The Battle of Bosworth Field, fought on August 22, 1485, stands as one of the most pivotal clashes in English history. It marked the end of the Wars of the Roses, a series of dynastic conflicts between the Houses of Lancaster and York, and ushered in the Tudor dynasty, which would profoundly shape England’s future. Here are ten key facts about this landmark battle that everyone interested in English history should know.

 The Battle Marked the End of the Wars of the Roses

The Wars of the Roses were a series of civil wars fought intermittently from 1455 to 1487 between the rival factions of the House of Lancaster (red rose) and the House of York (white rose). The Battle of Bosworth was effectively the last major battle of this conflict, leading to the downfall of the Yorkist King Richard III and the rise of Henry Tudor.

  Richard III vs. Henry Tudor: The Main Combatants

The battle was primarily between King Richard III, the last Yorkist king, and Henry Tudor, the Lancastrian claimant. Richard III had been crowned king in 1483 after the mysterious disappearance of his nephews (the Princes in the Tower). Henry Tudor, a distant Lancastrian relative living in exile, invaded England with the aim of claiming the throne.

 Henry Tudor’s Victory Founded the Tudor Dynasty

Henry Tudor’s triumph at Bosworth led him to become King Henry VII. This victory ended the Plantagenet dynasty and started the Tudor reign, which would include monarchs like Henry VIII and Elizabeth I. The Tudors brought a period of relative stability and significant political, religious, and cultural change shutdown123