Historical Views of Richard III

To be sure, Richard III has "had his supporters and detractors for centuries, inspired especially by the mystery of whether or not he was responsible for the deaths of the princes in the tower," (Michalove, 1995). One can see evidence of this in the various depictions of the man in the centuries since his death. The most popular or notable of these is likely Shakespeare's grim portrayal of a hunchback king, inept in his leadership, but downright Machiavellian in his cunning, who hobbles awkwardly around the stage screaming for anyone who might listen, "a horse, a horse, my kingdom for a horse," (Shakespeare, 245). But this de

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ichard was very powerful, and none other was able to succeed (Rotuli Parliamentorum, 6:241). Still, it is unlikely that Richard was the monster that historians, dramatists and propagandists painted him to be. This is more likely the responsibility of the Todor's and, more specifically their propaganda. Sir Thomas More's unfinished History of Richard III, Polydore Vergil's History, and the chronicles of Edward Hall and Raphael Holinshed were concocted fictions meant specifically to paint an evil picture of a wicked and murderous Machavellian uncle·and this would be the image to go down in history for Shakespeare to reawaken nearly two centuries later. Upon Richard III's death at the hands of Henry Tudor on August 22, 1485, the new king, Henry VII issued a royal proclamation dated one day earlier, declaring himself the rightful king of England, by right of conquestr and some tenuous hereditary claims, and condemned Richard III as the rebellious subject whom England should be grateful had been defeated. In 1503, he ordered the execution of James Tyrell for the death of the sons of Edward IV, presumably in conspiracy with Richard himself. Propagandizing of all of Richard's faults and maliciousness continued throughout the life of
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