What do you think?
Rate this book
From Retinue to Regiment 1453-1618
Richard III and the Battle of Bosworth
This is the story of two very different men, Richard III, the last Plantagenet King of England, and Henry Tudor and how they met in battle on 22 August 1485 at Bosworth Field.
The Battle of Bosworth, along with Hastings and Naseby, is one of the most important battles in English history and, on the death of Richard, ushered in the age of the Tudors. This book, using contemporary sources, examines their early lives, the many plots against Richard, and the involvement of Henry’s mother, Margaret Beaufort. It also offers a new explanation for Richard’s execution of William Hastings. Despite recent portrayals as the archetypal fence-sitters, the book also shows that the powerful Stanley family had a long standing feud with Richard and were not only complicit in the plots against him in the months before the battle, but probably laid the trap that ultimately led to his death on the battlefield.
It shows that the events that climaxed at Bosworth were made possible by the intrigues of King Louis XI of France and shows that it was not just the fate of England that was at stake but that of France itself. King Louis’ taste for intrigue and double-dealing had earned him the nicknames "the Cunning" and "the Universal Spider." The book details how he spun webs of plots and conspiracies first against Edward IV then Richard III, destabilised England, and created a platform for Henry’s invasion: policies that were continued by his daughter, Anne de Beaujeu, after Louis death.
This was also a time of revolution in warfare, so the book examines English and European way of war at the time and how it affected the outcome at Bosworth. Then using the latest archaeology and contemporary sources it reconstructs the last hours of Richard III, where the battle took place, and how the battle unfolded using step by step maps and an order of battle for the day. It finally looks at the aftermath of the battle and how Yorkist resistance to the new regime continued into the reign of Henry VIII.
The Battle of Bosworth, along with Hastings and Naseby, is one of the most important battles in English history and, on the death of Richard, ushered in the age of the Tudors. This book, using contemporary sources, examines their early lives, the many plots against Richard, and the involvement of Henry’s mother, Margaret Beaufort. It also offers a new explanation for Richard’s execution of William Hastings. Despite recent portrayals as the archetypal fence-sitters, the book also shows that the powerful Stanley family had a long standing feud with Richard and were not only complicit in the plots against him in the months before the battle, but probably laid the trap that ultimately led to his death on the battlefield.
It shows that the events that climaxed at Bosworth were made possible by the intrigues of King Louis XI of France and shows that it was not just the fate of England that was at stake but that of France itself. King Louis’ taste for intrigue and double-dealing had earned him the nicknames "the Cunning" and "the Universal Spider." The book details how he spun webs of plots and conspiracies first against Edward IV then Richard III, destabilised England, and created a platform for Henry’s invasion: policies that were continued by his daughter, Anne de Beaujeu, after Louis death.
This was also a time of revolution in warfare, so the book examines English and European way of war at the time and how it affected the outcome at Bosworth. Then using the latest archaeology and contemporary sources it reconstructs the last hours of Richard III, where the battle took place, and how the battle unfolded using step by step maps and an order of battle for the day. It finally looks at the aftermath of the battle and how Yorkist resistance to the new regime continued into the reign of Henry VIII.
302 pages, Paperback
First published October 19, 2019
4 people are currently reading
34 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
November 12, 2019
The momentous Battle of Bosworth fought on 22 August 1485 was a significant turning point in English history. In the first of a new series by Helion Publishing, From Retinue to Regiment, historian Mike Ingram takes on the task of narrating a new version of the battle based on historical sources and recent archaeology.
Ingram lays out his groundwork with a detailed survey of his sources, the family trees of the Houses of York and Lancaster, and an annotated timeline of the Wars of the Roses. He then provides a detailed background to the Wars as a series of connected events rather than a continuous conflict. Ingram goes back into the 14th Century to untangle the roots of this complex dynastic struggle that also involved France and Burgundy. Events accelerated with the accession of the utterly inept Henry VI. Then with the English defeat at Castillon in 1453 the storm broke and open warfare erupted between competing nobles while Henry VI lay catatonic. Many battles were fought, and the Throne changed hands several times, but by 1485 the crisis was coming to a head with Richard III as King and Henry Tudor landing in Wales with a small force.
Here Ingram breaks off with an illuminating chapter on 15th Century warfare, and biographies of Richard and Henry, an overview of the connections between Henry, France, and Burgundy, and an account of the events leading up to the Battle of Bosworth. Henry landed on 1 August 1485 near Milford Haven and marched into England, gathering troops as he went. Richard III mustered his army and advanced to meet him. That encounter took place at Bosworth where Richard died in battle and Henry emerged triumphant. By then events were already disappearing into misty legend and historians ever since have attempted to reconstruct the battle.
The general story of Bosworth is well known – a kingdom for my horse, and all that – but we are short on details. Or we were until battlefield archaeology conducted in the 2000s changed the game completely. Ingram has jumped on the new evidence to describe a very different Bosworth but one that makes sense of the physical and source evidence. His interpretation is convincing and likely to stand the test of time. Ingram concludes with three appendices on finding the battlefield, Richard III’s grave, and the likely order of battle.
