Delve into the power struggles of the Wars of the Roses and the rise of Henry Tudor, exploring Richard III's loyalty, military leadership, and ruthless side. Discover Henry's exile and rebellion, strategic military movements leading to Bosworth Field, and the aftermath of Richard's death. Uncover the political intrigue of Henry VII's reign and the challenges in restoring Richard III's reputation.
Read more
AI Summary
AI Chapters
Episode notes
auto_awesome
Podcast summary created with Snipd AI
Quick takeaways
Henry Tudor's victory at the Battle of Bosworth Field ended the Wars of the Roses and established the Tudor dynasty.
The mysterious disappearance of the princes in the tower added to suspicions of Richard III's involvement in their assassination.
Deep dives
Origins of the Wars of the Roses
The Wars of the Roses began in the 15th century when Henry, the Duke of Lancaster, usurped the throne from Richard II in 1399, leading to a Lancastrian dynasty. The conflicts intensified in the mid-1450s with rivalries between the Duke of York and the Duke of Somerset, culminating in a series of battles for the throne.
Richard III's Seizure of the Throne
After Edward IV's death in 1483, Richard III took the throne by arresting Edward V's maternal uncles and declaring his own title to the throne. The disappearance of the princes in the tower raised suspicions, with strong notions that Richard had them assassinated.
Henry Tudor's Exile and Return
Henry Tudor, forced into exile due to his Lancastrian ties, returned to England in 1485 with French mercenaries, English exiles, and support from Welsh allies. Henry's marriage to Elizabeth of York solidified his claim to the throne, leading to the Battle of Bosworth Field.
The Battle of Bosworth Field
The Battle of Bosworth Field unfolded briskly with clashes between the vanguards of Henry Tudor and Richard III. Richard's charge to confront Henry personally led to his death in battle, culminating in Henry Tudor's victory with the strategic intervention of the Stanleys.
Melvyn Bragg and his guests discuss the Battle of Bosworth Field, the celebrated encounter between Lancastrian and Yorkist forces in August 1485. The battle, the penultimate of the Wars of the Roses, resulted in the death of Richard III. The victory of Henry Tudor enabled him to succeed Richard as monarch and establish the Tudor dynasty which was to rule for over a century. These events were immortalised by Shakespeare in Richard III, and today the battle is regarded as one of the most important to have taken place on English soil. But little is known about what happened on the battlefield, and the very location of the encounter remains the subject of much debate.With:Anne CurryProfessor of Medieval History and Dean of Humanities at the University of SouthamptonSteven GunnTutor and Fellow in Modern History at Merton College, OxfordDavid GrummittLecturer in British History at the University of Kent.Producer: Thomas Morris.
Get the Snipd podcast app
Unlock the knowledge in podcasts with the podcast player of the future.
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode
Save any moment
Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways
Share & Export
Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode