History is usually written by the winners, but in the case of the Battle of Bosworth Field, it was written by the Tudors. That's a problem. If you grew up watching Shakespeare or reading standard textbooks, you probably picture Richard III as a hunchbacked villain biting his lip in the mud while a heroic Henry Tudor saves England. It makes for a great play. It’s also mostly nonsense.
The reality was messier.
On August 22, 1485, the course of English history changed on a patch of marshy ground in Leicestershire. But this wasn't just a simple "good guy vs. bad guy" showdown. It was a chaotic, desperate gamble involving betrayals that would make a modern politician blush, a massive geographical mistake that lasted five centuries, and a crown literally found in a hawthorn bush. Or so they say.
The Road to Bosworth: A Game of Musical Chairs
To understand why the Battle of Bosworth Field happened, you have to look at the Wars of the Roses as a massive family feud that spiraled out of control. By 1485, the country was exhausted. People were tired of the fighting. Richard III had been on the throne for two years, but his reign was shaky from the start. He’d taken the crown after declaring his nephews—the famous "Princes in the Tower"—illegitimate.
Whether he killed them is still debated by the Richard III Society and historians like Philippa Langley, but the perception that he was a usurper was enough to give Henry Tudor an opening.
Henry was an underdog. Honestly, he had a pretty weak claim to the throne. He was living in exile in France, waiting for the right moment. When he finally landed at Milford Haven in Wales, he didn't have a massive army. He had a ragtag group of French mercenaries, some hardened exiles, and a lot of hope. He marched through Wales, picking up supporters along the way, while Richard waited at Nottingham.
The two forces finally collided near Market Bosworth.
Where Did the Battle of Bosworth Field Actually Happen?
For about 500 years, everyone thought the battle took place on Ambion Hill. There’s a nice visitor center there. You can walk the trails. The only issue? It’s the wrong spot.
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In 2010, a massive archaeological survey led by Dr. Glenn Foard found the real battlefield. They didn't find it by looking for skeletons. They found it by looking for lead. They discovered the largest collection of medieval artillery round shot ever found in Europe. It turns out the Battle of Bosworth Field actually took place about two miles southwest of Ambion Hill, in a low-lying, marshy area near a place called Fenn Lane.
This changes how we view the tactics. Richard wasn't just sitting on a hill waiting. The marsh was a physical barrier that dictated every move.
The Three Armies and the Great Betrayal
Most people think there were two sides at Bosworth. There were actually three.
- Richard III’s Royal Army: The biggest force. Well-equipped. They had the high ground (initially) and the better artillery.
- Henry Tudor’s Rebel Army: Smaller, largely made up of French and Scottish soldiers, plus Welsh recruits.
- The Stanley Family: This is the wild card. Thomas Stanley and his brother William sat on a nearby ridge with about 6,000 men. They just watched.
Imagine being Henry or Richard. You’re fighting for your life, and you keep glancing over at the Stanleys, wondering, "Are they going to help me or kill me?" Thomas Stanley was Henry’s stepfather, but Richard was holding Stanley’s son hostage to ensure loyalty.
Talk about high stakes.
The fighting was brutal. Medieval warfare wasn't graceful. It was a chaotic mess of poleaxes, bills, and longbows. The introduction of early firearms and cannons at Bosworth made it even louder and smokier than previous battles. The ground was boggy. Men in heavy plate armor were slipping in the mud, struggling to stay upright.
The Charge That Changed Everything
Richard III was many things, but he wasn't a coward.
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Seeing Henry Tudor’s standard in the distance—protected by only a small guard—Richard decided to end the war in one shot. He lowered his lance and led a thunderous cavalry charge directly at Henry. It was a "Hail Mary" move.
He actually succeeded in killing Henry’s standard-bearer, Sir William Brandon. He even unhorsed a giant of a man named Sir John Cheyne. He was within feet of Henry Tudor. This was the moment. If Richard kills Henry, the Tudor dynasty never happens. No Henry VIII. No Elizabeth I. No Shakespeare.
But then, the Stanleys finally made their move.
Seeing Richard separated from his main army and vulnerable, William Stanley ordered his men to charge. They didn't charge Henry. They charged Richard.
Richard was surrounded. His horse got stuck in the marshy ground. His followers urged him to flee, but he reportedly shouted that he would die King of England. And he did. He was hacked to death so violently that his skull was partially sliced away—a detail confirmed when his remains were famously found under a parking lot in Leicester in 2012.
The Aftermath: A New Era
With Richard dead, the crown was allegedly found under a hawthorn bush and placed on Henry’s head. Henry VII became the first Tudor king, ending the Plantagenet line that had ruled for centuries.
He was smart. He married Elizabeth of York, the daughter of the late King Edward IV, effectively "merging" the two warring houses. The Red Rose and the White Rose became the Tudor Rose.
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But Bosworth wasn't just the end of a war. It was the end of an era. It’s often cited as the closing chapter of the Middle Ages in England. The feudal system was dying, and the centralized, powerful modern state was beginning to take shape.
Why We Still Care About Bosworth Today
The Battle of Bosworth Field sticks in our collective memory because it’s the ultimate "what if?"
What if the marsh hadn't been there? What if the Stanleys had stayed neutral? What if Richard’s lance had been six inches to the left?
The discovery of Richard III’s body in 2012 reignited the world's obsession. It reminded us that history isn't just words in a book—it’s physical. We saw the scoliosis in his spine (not a "hunchback," but a significant curve) and the trauma from the weapons that killed him. It made the 15th century feel incredibly real.
Practical Steps for History Buffs
If you want to experience the Battle of Bosworth Field beyond the myths, here is how to do it properly.
- Visit the Battle of Bosworth Country Park: Even though the actual fighting was two miles away, the visitor center is top-tier. They have updated their exhibits to reflect the 2010 discovery.
- Check out the Leicester Cathedral: This is where Richard III is now buried. The tomb is modern, dignified, and a far cry from the "dog's burial" he was originally given at Greyfriars.
- Read "The King’s Grave" by Philippa Langley: She’s the woman who pushed for the excavation of the parking lot. It’s a fascinating look at how amateur passion can sometimes outpace academic skepticism.
- Look at the 2010 Survey Maps: Search for the Bosworth Battlefield Heritage Centre’s research papers. Seeing the distribution of where the lead shot was found gives you a much better sense of the tactical movements than any artist’s rendition.
- Avoid the "Tudor Myth": When reading about Richard III, always check the date of the source. Anything written between 1485 and 1603 is likely influenced by the need to make the Tudors look like legitimate liberators.
The battle wasn't just a win for Henry Tudor; it was a survival story. He arrived with nothing and left with a kingdom. Richard III arrived with a kingdom and left as a body stripped naked and slung over a horse. It’s a stark reminder of how quickly power can vanish in the mud of a Leicestershire field.