In the 15th Century, the Wars of the Roses was raging in England.
It was fought between two rival factions of the House of Plantagenet - the Yorkists (symbolised by a white rose) and the Lancastrians (symbolised by a red rose), each fighting for the Throne. It was one of several civil wars to be fought in England during her bloody and glorious history (England not only has a long history of fearlessly fighting other nations, she also has a long history of fearlessly fighting herself).
The penultimate battle of the war was the Battle of Bosworth Field, which took place on 22nd August 1485 in Leicestershire.
On that day, the Yorkist army of King Richard III took on the Lancastrian army of Henry Tudor, Earl of Richmond. Richard III was killed during the battle and it was Henry's Lancastrians which won the battle - and the war.
Richard III wore a circlet - a small crown - during the battle, which Henry supposedly retrieved from a hawthorn bush afterwards.
Henry was later crowned King Henry VII, the first Tudor monarch.
But now it seems that, for many years, we have been wrong about the battle location.
Historians originally thought the battle took place on Ambion Hill, near Sutton Cheney, Leics., and a stone memorial supposedly marks the spot Richard III died.
So, four years ago, the Battlefields' Trust excavated the area to end the argument once and for all.
Now, experts have revealed the exact location is a field behind Fenn Lane Farm which belongs to an arable farmer - a mile from where historians originally believed the battle took place.
One object which was found by the archaeologists is a tiny silver badge in the shape of a boar. The boar was an emblem of Richard III.
Is this the field where Richard III lost his kingdom for a horse? Real location of Battle of Bosworth finally revealed after 500 years
By Daily Mail Reporter
20th February 2010
Daily Mail
Dug out of the ground after more than 500 years, this perfectly preserved tiny silver badge has finally pinpointed the exact site of the battle which decided the Wars of the Roses.
The 1.5in decoration proved to archaeologists where the Battle of Bosworth had actually taken place and it was in a field a mile from where historians have always believed it happened.
The boar badge was probably worn by one of Richard III's men during the 1485 battle
The most famous battle of the War of the Roses was fought on August 22, 1485, and famously saw the death of Richard III.
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The battle ended decades of civil war and was won by the Lancastrians.
It paved the way for Henry Tudor to become the first English monarch of the Tudor dynasty.
The battle also inspired the scene from Shakespeare's play Richard III when the defeated hunchback king declares: 'A horse, a horse, my kingdom for a horse'.
The current site has a stone to mark the spot where Richard fell.
Historians originally thought the battle took place on Ambion Hill, near Sutton Cheney, Leics., and a stone memorial supposedly marks the spot Richard III died.
However, debate has raged for centuries over the exact location of the battlefield.
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WHY WAS THE BATTLE IMPORTANT?
The Battle of Bosworth Field was fought on the morning of August 22, 1485 and marked the end of the War Of The Roses, the 30-year civil war between the houses of York and Lancaster. One of the most important clashes in English history, it saw the death of Richard III, ushered in the Tudor dynasty and gave Shakespeare one of his best known quotations. The leading role has been played by Laurence Olivier (pictured) and Sir Ian McKellen.
The battle marked the final confrontation between the Yorkist king Richard III and his challenger Henry Tudor, Earl of Richmond and leader of the House of Lancaster. The seeds of Richard's downfall were sown when he seized the throne from his 12-year-old nephew Edward V in 1483. Support for the monarch was further diminished when Edward and his younger brother disappeared and Richard was involved in the death of his wife. Henry laid claim to the throne from across the Channel. Following an unsuccessful attempt to invade England from his base in France, Henry arrived on the coast of Wales on August 1, 1485. Gathering support as he marched inland, Richard hurriedly mustered troops and intercepted Henry's army south of Market Bosworth in Leicestershire. After Richard's death on the battlefield his rival was crowned King Henry VII and became the first English monarch of the Tudor dynasty, which lasted until 1603.
So four years ago the Battlefield's Trust spent £1million excavating dozens of nearby fields in a bid to end the argument once and for all.
Last October it was revealed the battlefield was not where it was originally thought - but the location was kept secret for fear of 'night hawkers' raiding the site for treasure.
But today experts revealed the exact location is a field behind Fenn Lane Farm which belongs to an arable farmer.
