Bosworth Field, Battle of

22 August 1485. Battle which ended in the death of the last Plantagenet ruler, Richard III at the hand of Henry Tudor. Though Richard’s army was larger, morale was low. During the battle, troops of the Stanley family, hitherto loyal to the king , turned on Richard and slew his guard. It was at this battle that the famous Shakespeare line, ‘My horse—my kingdom for a horse!’ is about; Richard is said to have had his horse slain and, casting about for another, was unsuccessful, dying on foot.