, for good and faithful services.  Fortunately his descendant displays for us more acceptable loyalties when he says:  “I can’t help but feel Ralph fought for the wrong side, but understandably you didn’t argue with the Stanleys!”

On the weekend of the anniversary itself there will be a spectacular re-enactment of the battle, to which the descendants will be invited.  The event will also include a thrilling jousting tournament, majestic falconry displays, skill-at-arms, guided walks, medieval market, living history encampment and expert talks.  You even get the chance to meet King Richard III at lunch with his Commanders and ask him any questions you may have about the impending battle.

You can find out more from the Bosworth Battlefield Heritage Centre as well as Leicestershire Museums.

Tags: Bosworth, Richard III

Just a reminder that The Richard III Society, NSW Branch, is planning to remember the death of Richard III and his gallant band who fell with him (as well as those who survived) at Redmore Plain on 22nd August 1485 with a lunch at:

The Hero Of Waterloo Hotel,
cnr Windmill & Lower Fort Sts,
Millers Point, Sydney

Time:  from noon

Date:  Sunday, 22nd August 2010.

Room:  Downstairs Luncheon Room, off the bar.
Access from Lower Fort St or through bar from Windmill St.

Do hope to see you all there!

Please let Kevin know definitely whether or not you are able to attend this function by Saturday 14th August 2010 (day of General Meeting), as he needs to provide definite numbers to Hotel management by Monday, 16th  August.

Please also contact him if you need help with information on how to get there.

You can contact Kevin at social@richardiii-nsw.org.au.

Tags: Bosworth, NSW Branch, Richard III

This is the title of a ‘Special Interest Weekend to re-evaluate an historically neglected but pivotal English conflict’ which will be held from 24 to 27 March 2011 at Christ Church in Oxford in association with Holts Battlefield Tours and The Richard III Society.  To a Ricardian the description of a “neglected” conflict is hardly appropriate, as it is essential to our period of interest.

Special Interest Weekends are offered every spring by Christ Church, offering sound scholarship by distinguished speakers to their visitors.  Participants will stay on campus and enjoy college life.  The social highlight of the weekend will be the Gala Banquet on Saturday night.

This weekend promises to take the participant through one of the most complex narratives of English History and to explore the debates surrounding the parts played, not just by the king but by the aristocracy.  The talks include:

•    The Origins of the Wars of the Roses
•    The Role of Margaret of Anjou
•    Edward IV and the Establishment of the House of York
•    Richard III:  Reputation and Reality
•    The Army of Richard III
•    Alice Duchess of Suffolk and the Wars of the Roses – this will take place at Ewelme Church, where she is buried
•    The Battle of Bosworth – Dr Glenn Foard, who led the team that discovered the real battle site, will talk about their research.

What a pity that we are so far away, the weekend does promise to be fascinating!  It would be good if we could find out whether the talks might be published in book format after the weekend.  This would allow people, who live too far away and haven’t got the means to just pop over to Oxford for weekend, can enjoy some of it.

For a copy of the programme and a booking form click here.

Tags: Bosworth, Richard III, Wars of the Roses

A review of John Ashdown-Hill’s latest book, The Last Days of Richard III, is now available on our website.  You can find it in the “Must Read” section on our Book Shelf or click here.

Tags: Anne Neville, Bosworth, Henry Tudor, Medieval Life, Richard III

When earlier this year archaeologists made the discovery of the true location of the Battle of Bosworth public, they showed various artefacts that led to the discovery.  One of them, and for me the most fascinating and poignant one, was a small silver boar badge.  The White Boar was Richard’s emblem and badges like this would have been worn by his knights.  They were primarily awarded at ceremonies like Richard’s coronation or the investiture of his son as Prince of Wales.  It is believed that this one was lost from the tunic of one his knights as he fought alongside his rightful king against the usurper Henry Tudor.

Leicestershire Museums reported yesterday that the small badge, it is only 29 mm long, has been officially classified a national treasure.  The Treasure Act of 1996 states the requirements for what constitutes treasure:  the object must be made of a precious metal and be at least 300 years old.  The Coroner for North Leicestershire and Rutland has declared that the boar badge fulfils these requirements.

