This month's monarch of the month is number eighteen, the infamous Richard III. I have no idea what his pose is supposed to represent but he does look as if he's strolling with purpose.
Richard III from Kings and Queens by Bothy Threads
Started - 1st July 2020
Finished - 6th July 2020
Total stitching time - 4 hours 55 minutes
For clarification, there are two Edwards and two Richards in this summary:
Edward IV and Richard III were brothers
Edward V and his brother Richard were the sons of Edward IV and known as The Princes In The Tower.
I hope this doesn't cause too much confusion!
Succeeded by Henry VII (a distant cousin)For clarification, there are two Edwards and two Richards in this summary:
Edward IV and Richard III were brothers
Edward V and his brother Richard were the sons of Edward IV and known as The Princes In The Tower.
I hope this doesn't cause too much confusion!
RICHARD III
Preceded by Edward V (nephew, never crowned)
Preceded by Edward V (nephew, never crowned)
Lived - 1452-1485
Reigned - 1483-1485
Married - Anne Neville 1472
Fathered - 1 legitimate and 2 illegitimate children
Richard III became king following the death of his older brother, Edward IV, and his declaration that Edward's marriage had been bigamous and therefore his sons and heirs, Edward V and Richard, illegitimate.
During Edward IV's reign, Richard had been loyal to his brother, resulting him being named Lord Protector of the young Edward V. However, after 'escorting' Edward to the Tower Of London to await his coronation, Richard proclaimed himself King and was crowned in July 1483.
Those loyal to Edward rebelled. They failed but did start the myth that Edward and Richard, The Princes In The Tower, were dead, and that Richard III was responsible.
In 1485 Henry Tudor led a second rebellion.
Like Richard, Henry was a descendant of Edward III - Richard being the great-great-grandson of his fourth son, Henry the great grandson of his third son - although being descended through a Beaufort, who were barred from the line of succession, his claim was questionable.
They met at Battle of Bosworth Field where Richard was unhorsed and killed, leaving Henry to take the crown.
Originally buried in Greyfriars Church, Richard's remains were lost and famously rediscovered under a car park in Leicester in 2012. He was re-interred in Leicester Cathedral in 2015.
During his reign Richard improved law, order and the judicial system all over the country, including making all aspects accessible to more people. But it is his connection to The Princes In The Tower that will always tarnish his reign.
Richard was the last King to die in battle and, because his son had predeceased him, the last Plantagenet King.
So next month, Henry VII, and the beginning of the Tudor dynasty.
Take care,
Rachel x
I love these history mini-lessons. And although Peter Cook's Edward III will always by my favourite (BlackAdder I), the fact his body was discovered in a car park just makes his myth and majesty that much greater. Beautifully stitched!
ReplyDeleteGreat History lesson. We have a regular customer who is a Richard III fanatic. She was so happy to get tickets to the reinterrment and often tells us about it!
ReplyDeleteOh so much confusion... but thank you for this next lesson. These Kings and how they gain and lose the crown are very interesting.
ReplyDeleteHe seems to have been a good king, even though his means to becoming one were questionable. I read about that remais-found-in-parking-lot story a couple years ago!
ReplyDeleteAnother great history lesson. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteWell he looks like a right jolly fellow!
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