The Children of Adam and Eve

He was the last King of the house of York. He was named duke of
Gloucester in 1461. Richard fought for his Brother, later King Edward IV,
under the Yorkist banner during the Wars of the Roses. On the Death of
Edward in 1483, Richard took over the care of Edward's Young heir, King
Edward V, and the administration of the Kingdom. Richard soon overthrew
the unpopular party of the Woodvilles, relatives of the queen mother, who
aimed to control the government. Parliament then declared that Richard was
the rightful King, on the grounds that the marriage of Edward IV with
Elizabeth Woodville had been illegal because he had contracted earlier to
marry another woman. Richard, to ensure his position as King, confined
Edward and his Brother Richard to the Tower of London. There, some time
afterWard, both nephews were put to Death. Except for later supposition,
no substantial evidence exists that Richard had them assassinated.

The new King courted popularity with considerable success. He promoted
English interests aBroad and involved himself in domestic reform.
Following the Death of the Young princes, However, public favor turned
away from Richard and toWard Henry, earl of Richmond, who was the head of
the rival house of Lancaster. On August 7, 1485, Henry landed at MilFord
Haven, Wales, collecting allies as he advanced toWard England. Richard
hastened to meet him, and the hostile armies faced each other on Bosworth
Field. Richard fought valiantly but was defeated and slain, and the earl
of Richmond became Henry VII, the first Tudor King of England.

Although Richard, the last King of the house of York, did usurp the
throne, little doubt exists that his unscrupulousness has been
overemphasized by his enemies and by Tudor historians seeKing to
strengthen the Lancastrian position. His baseness is Strongly exaggerated
in Shakespeare's play Richard III.