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Historical person

Richard III Biography

Historical biography and chronological timeline for Richard III, based on 90 World History Database records associated with England.

90 records1452โ€“148551 events38 places

Chronological biography

1452

Birth of Richard III2 October 1452
House / House of York ยท King ยท Fotheringay

Birth of Richard III, at the Northamptonshire Castle of Fotheringay

1461

Coronation1461
House / House of York ยท King ยท Westminster Abbey

Returns to England to witness the coronation of his brother Edward IV

Peerage1461
House / House of York ยท King ยท London

Elected Knight of the Garter. Created Duke of Gloucester on the eve of Edward IVs, his brother, coronation

Siege of Ludlow1461
Warfare / Wars of the Roses ยท King ยท Ludlow

Richard is placed under the care of the Lancastrians

Battle of Marston Moor29 March 1461
Warfare / Wars of the Roses ยท King ยท Marston Moor

Victory improves Richards chances of succession. Richard Duke of Yorks brother Edward wins the Battle of Towton

Battle of Towton Moor29 March 1461
Warfare / Wars of the Roses ยท King ยท Towton Moor

About 28,000 are killed, the most bloody Battle on English soil

1469

Capture of Cardigan1469
Warfare / England War ยท King ยท Cardigan

Richard retakes the rebel strongholds of Carmarthen & Cardigan

Constable1469
Government / Government of England ยท King ยท Constable ยท London

Appointed Constable of England after the restoration of Edward IV

Constable1469
Government / Government of England ยท King ยท Constable ยท Sudeley

Appited Constable of England, receives Sudeley Castle

1471

Battle of Barnet1471
Warfare / Wars of the Roses ยท King ยท Barnet

Helps restore Edward IV to the throne by defeating the Lancastrians

Succession1471
Warfare / Wars of the Roses ยท King ยท London

Rewarded with the Earl of Warwicks lands by Edward IV

Warden1471
House / House of York ยท King ยท Warden of West Marches ยท London

Appointed Warden of the West Marches

Battle of Tewkesbury7 May 1471
Warfare / Wars of the Roses ยท King ยท Tewkesbury

Helps restore Edward IV to the throne by defeating the Lancastrians

1472

Marriage12 July 1472
House / House of York ยท King

Confirms Richards title to Warwicks north possessions. Confirms Richards & share of the Beauchamp estates

Marriage12 July 1472
House / House of York ยท King ยท London

Marries Anne Neville, younger daughter of Warwick & widow of Edward Prince of Wales

1473

Alliance Richard III and Henry Percy1473
House / House of York ยท King

Henry Percy recognizes Richards control of Westmorland, Cumberland & the West Riding

Birth of Edward1473
House / House of York ยท King ยท London

Birth of Edward, by theDuchess of Gloucester

Siege of York1473
House / House of York ยท King ยท York

York regards Richard as its protector

1478

Capture of Warwick1478
House / House of York ยท King ยท Warwick

Takes possession of Warwick castle after the execution of George of Clarenc

Execution1478
House / House of York ยท King ยท Warwick

Takes possession of Warwick castle after the execution of George of Clarenc

Reform of Parliament1478
Government / Government of England ยท King ยท London

Parliament bans football in order to keep up the standard of archery

1480

Invasion of Scotland1480
Warfare / England War ยท King ยท Lieutenant General

Richard III launches a border raid into Scotland, curtain raiser for a full scale invasion in 1481

Lieutenant1480
Warfare / Military ยท King ยท Lieutenant General

Appointed Lieutenant General of the North

1481

Invasion of Scotland1481
Warfare / England War ยท King ยท Lieutenant General

Launches a minor border raid into Scotland with Northumberland. Invasion plans with Edward IV fail due to his failing health & financial problems

1482

Invasion of Scotland1482
Warfare / England War ยท King ยท Lieutenant General ยท Fotheringay

Richard & Edward IV meet James IIIs brother the Duke of Albany to plan an invasion

CoupJuly 1482
Warfare / England War ยท King ยท Lieutenant General ยท Edinburgh

Enters Edinburgh unopposed after James III had been the victim of a coup

Siege of Alnwick CastleJuly 1482
Warfare / England War ยท King ยท Lieutenant General ยท Alnwick Castle

Richard gathers an army of 20,000 at Alnwick Castle

Siege of BerwickJuly 1482
Warfare / England War ยท King ยท Lieutenant General ยท Berwick

Berwick surrenders to Richard, it had been surrendered to the Scots 2 decades before

Siege of EdinburghJuly 1482
Warfare / England War ยท King ยท Lieutenant General ยท Edinburgh

Enters Edinburgh unopposed after James III had been the victim of a coup

Rule of Berwick24 August 1482
Warfare / England War ยท King ยท Lieutenant General ยท Berwick

