The Battle of Bosworth Field Trivia Quiz

Answer: The Wars of the Roses

The Wars of the Roses was a dynastic struggle between the Houses of York and Lancaster. Each family had a rose as part of their crest. The white rose was for York, and the red rose was Lancaster.

Answer: August 22, 1485

1455 was the year of the first battle of the war. This took place at St Albans. There was a second Battle of St Albans six years later. March 1461 saw the Battle of Towton, just a month after St Albans. April 14th 1471 was the Battle of Barnet and saw the death of Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick aka 'The Kingmaker'.

Answer: Henry VII

Henry VII was born Henry Tudor in 1457 at Pembroke Castle. Henry VI was on the throne at the beginning of the Wars of the Roses. Richard III was, of course, the vanquished King at Bosworth Field. Edward was his brother, and father of the Princes in the Tower.

Answer: True

Henry VII married Elizabeth of York, daughter of Edward IV, in 1486.They had a total of seven children. Their only surviving son went on to become one of England's best known Kings, Henry VIII.

Answer: Lord Thomas and Sir William Stanley

Without the Stanleys' armies Richard only had around 3,000 men. He had heard that Lord Stanley had already said that he would support Henry Tudor. To try and force him to change his mind, Richard had Stanley's eldest son taken hostage. When Richard threatened to have him executed Stanley is quoted as saying 'Sire, I have other sons'. Oxford fought on the side of Henry, and Northumberland, although present on Richard's side, took no action in the battle.

There is no documentary evidence for either of these men having brothers at the scene.

Answer: The River Soar

When Grey Friars was dissolved in the Reformation Richard's people said his bones were dumped in the river. His tomb, which was eventually paid for by Henry VII, was upturned and used as a horse trough. Nothing remains of it today. Richard is one of only two English Kings (since 1066) not to have a splendid tomb. Archaeologists, in 2012, found a skeleton buried under a car park which is on the site of the former Greyfriars. DNA analysis has shown that they are the remains of Richard.

Answer: Bow Bridge

The story says that a wise woman foretold that when Richard left the city wherever his spur struck on the way out, his head would strike on the way back. Legend has it that when he was brought back to Leicester, draped across the back of a horse, his head was smashed against the bridge pillar.

Answer: true

This is because Henry was descended from an illegitimate son of John of Gaunt, the third son of Edward III. Although the line was legitimised in 1397 it was barred from succession to the throne. Richard's claim is traced back to Edward through the Dukes of York.

Answer: Pembrokeshire

Henry landed at a small inlet just to the north of what is now Milford Haven. His first act was to take control of the castle at Dale. His forces consisted mainly of mercenaries and troops supplied by the French. On his march through Wales he picked up support from the local gentry, most notably Rhys ap Thomas.

Answer: Treason, treason, treason.

Surrounded by enemies, his loyal supporters dying around him, Richards final words reflect the treachery of the Stanley brothers and the cowardice of Northumberland. Richard died fighting bravely, on foot, finally felled by a Welsh halberd.