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The Battle of Bosworth Field was the last proper battle between the houses of York and Lancaster, and occurred on August the 22nd 1485 during the Wars of the Roses and marked the end of the Plantagenet dynasty in England and the start of the Tudor dynasty.
The battle was fought on and around Ambion Hill close to Sutton Cheney and lasted two hours. Richard III had the advantage, and had the opportunity to attack Henry's van under Lord Oxford while it was still deploying. However, Richard III failed to attack and Oxford was allowed to launch his own attack in which the Duke of Norfolk, commanding Richard's front, was killed. The battle was evenly matched to begin with, until both the Stanleys betrayed Richard III, withdrawing their support and switching sides, and the Earl of Northumberland failed to bring the rearguard into action, he too treacherously deserting his king.
Richard III was killed at the battle - how he met his end is unclear, but one account states he was in pursuit of the traitor William Stanley - and afterwards his supporters had no more desire or incentive to continue the fighting and fled the battlefield. After the battle the traitor William Stanley recovered the king's circlet and placed it upon the new king's head.
 Research Battle of Bosworth Field
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Abbreviations
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