Finding Richard

Recently we celebrated the 530th anniversary of the Battle of Bosworth and the death of Richard III. 

By all accounts Richard fought valiantly, as did his men. It just didn't work out for him, due to unfortunate circumstances. We could say "What if...?" What if Richard's horse hadn't gotten stuck in the boggy ground? What if Richard, who was only a sword's length away from Henry, had managed to kill him him, too? What if...

Although I was not in England celebrating the anniversary by witnessing the reenactment at the Bosworth Battlefield, I have been finding Richard in various ways all around me.

This summer I found a tiny flowering plant for my garden called "White Knight" Alyssum. Of course, I had to have some because who was the White Knight? Richard III of course! 

My husband thought it funny that the garden company that produces this plant is called "Proven Winner." But I think Richard is a proven winner; despite having lost in battle, he is far more well-known and remembered today than Henry VII,

I recently went to the Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Two sculptures invoked thoughts of Richard for me.

The first, called "Cabin Creek" by artist Deborah Butterfield. In the description about the sculpture, which I read after viewing it, the artist had hopes to create a form of an intelligent mare rather than a war horse. For me, though, not knowing this, I saw something else. 

The lines of the horse, with the strong horizontal piece in the mane area, was reminiscent of a sword. The horse's head is down, waiting for the indication from it's imagined rider to charge into battle. I could picture Richard sitting on this horse at the top of the hill, holding his sword at the ready, and watching Henry and his troops approach.

Another sculpture that inspired me was "Torso of a Knight." by artist Jean Arp, a significant artist in both dadaism and surrealism.

Suit of Armour
Grand Rapids
Public Museum

We are meant to see a helmeted knight, in armour. He is standing, resolute and brave, watching for the battle to start. Knights in armour must stand straight and tall because of the rigidity of the metal. This reinforces the idea of firmness and strength, as well as some austerity.

What is our knight thinking while he is waiting for the battle to begin? He is probably thinking that some, even many of his soldiers will be injured or die, and even he may not make it. Richard had to be thinking of that as he contemplated the battlefield. The day would end with victory for one side or the other.

When I am at home, I bravely fly my own Royal Standard. It reminds me of Richard every time I see it waving in the breeze.

And at my own birthday, celebrated soon after the Battle Anniversary, who did I include in the decorations? King Richard, of course!

Coronation Day

On this date in 1453, Richard was coronated Richard III, King of England and France, Lord of Ireland, in Westminster Abbey.

Here is what the Abbey website has to say about it:

Richard, Duke of Gloucester, was crowned in the Abbey as Richard III on Sunday 6 July 1483. The day before he and his Queen Anne (Neville) rode in procession from the Tower of London to Westminster. On the day of the ceremony they walked barefoot on a red carpet from White Hall to Westminster Hall and then to the Abbey. The queen's train was borne by Margaret, Countess of Richmond whose son would become Henry VII after defeating Richard at the battle of Bosworth. Richard was crowned by Thomas Bourchier, Archbishop of Canterbury and the queen's coronation followed. Almost the entire peerage of England was present at what was a magnificent spectacle. The traditional coronation banquet in Westminster Hall followed.

How very ironic that Queen Anne's train was carried by the woman who would play a huge part in the downfall of Richard. What was Margaret Beaufort, the Countess of Richmond, thinking that day as she walked behind Anne? Was she thinking of her only child, Henry, and how he should have been there instead?

Was Margaret Beaufort a pious woman or a schemer?
She is known to have taken Richard's Book of Hours
from his tent at the battle scene and kept it for her own.

It must have been a wonderful occasion at the time and, with the peerage all attending, does that indicate widespread support? Maybe only as appearances go. There were undoubtedly still rumours circulating about the Princes and Richard's quick takeover.

Contemporary Illumination from the Rous Roll

Richard and Anne's son, Edward, was about 9 years old at this time and was not present at the ceremony. Some say he was a delicate child and his ill health prevented him from attending. Only a few short months later, he would be dead, and Queen Anne, too. Richard would have no legitimate heirs to pass on the crown, leaving him open for the conflict to come.

Today I am giving my first presentation on this King and my experiences as outlined in this blog and the public library. Although I lived through the Reinterment week and have studied Richard for some months now, I feel I know him less than when I started. He and his times are so very complicated. Motivations are lost in history and some things we might never know about what he did and why, or even if he did them.

History is like that, slow to reveal its secrets, and that is the fascination for many of us. No wonder we are addicted to the search!