15th October 2014
History
Why did Henry Tudor win the Battle of Bosworth in 1485?

Lead up to Battle

RICHARD III STRENGTHS | HENRY TUDOR STRENGTHS | * Beacon network in place to warn of Tudor’s invasion | * Due to ‘Bucks’ rebellion, he knew he had to plan his second invasion with great political, military and diplomatic care | * Reinforced his position | * His promise to marry Elizibeth of York won support from disaffected Royal Servants in England | * Placed himself in Nottingham Castle, putting himself centrally in England | * Tudor had agents frequently crossing the Channel to assess and build his level of public support | * Had a large army (10,000-15,000) | * Tudor’s mother, Margarat Beaufort, was in a strong position to influence her opinions as she was married to the powerful Noble Lord Stanley | * Already repelled Henry’s invasion in 1483 | * Charles VIII of France lent him 60,000 francs and Philibert de Chandee gave him 1,800 merceneries | * Started the Battle on Higher Ground (Ambien Hill) | * Rhys ap Thomas brought additional 1800-2000 men, Sir Richard Corbet brought 800 men whilst Sir Gilbert Talbot brought 500 men | * Had Lord Stanley’s son (Lord Strange) as hostage | * Tudor went through Wales unopposed | * Able warrior | |

RICHARD III WEAKNESSES | HENRY TUDOR WEAKNESSES | * Spent huge amounts of money commisioning a fleet in Southampton | * No Great Magnate had fully declared for him- No guarantee of support | * Some of his men defected to Tudor (Rhys ap Thomas and Lord Stanley) | * Forced to flee from Brittany | * Alienated much of the Nobility due to usurptions, Mystery over the Princes and various rumours | * Inexperienced in battle and English politics | | * Support base in Brittany and France was small | | * Started the Battle of Bosworth in a marsh | | * Small army of about 5,000 men |

The Battle of Bosworth

RICHARD III STRENGTHS | HENRY TUDOR STRENGTHS | * Large army of about 10,000 men | * Earl of Oxford, an experienced warrior, lead the vanguard | * Started on higher ground (Ambien Hill) | * Philibert de Chandee’s pikemen executed a complex manoeuvre never seen before in Britain to protect Henry Tudor | * Killed Tudor loyalists Willam Brandon and John Cheney | * Sir William Stanley intervened with his retinue to save Tudor | | * Had highly professional merceneries | | * Killed Richard III and rounded his army |

RICHARD III WEAKNESSES | HENRY TUDOR WEAKNESSES | * Led a rash charge to personally end Tudor’s challenge -This resulted in him losing high ground and his death | * Maximum of 5,000 men of various nationalities | | * Lord Stanley played no part in the Battle | | * Unsure of his support even after the start of the Battle |