Richard III (Duke of Gloucester) (1452–1485)

Question 1

When was Richard born?

Answer 1

Richard was born on 2 October 1452.

Question 2

Who were Richard’s parents?

Answer 2

Richard was the youngest son of Richard, Duke of York and Cecily Neville.

Question 3

Who raised Richard after his father’s death?

Answer 3

Richard was raised under the protection of his brother, Edward (later Edward IV).

Question 4

What significant event occurred in 1461 regarding Richard’s military training?

Answer 4

Richard was too young to fight at Towton in 1461 but began training as a military noble.

Question 5

What key roles was Richard appointed to after 1461?

Answer 5

Richard was appointed to numerous key roles, including Chief Steward of the Duchy of Lancaster north of the Trent in 1471.

Question 6

What estates did Richard receive after marrying Anne Neville?

Answer 6

Richard was granted Neville estates after marrying Anne Neville in 1472.

Question 7

What was Richard’s reputation in the North?

Answer 7

Richard became popular in the North for handling gentry disputes and rewarding loyalty.

Question 8

What were Richard’s weaknesses during Edward IV’s reign?

Answer 8

Richard was overshadowed by his brother Edward and disliked by the Woodville family.

Question 9

What was Richard’s role during Warwick’s re-adoption of Henry VI?

Answer 9

Richard remained loyal to Edward IV and helped Edward return from exile.

Question 10

What battles did Richard play a key role in during 1471?

Answer 10

Richard played a key role in the Battle of Barnet and the Battle of Tewkesbury.

Question 11

What political control did Richard have in the North?

Answer 11

Richard was rewarded with near-autonomous control of the North, effectively running the Council of the North.

Question 12

What military responsibilities did Richard have?

Answer 12

Richard commanded border defense against Scotland and led campaigns in the North.

Question 13

What was Richard’s reputation regarding governance?

Answer 13

Richard gained a reputation for justice and stability while supporting Edward IV’s regime.

Question 14

What were Richard’s weaknesses in relation to the southern court?

Answer 14

Richard was not integrated into southern court circles and had limited control outside the North.

Question 15

What event marked the seizure of the throne in April–July 1483?

Answer 15

Edward IV died in April 1483, and his son Edward V was only 12. Richard was named Lord Protector in Edward IV’s will.

Question 16

What key event occurred on 29 April 1483?

Answer 16

Richard intercepted the young king Edward V and arrested Earl Rivers and other Woodvilles at Stony Stratford.

Question 17

What happened on 4 May 1483?

Answer 17

Richard took Edward V to the Tower ‘for his safety’.

Question 18

What claim did Richard make in June 1483?

Answer 18

He claimed Edward IV’s children were illegitimate due to a pre-contract.

Question 19

When did Richard declare himself King Richard III?

Answer 19

On 26 June 1483.

Question 20

When was Richard III crowned?

Answer 20

He was crowned on 6 July 1483.

Question 21

What were Richard’s strengths during his seizure of the throne?

Answer 21

He gained support from disaffected nobles and took bold, decisive actions to eliminate rivals and centralise power.

Question 22

What were Richard’s weaknesses during his seizure of the throne?

Answer 22

His seizure was seen as a usurpation, and the alleged murder of the Princes in the Tower sparked mass public distrust.

Question 23

What crisis occurred in October 1483?

Answer 23

Buckingham’s Rebellion, where the Duke of Buckingham turned against Richard.

Question 24

Who supported Buckingham’s Rebellion?

Answer 24

Henry Tudor (in exile in Brittany) and Lancastrians.

Question 25

What caused Buckingham’s Rebellion to fail?

Answer 25

It failed due to flooding and lack of support; Buckingham was executed.

Question 26

What were Richard's strengths in response to Buckingham’s Rebellion?

Answer 26

He acted quickly and ruthlessly to crush opposition and maintained order despite early unrest.

Question 27

What were Richard's weaknesses during Buckingham’s Rebellion?

Answer 27

Widespread conspiracy revealed underlying instability, and the loss of Buckingham showed limited long-term loyalty among nobles.

Question 28

What reforms did Richard attempt in 1484?

Answer 28

He passed laws to improve court procedures, ended benevolences (forced loans), and set up the Council of the North as a permanent body.

Question 29

What were Richard's weaknesses in 1484?

Answer 29

The death of his son Edward of Middleham in April 1484 meant no clear heir, weakening his claim to the throne and his reputation as a child-murderer.

Question 30

What key event occurred on 22 August 1485?

Answer 30

Richard faced Henry Tudor at Bosworth Field.

Question 31

What was Richard's strategy during the Battle of Bosworth?

Answer 31

Despite a superior position, he charged directly at Henry.

Question 32

What betrayal occurred during the Battle of Bosworth?

Answer 32

Lord Stanley and Sir William Stanley betrayed Richard, turning the tide.

Question 33

What was the outcome of the Battle of Bosworth?

Answer 33

Richard III was killed in battle, becoming the last English king to die on the battlefield.

Question 34

What were Richard's strengths at the Battle of Bosworth?

Answer 34

He was courageous and personally led the charge, with loyal northern retainers remaining with him.

Question 35

What were Richard's fatal weaknesses at the Battle of Bosworth?

Answer 35

He was betrayed by key nobles, failed to build a strong coalition outside the North, and his unpopularity and suspicions following Edward V’s disappearance fatally weakened his support.