Ingram’s book is well written and nicely illustrated throughout, with some plates in colour. His expertise in the area of battlefield reconstruction shows through clearly, and his analysis of the evidence is skilful. This is not only an enjoyable book therefore, it is authoritative. Highly recommended.
Ingram lays out his groundwork with a detailed survey of his sources, the family trees of the Houses of York and Lancaster, and an annotated timeline of the Wars of the Roses. He then provides a detailed background to the Wars as a series of connected events rather than a continuous conflict. Ingram goes back into the 14th Century to untangle the roots of this complex dynastic struggle that also involved France and Burgundy. Events accelerated with the accession of the utterly inept Henry VI. Then with the English defeat at Castillon in 1453 the storm broke and open warfare erupted between competing nobles while Henry VI lay catatonic. Many battles were fought, and the Throne changed hands several times, but by 1485 the crisis was coming to a head with Richard III as King and Henry Tudor landing in Wales with a small force.
Here Ingram breaks off with an illuminating chapter on 15th Century warfare, and biographies of Richard and Henry, an overview of the connections between Henry, France, and Burgundy, and an account of the events leading up to the Battle of Bosworth. Henry landed on 1 August 1485 near Milford Haven and marched into England, gathering troops as he went. Richard III mustered his army and advanced to meet him. That encounter took place at Bosworth where Richard died in battle and Henry emerged triumphant. By then events were already disappearing into misty legend and historians ever since have attempted to reconstruct the battle.
The general story of Bosworth is well known – a kingdom for my horse, and all that – but we are short on details. Or we were until battlefield archaeology conducted in the 2000s changed the game completely. Ingram has jumped on the new evidence to describe a very different Bosworth but one that makes sense of the physical and source evidence. His interpretation is convincing and likely to stand the test of time. Ingram concludes with three appendices on finding the battlefield, Richard III’s grave, and the likely order of battle.
Ingram’s book is well written and nicely illustrated throughout, with some plates in colour. His expertise in the area of battlefield reconstruction shows through clearly, and his analysis of the evidence is skilful. This is not only an enjoyable book therefore, it is authoritative. Highly recommended.
November 12, 2022
Much more than a study of the battle, but also contains a history the Wars of the Roses, the discussion of the weapons and warfare in this period, and a look at the lives of the Henry Tudor and Richard. This is all presented in a straightforward manner, and is relatively easy to assimilate. Not that I can follow any exposition, however simple, of the frenetic political maneuverings that took place between France, Brittany, Burgundy, and England from 1470 onwards. All I took away with is that Louis XI made chumps out of Edward and England.
Other interesting facts I learned: the young Henry Percy, Earl of Northumberland, received his early education in the Herbert household at Raglan castle at the same time as Henry Tudor. Hmm.
We have heard much about the hostility between Lord Hastings and the Woodville family, but Ingram points out that it was the dispute over the captaincy of Calais between Anthony Woodville and Hastings that was the genesis of the dispute. Moreover, Ingram suggests that Hastings’ treachery against Richard may be linked to his status as Louis XI’s pensioner.
I found the discussions of the lead up to the battle and the battle itself. It seemed that there was a steady trickle of men joining Tudor’s side. And what about the City of York’s failure to respond to Richard’s call for troops? What finally spurred Tudor’s invasion was French politics. After successful neutering Brittany and Burgundy, it turned its attention to knock off England, its traditional foe. And Ingram believes Richard marched into a trap with the Stanley brothers setting out the battle lines. And he believes it was the French columns—hidden out of sight— that destroyed Norfolk’s van. The problem with Northumberland was not that he did nothing to support Richard; it was that his troops fled early on. He doesn’t believe that Tudor was protected by a line of French pikeman. If they had, Richard would not have gotten close enough to take out Tudor’s standard bearer or unhorsed his bodyguard, John Cheyne, who would have been close to their leader. Interesting and well done.
Other interesting facts I learned: the young Henry Percy, Earl of Northumberland, received his early education in the Herbert household at Raglan castle at the same time as Henry Tudor. Hmm.
We have heard much about the hostility between Lord Hastings and the Woodville family, but Ingram points out that it was the dispute over the captaincy of Calais between Anthony Woodville and Hastings that was the genesis of the dispute. Moreover, Ingram suggests that Hastings’ treachery against Richard may be linked to his status as Louis XI’s pensioner.
I found the discussions of the lead up to the battle and the battle itself. It seemed that there was a steady trickle of men joining Tudor’s side. And what about the City of York’s failure to respond to Richard’s call for troops? What finally spurred Tudor’s invasion was French politics. After successful neutering Brittany and Burgundy, it turned its attention to knock off England, its traditional foe. And Ingram believes Richard marched into a trap with the Stanley brothers setting out the battle lines. And he believes it was the French columns—hidden out of sight— that destroyed Norfolk’s van. The problem with Northumberland was not that he did nothing to support Richard; it was that his troops fled early on. He doesn’t believe that Tudor was protected by a line of French pikeman. If they had, Richard would not have gotten close enough to take out Tudor’s standard bearer or unhorsed his bodyguard, John Cheyne, who would have been close to their leader. Interesting and well done.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews