New Battle of Bosworth Field site revealed [along with site of Richard III's murder]

BBC ^ | Friday, February 19, 2010 | unattributed

[SunkenCiv]

The true site of one of the most decisive battles in English history has been revealed. Bosworth, fought in 1485, which saw the death of Richard III, was believed to have taken place on Ambion Hill, near Sutton Cheney in Leicestershire. But a study of original documents and archaeological survey of the area has now pinpointed a site in fields more than a mile to the south west. A new trail will lead from the current visitor centre to the new location... The traditional site has a flag at the crest of the hill, a stone to mark the spot where Richard fell and a recently renovated visitors' centre... Of the most recent, and important finds made, was a gilded silver badge in the shape of a boar - Richard's personal emblem. Experts believe this would have been given to one of the doomed king's closest companions and lost in the final stages of the battle... Researchers also believe they have identified the medieval marsh where Richard III was dragged from his horse and killed.

[SunkenCiv]

[SunkenCiv]

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	Gods Graves Glyphs	Thanks decimon. Of the most recent, and important finds made, was a gilded silver badge in the shape of a boar -- Richard's personal emblem. Experts believe this would have been given to one of the doomed king's closest companions and lost in the final stages of the battle. Probably torn off and discarded by one of the traitors who pulled him off his horse and stabbed him to death on the ground as his armor inhibited his movements. Henry Tudor was a usurper, murderer, and the dynasty he spawned was the bloodiest and most vicious in British history. On the other hand, no Tudors, no Shakespeare, so, oh well. :') To all -- please ping me to other topics which are appropriate for the GGG list. GGG managers are SunkenCiv, StayAt HomeMother, and Ernest_at_the_Beach
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[rmlew]

I believe the term is regicide. However, I’m with th eTudors here. Richard II was a murderer himself and pretender to the thrown.

[hellbender]

Reminds me of the days when Fords could be had in Tudor or Fordor configurations (I’m serious, for once).

[spyone]

Henry VII was much smarter than Richard. So what. Being King means exerting your dominance. Thought we saw through that. We will see. Interesting/scary times ahead.

[centurion316]

A day when it was not good to be the King. Very interesting find.

[La Lydia]

Have you ever read Josephine Tey’s “The Daughter of Time,” in which she goes back and rescues Richard III’s reputation? An excellent book.

[PhiloBedo]

Yes...I was just getting ready to pose the question about the theory that Richard was setup as written about in Daughter of Time.

Great book.

[Interesting Times]

Ping.

[Verginius Rufus]

Henry VII was king when John Cabot sailed to Newfoundland in 1497 and established the later English claims to North America. When he returned to England, Henry VII rewarded him with ten pounds. Bit of a tightwad, I guess.

[Sawdring]

Might makes right.

[Island Girl]

The Daughter of Time is possibly my favorite mystery. My Shakespears prof recommended it oh so many years ago. The biography of Richard III by Paul Kendall is very good. It gives a positive and sensitive portrayal of Richard. "Truth is the daughter of time."

[tlb]

The whole business of Richard III being a bad guy was all a misunderstanding. This misinformation is corrected in Black Adder.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0084988/

[wildbill]

Hey, a hunchback who gave out gilded silver boar badges can’t have been all bad. Maybe those kids in the tower committed seppuku cause they were caught with copies of “Milkmaid” in the jakes.

If he’d had the press in his pocket like Obama, folks would still be singing hosannas to his name.

But nooooo. He had the luck to be overthrown, couldn’t find a lousy horse to get away and then followed by a line of rival who paid off a pretty fair wordsmith (propaganda ministry) whose alias was Shakespeare and the rest is history...sort of.

[MrsEmmaPeel]

Richard III hosted some amazing accomplishments that his Tudor image just doesn't jive with reality. It is because of Richard III that:

• The law of England was written in English (not Latin) - to be made accessible and understandable to all.
• Weights and Measures were standardized. A yard of cloth was the same length regardless of what merchant you went to.
• System of benevolences abolished -- no longer possible to buy your way into office. Richard wanted the best man for the job, regardless of birth or rank.
• Established a communication system that was the beginnings of the Postal System.
• Richard invented the system of bail. Richard did not want those accused of small crimes to be incarcerated for a lengthy time before their trial.

I think the most telling testimony on the character of Richard III can be made from the Records of the City of York. The Day AFTER the Battle of Bosworth was fought, and Richard is now dead, with Henry VII the new King, the members of the City Council voted to announce their great sorrow that Richard was "piteously slain" -- this was in effect, an act of defiance and treason against the new administration. I'll find the exact quote in a bit ...

[BlueLancer]

Y’all might also try “The Sunne in Spendour” by Sharon Kay Penman. An extremely interesting novelized biography of Richard from a very early age through his death at Bosworth.

[BlueLancer]

Rats ... it’s “The Sunne in Splendour”.

[MrsEmmaPeel]

This kind of proclamation was treason, and all of those who participated were risking their lives. They had absolutely nothing to gain by doing so. Richard was already dead, yet out of respect, loyalty, admiration they wanted to voice their disgust with how he passed. The actual records of York mention the Duke of Norfolk as the traitor, when historically, it was Lord Stanley. The thought has been that councilmen were working from misinformation.

Still, it is not politically correct to praise the passing of one King while the new King has barely sat on his throne.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks MEP, I look forward to it.

[SunkenCiv]

“Treason doth never prosper: what’s the reason? Why if it prosper, none dare call it treason.” — Ovid