Richard III: His Life & Character, Reviewed in the Light of Recent Research

In Short

This historical defense re-examines the life, reign, and alleged crimes of the controversial monarch. Moving from his childhood amid the brutal Wars of the Roses to his administrative actions and fatal defeat at Bosworth, the narrative contrasts official state records against Tudor-era histories. By demonstrating how partisan chroniclers invented or embellished accusations, the author challenges centuries of settled bias. The work endures as a meticulously argued piece of historical revisionism, urging readers to weigh contemporary evidence over political myth.

The Story

The narrative begins amidst the violent dynastic conflicts of the fifteenth century, tracing the upbringing of young Richard within a family engulfed by civil war. Following the death of his father, the Duke of York, at Sandal and the northern skirmishes, the Yorkist cause rallies under young Edward IV. Through fierce engagements such as Towton, where Edward routinely grants quarter to common soldiers, and later decisive battles at Barnet and Tewkesbury, the family establishes its grip on the English throne. Throughout these tumultuous years, Richard serves his elder brother with steadfast loyalty, developing into a skilled military commander and an able administrator in the north.

Upon the sudden death of Edward IV, the political landscape fractures. A powerful court faction surrounding the widowed Queen and her Woodville relatives attempts to consolidate control over the young prince, Edward V. Appointed Protector of the realm, Richard moves to secure the boy and maintain order. However, investigations into Edward IV’s marital history reveal a prior, legally binding marriage contract, rendering his union with Elizabeth Woodville invalid and his children illegitimate. Parliament formally petitions Richard to accept the crown, which he does with broad institutional support, leading to an orderly coronation attended by the kingdom's chief nobility.

His short reign focuses on legal reforms, defensive preparations, and standardizing governance. Yet domestic calm is short-lived. Disaffected nobles, former partisans, and conspirators—chief among them the Duke of Buckingham—instigate uprisings. Though these early rebellions are swiftly put down, a lingering network of exiled figures gathers around the claimant Henry Tudor.

The work shifts to a rigorous examination of the dark legends attached to Richard's name. It dissects the primary sources of Tudor historiography, exposing how writers under the employment or influence of Henry VII systematically distorted dates and invented atrocities. The accusations—ranging from the personal murder of Prince Edward at Tewkesbury and the assassination of the frail Henry VI in the Tower, to the execution of Hastings without process and the secret smothering of his nephews—are dismantled one by one through timelines, official documents, and the silences of eyewitnesses who wrote before the stories were manufactured. The narrative concludes with the betrayal at Bosworth Field, where Richard dies fighting bravely, allowing a new dynasty to rise on the foundation of a carefully crafted historical smear.

How It Unfolds

The Yorkist struggle takes shape Amid the chaotic clashes of the Wars of the Roses, the Duke of York marches north to confront Lancastrian forces, leaving his young family behind. His defeat and death near Wakefield usher in an era of relentless reprisal and shifting fortunes for his surviving sons.

Ascendancy and northern governance Edward IV secures the throne after the bloody victory at Towton, where thousands perish in the snow-covered fields. Richard grows to manhood, proving his military talent at Barnet and Tewkesbury while earning a reputation as a loyal, efficient administrator in the northern marches.

The succession crisis Following Edward IV’s sudden death, Richard assumes the role of Protector to safeguard the young king. The discovery of a pre-contract invalidating Edward IV's marriage leads Parliament to declare the royal offspring illegitimate and offer Richard the crown.

Rebellion and Tudor scheming Shortly after his coronation, Richard faces widespread intrigue organized by disgruntled elites and churchmen like Bishop Morton. Though Buckingham's revolt is crushed and many traitors flee abroad, Henry Tudor begins preparing a foreign-backed invasion.

Dissecting the Tudor fabrication The investigation turns to the post-Bosworth histories, demonstrating how writers working under Henry VII fabricated murders and falsified dates to blacken Richard's reputation. Contemporary records and eyewitness testimonies are used to exonerate the King of every major charge.

The People

• King Richard III: A capable, loyal commander and administrative ruler who governs with competence; he seeks to maintain order during a political succession crisis, but becomes the ultimate target of an enduring dynastic smear campaign after his death at Bosworth.
• Queen Margaret of Anjou: The fierce, devoted wife of Henry VI who fights tirelessly to preserve her son's royal inheritance; her relentless spirit drives the Lancastrian resistance through numerous defeats until her final capture and exile.
• Archbishop John Morton: A shrewd, implacable political opponent of the Yorkist regime; as the primary architect of the Tudor narrative, he constructs and disseminates the detailed accusations of lawlessness and murder that define Richard's posthumous reputation.
• King Edward IV: Richard's charismatic older brother whose decisive battlefield victories win the crown for the House of York; his affectionate trust in Richard remains absolute until his untimely death throws the realm into uncertainty.
• Henry Tudor (later Henry VII): The exiled claimant to the throne who orchestrates invasions and alliances from abroad; upon seizing power, he uses political patronage and selective history to legitimize his new dynasty.

In Its Own Voice

"There are periods of history when the greatest caution is called for in accepting statements put forward by a dominant faction."

Writing in the preface, the author establishes his guiding principle that political victors routinely rewrite the past to justify their own rule.

"My own conclusions are that Richard III. must be acquitted on all the counts of the indictment."

The central thesis is boldly stated, declaring that rigorous examination of surviving official records clears the King of every traditional crime.

"The fifteenth century was the golden age of the labourer. At no time were wages relatively so high."

In a brief divergence into social history, the author notes the economic reality and living standards of common English citizens during this period.

What It's Really About

At its core, the work is an inquiry into how political propaganda transforms into accepted historical truth. It examines the process by which a defeated ruler's public record can be systematically dismantled and replaced by caricature when a victor holds absolute power over chroniclers. By contrasting official parliamentary rolls, financial ledgers, and foreign dispatches against the stories penned under Tudor patronage, the text questions the reliability of traditional authority. Beyond the specific defense of Richard, it raises broader questions about evidence, partisan bias, and the historical duty to re-examine received narratives when common sense and contemporary documentation contradict them.

Why Read It Today

This volume appeals to readers who enjoy detailed historical detective work and robust revisionist arguments. Rather than offering a dry academic treatise, the prose carries a confident, energetic tone that treats the reader as a fellow investigator weighing evidence. It captures the atmosphere of fifteenth-century England—from the clash of armies in snow-covered fields to the parliamentary debates and daily costs of living—with remarkable clarity.

The experience of reading it is engaging, though it presents certain period difficulties. The text contains extensive lists of historical figures, legal attainders, and detailed breakdowns of prices and wages that require patient attention. Additionally, the author's unabashed sympathy for his subject and sharp dismissal of Tudor writers like Polydore Virgil demand that the reader stay critically engaged. What stays with you is a heightened skepticism toward popular historical mythmaking and a renewed appreciation for grounding claims in primary evidence rather than dramatic tradition.