The Scots agree to the permanent cession of Berwick to the English crown

1483

Arrest of Thomas Vaughan1483
House / House of York ยท King ยท Protector ยท Stony Stratford

Richard III arrests Edward Vs Chamberlain Thomas Vaughan

Marriage1483
House / House of York ยท King ยท London

Marries Anne Nevill

Rule of Carlisle1483
House / House of York ยท King ยท Warden of West Marches ยท Carlisle

Rewarded with Carlisle

Rule of Cumberland1483
House / House of York ยท King ยท Warden of West Marches ยท Cumberland

Rewarded with the King's properties in the county of Cumberland

Siege of Nottingham1483
House / House of York ยท King ยท Protector ยท Nottingham

Marches on Nottingham

Succession1483
House / House of York ยท King

Succeeds as King of England. On Edward IVs death becomes Lord high protector of the realm for his nephew Edward V

Succession1483
House / House of York ยท King ยท Protector ยท London

Appointed Protector for his nephew Edward V

Warden1483
House / House of York ยท King ยท Warden of West Marches

Appointed Warden of the West Marshes

Death of Richard III9 April 1483
House / House of York ยท King ยท London

Edward IV names Richard as the Protector for his son Edward V

Protector9 April 1483
House / House of York ยท King ยท Protector ยท London

Appointed Protector over the 12 year old Edward V by the late Edward IV

Mobilization20 April 1483
House / House of York ยท King ยท York

Departs from York with a force of 600 to meet Earl Rivers at Northampton

Coronation29 April 1483
House / House of York ยท King ยท Northampton

Richard III joins Lord Rivers who is escorting Edward V to London to be crowned

Arrest of Anthony Woodville30 April 1483
House / House of York ยท King ยท Northampton

Rivers is arrested by Richard III on the advice of Buckingham

Arrest of Edward V30 April 1483
Warfare / Military ยท King ยท London

Richard travels to Stratford & returns with the heir, Edward Prince of Wales

Arrest of Richard Grey30 April 1483
House / House of York ยท King ยท Stony Stratford

Richard III arrests Edward Vs half brother Lord Richard Grey

Arrest of Edward VMay 1483
House / House of York ยท King ยท Protector ยท London

At Buckinghams suggestion Edward is kept in the Tower

SanctuaryMay 1483
House / House of York ยท King ยท Westminster

Elizabeth Woodville refuses to retire as Queen Dowager

Coronation4 May 1483
House / House of York ยท King ยท London

Richard III enters London with Edward V for his coronation

Alliance Writes a letter appealing to the Northern Nobles to and him in London11 June 1483
House / House of York ยท King

Writes a letter appealing to the Northern Nobles to join forces with him in London

Arrest of Thomas Rotherham13 June 1483
House / House of York ยท King ยท London

Has Rotherham arrested for treason during a meeting of the Council at the Tower. Has Hastings executed for treason during a meeting of the Council at the Tower

Arrest of Thomas Stanley and John Morton13 June 1483
House / House of York ยท King ยท Tower of London

Has Stanley arrested for treason during a meeting of the Council at the Tower. Has Morton arrested for treason during a meeting of the Council at the Tower

Execution13 June 1483
House / House of York ยท King ยท London

Has Hastings executed for treason during a meeting of the Council at the Tower

Treason13 June 1483
House / House of York ยท King ยท London

Has Rotherham arrested for treason during a meeting of the Council at the Tower. Has Hastings executed for treason during a meeting of the Council at the Tower

Treason13 June 1483
House / House of York ยท King ยท Tower of London

Has Stanley arrested for treason during a meeting of the Council at the Tower. Has Morton arrested for treason during a meeting of the Council at the Tower

Arrest of Richard of Shrewsbury, Duke of York16 June 1483
House / House of York ยท King ยท London

Forces Elizabeth Woodville to surrender the Duke of York

Arrest of Richard of Shrewsbury, Duke of York16 June 1483
House / House of York ยท King ยท Protector ยท Tower of London

Has Edward Vs brother Richard Duke of York moved from the sanctuary of Westminster

Death of Richard III25 June 1483
House / House of York ยท King ยท Pontefract

Richard III, the Lord Protector, has Grey executed for treason

Execution25 June 1483
House / House of York ยท King ยท Pontefract

Richard III, the Lord Protector, has Grey executed for treason

Protector25 June 1483
House / House of York ยท King ยท Protector ยท London

The Lords & Commons assemble in Parliament & ratify the Protectorate

Succession25 June 1483
House / House of York ยท King

Parliament petitions Richard to accept the crown. All of Elizabeth's children by Edward, including King Edward V, are declared illegitimate, and her brother-in-law, Richard III, accepts the crown

