Richard knew Tudor was seeking refuge in Brittany so struck a deal with Duke Francis II; Richard would supply English archers to defend Brittany from French attack if they no longer allowed Tudor's safety. Therefore Tudor's were forced to flee, heading to FRANCE.
This move actually ENCOURAGED further actions against Richard...
Enraged by Richard's hostile actions, King Charles VIII of France welcomed Tudor and granted them with financial & military support against Richard (it was mutually beneficial, because Tudor was attacking England, Charles could focus efforts on taking Brittany for France without English intereference)
1st AUGUST 1485: Tudor sets sail with 400-500 English & Welsh loyalists & approx. 1500 French troops.
They purposefully set sail for Welsh coast, aiming to gather more support along the way
Landed in Dale on 7th AUGUST 1485, marching North through Haverfordwest & along the Cardigan coastline.
By 12th AUGUST Tudor had acquired support of key Welsh nobles; William ap Gruffudd provided 500 men & Rhys ap Thomas provided 800. By the time Tudor reached Shrewsbury, army had swollen to 5000 men.
Stanley brothers???-secretly pledged support as Richard had kidnapped Thomas' son but they had a fierce reputation for changing sides; so their 3000 unreliable?
+ support from Gilbert Talbort; another 500men
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Henry Tudor's army; Battle of Bosworth
Henry personally was militarily inexperienced
Therefore relying on Pembroke & Earl of Oxford to guide him
5000-6000 men
Men had marched for 2 weeks; exhausted, hungry & not rested
Most men were tenant farmers, and so only recruited to serve for a limited time
These men were lightly armed (archers/spearmen)
Professional troops/retainers fought as men at arms (swords, shield & pike)
The landowners (nobles & knights) wore armour & fought on horseback. They provided the cavalry & so necessary mobility to fight on the battlefield.
Also had field guns (small cannons on wheels) but few in number.
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Richard III's army; Battle of Bosworth
Had time to prepare defences, so took up the tactically favourable position, the high ground of Ambion Hill, with marshland flanking it.
Richard had vast experience of warfare & military command
Almost double size of Tudor's army; 10000 ( although unclear if Stanley's are inc. in this figure)
Troops likely to be similar calibre to Tudor, as there was no standing army
Better equipped & considerably more cavalry than Tudor
Had travelled much smaller distance so quite rested
Able to prepare & therefore had use of heavier artillery (wheeled canons of various sizes), easily able to act as a deterrent to Tudor's field guns.
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The Battle of Bosworth (events)
Richard settled in Nottingham castle with his 10000 men & thought Tudor would be defeated by his previous supporters Rhys ap Thomas in South & Stanley's in North but instead they supported him!
With vital days lost, Richard mobilised his troops to Leicester, where their preparations began
22nd AUGUST 1485: 2 armies met
Lasted 3 hours with casualties on both sides
TURNING POINT: Richard decided to make a strike at Henry (caused by Northumberland's refusal to mobilise his reserve to support)
As Henry made his way towards the Stanley's, Richard, accomp. by roughly 100 men made a vicious assault on Tudor, killing Tudor's standard bearer, before his personal guard closed ranks on him.
Sir William Stanley took decisive action AGAINST Richard, sending a cavalry of some 500 men to support Tudor. Richard, refusing to quit the battlefield was overwhelmed & killed.
Duke of Norfolk (Prominent Yorkist) was killed & Earl of Northumberland fled before a Lancastrian victory was called
Crown placed on Tudor's head by Lord Stanley; new king of England.
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