JULY 6, 1483
For almost half a millennia he was regarded as the most wicked monarch in the history of the British Isles.
On July 6, 1483, Richard III was crowned King of England – but only after what seemed from the outside to be a horrific power grab. Richard was Edward IV’S brother and, after his death, was appointed Lord Protector of the realm for Edward’s eldest son and successor, the 12-year-old Edward V. This wasn’t a role Richard gained on merit – he seized young Edward and used the boy as leverage to land himself the role.
Richard also took control of Edward’s younger brother Richard. With the two princes under his charge, arrangements were made for young Edward’s coronation – but it wasn’t to be.
Sensing his moment, questions were raised about the legitimacy of Edward’s parentage.
Since years previously his brother had originally betrothed himself to another, children he’d had with Queen Elizabeth – the two princes – were therefore illegitimate. The princes disappeared from sight – forever. Mystery still surrounds their fate, although it’s suspected ice-hearted new King Richard III had them killed and their bodies disposed of.
The new king only lasted a couple of years until the Battle of Bosworth, when he was defeated – and killed – by Henry Tudor’s forces.
His body was missing – until being discovered in 2012 underneath a car park in Leicester.