Treason25 June 1483
House / House of York ยท King ยท Pontefract

Richard III, the Lord Protector, has Grey executed for treason

Succession26 June 1483
House / House of York ยท King

11th child & Eighth youngest son of Richard Plantagenet & Lady Cicely Nevill

Succession26 June 1483
House / House of York ยท King ยท Baynard Castle

A deputation led by Buckingham with Parliaments petition ask Richard to become King

Coronation6 July 1483
House / House of York ยท King ยท Westminster Abbey

Crowned in Westminster by Cardinal Bourchier

Death of Richard III2 November 1483
House / House of York ยท King ยท Salisbury

The Duke of Buckingham is executed by Richard III for instegating a Lancastrian plot

Execution2 November 1483
House / House of York ยท King ยท Salisbury

The Duke of Buckingham is executed by Richard III for instegating a Lancastrian plot

1484

Exile of Richard III1484
House / House of York ยท King ยท Paris

Henry Tudor escapes to Paris

Invasion of England1484
House / House of York ยท King ยท Dorset

The Lancastrian heir, Henry Tudor, makes attemptts to land in Dorset & Devon

Invasion of England1484
House / House of York ยท King ยท Exeter

Executes or pardons those who had been involved in Henry Tudor's invasion attemptts

Kidnap1484
House / House of York ยท King ยท Paris

Henry Tudor is warned of a kidnap attempt by supporters of Richard III

Northern Council1484
House / House of York ยท King ยท Sandal

Sets up a Northern Council at Sandal under his nephew John de la Pole

Death of Richard III9 April 1484
House / House of York ยท King ยท Middleham

Death of Edward Prince of Wales, Richard's only son & heir

Reballion of Rebels in Brittany9 April 1484
House / House of York ยท King ยท Brittany

Without an heir & a wife who cannot have children support rallies to Henry Tudor

Peace21 September 1484
House / House of York ยท King ยท London

A 3-year truce follows the marriage of Richard's niece Anne de la Pole & James III's son

Treaty of Friendship21 September 1484
House / House of York ยท King ยท Moscow

Avoids war on 2 fronts with Scotland & the Lancastrian invasion force of Henry Tudor

1485

Mobilization1485
Warfare / Wars of the Roses ยท King ยท Nottingham

Spring, stays at Nottingham Castle & forms an HQ

Mobilization1485
Warfare / Wars of the Roses ยท King ยท Southampton

Viscount Lovel & the fleet gather to safegaurd the Channel

Succession1485
House / House of York ยท King ยท London

Queen Anne & his only legitimate son Edward the Prince of Wales die. Declares his nephew John de la Pole as heir presumptive

Death of Richard III16 March 1485
House / House of York ยท King

Richard IIIs Queen dies a year after the death of their only son Edward

Invasion of England7 August 1485
Warfare / Wars of the Roses ยท King ยท Milford Haven

Henry Tudor lands at Milford Haven

Mobilization16 August 1485
Warfare / Wars of the Roses ยท King ยท Nottingham

Musters his Army at Nottingham Market Place

Mobilization17 August 1485
Warfare / Wars of the Roses ยท King ยท Leicester

Greeted by the people of Leicester, rests overnight at the Blue Boar

Mobilization18 August 1485
Warfare / Wars of the Roses ยท King ยท Elmesthorpe

Arrives at Elmesthorpe, 9 miles from Leicester

Battle of Bosworth20 August 1485
Warfare / Wars of the Roses ยท King ยท Bosworth

Leaves from his military HQ for Leicester to do Battle with Henry Tudor

Battle of Bosworth21 August 1485
Warfare / Wars of the Roses ยท King ยท Bosworth

Marches west from Leicester to within about 2 miles of Henry Tudor

Battle of Bosworth22 August 1485
Warfare / Wars of the Roses ยท King ยท Bosworth

The last King of England to die in battle. Richards horse sinks in a bog where is surrounded by his enemies & killed. Henry Tudor is challenged by Richard at Bosworth Field. Despite having a larger army Richard is killed after Stanley defects with 7,000 troops

Death of Richard III22 August 1485
House / House of York ยท King ยท Bosworth

Death of Richard III, killed at Bosworth

Death of Richard III22 August 1485
Warfare / Wars of the Roses ยท King ยท Bosworth

Death of Richard III, killed at Bosworth

Burial24 August 1485
House / House of York ยท King ยท Greyfriars

Displayed for 2 days & then buried in the churcyh of the Greyfriars

Burial24 August 1485
House / House of York ยท King ยท Leicester

Taken to Leicester from Bosworth

Titles and roles

King ยท King ยท Constable ยท King ยท Lieutenant General ยท King ยท Protector ยท King ยท Warden of West Marches

Record provenance

This biography is assembled from World History Database records filtered by country and personal-name fields. Exact duplicate display records are removed. The database is an index rather than a complete narrative biography; formal research should verify entries against relevant primary or specialist sources.