The new location was revealed after archaeologists discovered a hoard of medieval weapons in the field, including the silver white boar badge believed to have been carried by one of Richard's trusted knights.
Evidence such as cannon balls - now the largest collection of that date in Europe - and pieces of armour have been used to confirm the site.
A 16th-century historian recorded that Richard was 'killed fighting manfully in the thickest press of his enemies'.
Furthermore that he died fighting to the last, not calling out 'A horse, a horse, my kingdom for a horse', as Shakespeare claimed, but, in the words of a near-contemporary chronicler: 'Treachery, treachery, treachery.'
University lecturer Carl Dawson discovered the badge next to a medieval marsh which experts say was the exact location Richard was dragged from his horse and killed.
Researchers also found 22 lead shots fired by hand-held guns and from the largest cannon used during the battle.
But it was the silver white boar badge - an emblem of Richard III - which proved to be the key in pin-pointing the battlefield.
Measuring just 1.5in the badge would almost certainly have been worn by the king's knights during his last stand.
Archaeologist Dr Glenn Foard, who led the search for the battlefield, said: 'If we were looking for any artefact at all and if there's any location we might want to find that artefact, then it's the white boar badge of Richard III next to the marsh.
'This is almost certainly from a knight in Richard's retinue, who rode with him to his death on that last charge.'
The Battle of Bosworth Visitor Centre, which is a mile away from Fenn Lane Farm, will remain where it is but will lead vistors on a new trail to the battlefield.
Richard McKinder, operations manager for the site, said: 'A lot of American battlefields have had to move their interpretation centres because they are actually destroying what they are trying to interpret.
'We are within walking distance of the battlefield therefore they can use us as the main area for interpretation and then go and see the field itself.
It was fought between two rival factions of the House of Plantagenet - the Yorkists (symbolised by a white rose) and the Lancastrians (symbolised by a red rose), each fighting for the Throne. It was one of several civil wars to be fought in England during her bloody and glorious history (England not only has a long history of fearlessly fighting other nations, she also has a long history of fearlessly fighting herself).
The penultimate battle of the war was the Battle of Bosworth Field, which took place on 22nd August 1485 in Leicestershire.
On that day, the Yorkist army of King Richard III took on the Lancastrian army of Henry Tudor, Earl of Richmond. Richard III was killed during the battle and it was Henry's Lancastrians which won the battle - and the war.
Richard III wore a circlet - a small crown - during the battle, which Henry supposedly retrieved from a hawthorn bush afterwards.
Henry was later crowned King Henry VII, the first Tudor monarch.
But now it seems that, for many years, we have been wrong about the battle location.
Historians originally thought the battle took place on Ambion Hill, near Sutton Cheney, Leics., and a stone memorial supposedly marks the spot Richard III died.
So, four years ago, the Battlefields' Trust excavated the area to end the argument once and for all.
Now, experts have revealed the exact location is a field behind Fenn Lane Farm which belongs to an arable farmer - a mile from where historians originally believed the battle took place.
One object which was found by the archaeologists is a tiny silver badge in the shape of a boar. The boar was an emblem of Richard III.
Is this the field where Richard III lost his kingdom for a horse? Real location of Battle of Bosworth finally revealed after 500 years
By Daily Mail Reporter
20th February 2010
Daily Mail
Dug out of the ground after more than 500 years, this perfectly preserved tiny silver badge has finally pinpointed the exact site of the battle which decided the Wars of the Roses.
The 1.5in decoration proved to archaeologists where the Battle of Bosworth had actually taken place and it was in a field a mile from where historians have always believed it happened.
The boar badge was probably worn by one of Richard III's men during the 1485 battle
The most famous battle of the War of the Roses was fought on August 22, 1485, and famously saw the death of Richard III.
It is in this field, where the treeline is, where Richard III is believed to have been killed in battle. The 1.5in boar badge was found there. The king's personal emblem is believed to have been given to one of his knights before their final stand
Enlarge
Archaeologist Dr Glenn Foard shows today how the badge of the boar led them to pinpoint the battlefield and where the king fell. 'This is almost certainly from a knight in Richard's retinue, who rode with him to his death on that last charge,' he said
Enlarge
The marshy ground at Fen Hole where the badge was found. In the 16th century Holinshed Chronicles (top of picture) it refers to 'Betweene both armies there was a great marish then...'