The next step is for the Treasure Registrar at the British Museum to formally ask the Bosworth Battlefield Heritage Centre, owned by Leicestershire County Council, whether they would like to display the badge in their collection, where it can be admired at present.

It now needs to be independently evaluated by a committee in London (during it absence it will be replaced by an exact replica).  Once this committee has established a value for the badge the Centre has the opportunity to purchase it from the Treasure department.  Normally the value of treasure is split between the finder and the landowner.  In this case the treasure was found during an archaeological survey commissioned by the County Council and the finder has waived his rights to half the value.  This means that the Centre will only need to pay the landowner’s half.  To do so they will probably apply a contribution from the Purchase Grant Fund.  This is a government fund, managed by the Victoria and Albert Museum, which assists in the acquisition of important works of art and other significant literary and historical artefacts for the museums, galleries and libraries throughout England and Wales.

We hope that the Battlefield Centre is successful in its endeavour to make this important artefact accessible to the public.  And maybe in due course, we might be able to buy little replicas, which would surely be a treasure to any Ricardian.

Note: This article is based on “Badge dropped by Knight at Battle of Bosworth is declared treasure” by Leicestershire Museums.  (accessed 27 May 2010)

Tags: Battles, Bosworth, Richard III, Richard's Affinity

The March issue of the BBC History Magazine has finally arrived on Australian shelves.  As I had heard that  it contains extensive coverage of the new location of the Battle of Bosworth it was impatiently awaited.  So when I popped into my local newsagent the other day, the first thing that caught my eye was the picture of our man – Richard III – on the cover of the magazine.

The magazine shows the most important finds like the silver gilt boar badge, which might show the area where Richard fell, as well as others.  There is also a discussion about the use of guns in the battle and a description of how the actual location was found (with maps).

Other articles which caught my eye in the magazine is an evaluation by Leanda de Lisle (The Sisters Who Would Be Queen) of Jane Grey, where the author argues that it was her firm religious stance that sealed her fate.  Linda Porter examines the relationship between Henry VIII and his last wife, Katherine Parr.  And there are several articles covering the 16ooth anniversary of the end of Roman Britain in 410 AD.

This issue is certainly well worth buying and keeping.

Tags: Artillery, Battles, Bosworth, Henry Tudor, Richard III

This is the title of an exhibition which opens on 17 May at Lambeth Palace’s Great Hall.  It celebrates the 400 years since the library’s beginning in 1610.  However, also much older documents will be exhibited.

The library owns its origins to Richard Bancroft, an Archbishop of Canterbury, who bequeathed his extensive collection of books, both printed and manuscripts, to his successors forever.  Lambeth Palace is the official residence of the Archbishop of Canterbury.

Among the highlights of the exhibition are:

• A Gutenberg Bible (Mainz, 1455), the first book printed in Western Europe from movable metal type

• The 12th century Lambeth Bible, regarded as one of the monuments of Romanesque art

• The 9th century Macdurnan Gospelbook, manufactured in Ireland during the early Middle Ages and owned by King Athelstan of Wessex (reigned 924-939), a masterpiece of Insular book production

• Some unique witchcraft tracts

• A letter issued by Pope Leo X in 1516 for the rebuilding of St Peter’s in Rome

• A copy of the warrant for the execution of Mary Queen of Scots and an accompanying letter from the Privy Council

• Papers relating to the divorce of King Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon

However, the most fascinating exhibit for Ricardians will be King Richard III’s Book of Hours, a 15th century manuscript, which was in his tent at the Battle of Bosworth on 22 August 1485.

If you find yourself anywhere near London during the period 17 May to 23 July 2010, this is a must-see exhibition.  It is a great pity that London is a bit too far for a casual outing for us from down-under, as this event would fit in perfectly as a follow-on to our mini-conference on 15 May, the topic of which will be ‘Books and Bookmakers’.

For further information click here and here.

Illustration: Queen © Andrew Jamieson, www.medieval-arts.co.uk

Tags: Books, Bosworth, Richard III