Richard III of England Richard III of England Richard III (2 October 1452 – 22 August 1485) was King of England from 1483 until his death at the Battle of Bosworth Field. He was the last king of the House of York and the last of the Plantagenet dynasty. His defeat at Bosworth Field, the last decisive battle of the Wars of the Roses, marked the end of the Middle Ages in England. He is the protagonist of "Richard III", one of William Shakespeare's history plays. When his brother King Edward IV died in April 1483, Richard was named Lord Protector of the realm
Richard III (play) in full swing, and Richard is left at a disadvantage. Richard is soon unhorsed on the field at the climax of the battle, and cries out, "A horse, a horse, my kingdom for a horse!" Richmond kills Richard in the final duel. Subsequently, Richmond succeeds to the throne as Henry VII, and marries Princess Elizabeth from the House of York. "Richard III" is believed to be one of Shakespeare's earlier plays, preceded only by the three parts of "Henry VI" and perhaps "Titus Andronicus" and a handful of comedies. It is believed to have been written c. 1592–1594. Although "Richard