The battle ended decades of civil war and was won by the Lancastrians.
It paved the way for Henry Tudor to become the first English monarch of the Tudor dynasty.
The battle also inspired the scene from Shakespeare's play Richard III when the defeated hunchback king declares: 'A horse, a horse, my kingdom for a horse'.
The current site has a stone to mark the spot where Richard fell.
Historians originally thought the battle took place on Ambion Hill, near Sutton Cheney, Leics., and a stone memorial supposedly marks the spot Richard III died.
However, debate has raged for centuries over the exact location of the battlefield.
(enlarge)
How historians previously believed the armies of Henry Tudor and King Richard lined up before the battle commenced
(enlarge)
WHY WAS THE BATTLE IMPORTANT?
The Battle of Bosworth Field was fought on the morning of August 22, 1485 and marked the end of the War Of The Roses, the 30-year civil war between the houses of York and Lancaster. One of the most important clashes in English history, it saw the death of Richard III, ushered in the Tudor dynasty and gave Shakespeare one of his best known quotations. The leading role has been played by Laurence Olivier (pictured) and Sir Ian McKellen.
The battle marked the final confrontation between the Yorkist king Richard III and his challenger Henry Tudor, Earl of Richmond and leader of the House of Lancaster. The seeds of Richard's downfall were sown when he seized the throne from his 12-year-old nephew Edward V in 1483. Support for the monarch was further diminished when Edward and his younger brother disappeared and Richard was involved in the death of his wife. Henry laid claim to the throne from across the Channel. Following an unsuccessful attempt to invade England from his base in France, Henry arrived on the coast of Wales on August 1, 1485. Gathering support as he marched inland, Richard hurriedly mustered troops and intercepted Henry's army south of Market Bosworth in Leicestershire. After Richard's death on the battlefield his rival was crowned King Henry VII and became the first English monarch of the Tudor dynasty, which lasted until 1603.
So four years ago the Battlefield's Trust spent £1million excavating dozens of nearby fields in a bid to end the argument once and for all.
Last October it was revealed the battlefield was not where it was originally thought - but the location was kept secret for fear of 'night hawkers' raiding the site for treasure.
But today experts revealed the exact location is a field behind Fenn Lane Farm which belongs to an arable farmer.
The new location was revealed after archaeologists discovered a hoard of medieval weapons in the field, including the silver white boar badge believed to have been carried by one of Richard's trusted knights.
Evidence such as cannon balls - now the largest collection of that date in Europe - and pieces of armour have been used to confirm the site.
A 16th-century historian recorded that Richard was 'killed fighting manfully in the thickest press of his enemies'.
Furthermore that he died fighting to the last, not calling out 'A horse, a horse, my kingdom for a horse', as Shakespeare claimed, but, in the words of a near-contemporary chronicler: 'Treachery, treachery, treachery.'
University lecturer Carl Dawson discovered the badge next to a medieval marsh which experts say was the exact location Richard was dragged from his horse and killed.
Researchers also found 22 lead shots fired by hand-held guns and from the largest cannon used during the battle.
But it was the silver white boar badge - an emblem of Richard III - which proved to be the key in pin-pointing the battlefield.
Measuring just 1.5in the badge would almost certainly have been worn by the king's knights during his last stand.
Archaeologist Dr Glenn Foard, who led the search for the battlefield, said: 'If we were looking for any artefact at all and if there's any location we might want to find that artefact, then it's the white boar badge of Richard III next to the marsh.
'This is almost certainly from a knight in Richard's retinue, who rode with him to his death on that last charge.'
The Battle of Bosworth Visitor Centre, which is a mile away from Fenn Lane Farm, will remain where it is but will lead vistors on a new trail to the battlefield.
Richard McKinder, operations manager for the site, said: 'A lot of American battlefields have had to move their interpretation centres because they are actually destroying what they are trying to interpret.
'We are within walking distance of the battlefield therefore they can use us as the main area for interpretation and then go and see the field itself.
A depiction of the carnage during the Battle of Bosworth Field by 18th century painter Philip James de Loutherbourg (1740-1812)
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