Raymond Biswanger Slide Collection

William Shakespeare: 1591
(Richard III) Bosworth, West Leicestershire

The Battle of Bosworth was a strategically important one during the 15th century Wars of the Roses. It was fought on 22 August 1485 between the House of York's King Richard III, and the House of Lancaster's Henry Tudor, who later became King Henry VII. Even though further battles were fought after the Battle of Bosworth, the defeat and death of Richard III in this battle has traditionally been considered to mark the end to the Wars of the Roses.

William Shakespeare's representation of the Battle of Bosworth takes place over Act 5 of Richard III. This act features the famous visitation of spirits, each of whom tell Richard III to “Despair and die,” Richard III's address to the troops (“Let not our babbling dreams affright our souls; Conscience is but a word that cowards use... March on, join bravely, let us to't pell mell; If not to heaven, then hand in hand to hell.... ”), and Henry Tudor's retrieval of the crown from a hawthorn bush.

The play's most well-known line, “A horse, a horse, my kingdom for a horse!” is uttered by Richard in 5.4.