Richard III
Biography
Richard III was the younger brother of King Edward IV. Known as a loyal and capable military commander during his brother's reign, Richard was named Lord Protector for his 12-year-old nephew, Edward V, upon his brother's sudden death.
Instead of protecting the young king, Richard declared his brother's marriage invalid, making his nephews illegitimate. The two boys, known as the 'Princes in the Tower,' were locked in the Tower of London and mysteriously disappeared, leading to widespread rumors that Richard had them murdered. Richard subsequently crowned himself King.
His ruthless actions deeply divided the Yorkist supporters and provided an opportunity for Henry Tudor to launch a rebellion. In 1485, at the Battle of Bosworth Field, several of Richard's key nobles betrayed him or refused to fight. Realizing the battle was lost, Richard led a desperate, courageous cavalry charge directly at Henry Tudor, cutting down Henry's standard-bearer before being surrounded and killed. He was the last English king to die in battle.