Battle of Bosworth
The Battle of Bosworth, fought in August 1485, was a pivotal conflict in English history that marked the end of the Wars of the Roses and the conclusion of the Plantagenet dynasty. It took place in central England when Henry Tudor, who would become Henry VII, landed in Wales and advanced towards London to claim the English crown. King Richard III, the last ruler of the Plantagenet line, mobilized his forces to confront Tudor. Notably, Lord Thomas Stanley, who had ties to both sides, chose to withhold his full support, positioning his troops strategically away from the main conflict.
The battle featured a tactical approach where Richard's forces, although larger, were challenged by the Earl of Oxford's attack on their center. In a desperate attempt to turn the tide, Richard personally charged at Tudor but faced overwhelming opposition and ultimately died in battle. The outcome of Bosworth not only led to the rise of the Tudor dynasty but also reshaped the political landscape of England for years to come, signifying a shift in power and governance. This battle remains a significant historical event due to its lasting implications on English monarchy and society.
On this Page
Battle of Bosworth
Type of action: Ground battle in the Wars of the Roses
Date: August 22, 1485
Location: Plain west of Leister, English Midlands
Combatants: 8,000 Lancastrians vs. 11,000 Yorkists
Principal commanders:Lancastrian, John de Vere, earl of Oxford (1443–1513); Yorkist, King Richard III (1452–1485)
Result: Battle ended Plantagenet dynasty and gave English throne to Tudors
In August, 1485, Henry Tudor, later Henry VII, landed in Wales and marched toward London to seize the English crown. King Richard III moved vigorously to meet Henry. One of Richard’s chief vassals, Lord Thomas Stanley, husband of Margaret Beaufort and thus Henry Tudor’s stepfather, refused to respond to his sovereign’s call, though Stanley did bring his troops to the battlefield of Bosworth, in central England.
Richard drew up his force with archers in the front and cannons on the flanks. Stanley placed his 3,000 men beyond the battle lines between the two armies and ignored their pleas to join either of their sides. John de Vere, earl of Oxford, noting that Richard’s larger army had too narrow a front to use its superiority, attacked the Yorkist center. The Yorkist counterattack failed, and Stanley then attacked Richard’s army in the flank. Desperate, Richard made a brave personal assault on Henry Tudor but was overwhelmed by superior numbers and died fighting in battle.
Significance
The defeat and death of Richard III ended the Plantagenet dynasty, which had ruled England since 1154, and ushered in the reign of the Tudors with Henry VII. Bosworth was the last significant conflict of the Wars of the Roses.
Bibliography
Lander, J. R. The Wars of the Roses. New York: St. Martin’s Press, 1990.
Ross, Charles. The Wars of the Roses. London: Thames and Hudson, 1976.
Rowse, A. L. Bosworth Field and the Wars of the Roses. New York: Macmillan, 1966.
Steward, Desmond. The Wars of the Roses. New York: Viking, 1995.
Weir, Alison. The Wars of the Roses. New York: Ballantine Books, 1995.