Does Richard III Deserve His Reputation Essay

, Research Paper

Richard III, a wicked tyrant, an unscrupulous murderer, a

deformed hunchback. Just some of the reputations and images that have been

associated with this notorious king ever since his death on the fields of

Bosworth. The one thing that is clear is that Richard III is the most

controversial of all kings and this controversy may go some way to explaining

his extreme reputations. There are a number of factors that one needs to

explore before one can make such a clear and distinct historical judgement.There are two main reasons why he is lumbered with such a

negative image, firstly of his own doing, the manner in which he usurped the

throne and secondly the manner in which Richards unscrupulousness? have been

overemphasised by Tudor Historians. Politics in fifteenth-century England was cruel and

violent. Richard III is infamous for murdering his way to the throne, but one

must also consider such antics that had taken place previously. Edward IV had

overthrown his predecessor and was responsible for the deaths of Henry VI and

even that of his own brother. But Richard III most memorable misdemeanour was

the murder of the two young princes, one of which was soon to be king. Although

there is doubt over his guilt, and most evidence is circumstantial there is

little doubt that he was responsible, he had a motive, access and the decisive

point for me was that he could not produce them when under pressure during the

rebellion of 1483. So, although his actions were not as extreme as we are made

to believe he certainly didn?t do himself any favours.His own actions gave a perfect platform for such writers

as Virgil, Moore and Shakespeare to blacken his name even more so through there

writings. Many peoples image of Richard III is influenced by Shakespeare?

portrait of a limping hunchback with a withered arm, but the sources he used

were from the Tudor period, sources like those of Virgil, they were clearly

hostile to Richard. For example Virgil gives contrasting accounts of Richard,

?little of stature, deformed of body, one shoulder higher than the other? and

his report of his death ?Richard alone was killed fighting manfully in the

thickest press of his enemies?, is he talking about the same man! I think it is

fair to say that Richards physical and mental condition were not nearly as bad

as these Tudor Historians would like us to believe. The historian Sir Winston

Churchill said ?no-one in his lifetimes seem to have remarked these

deformities, but they are now very familiar to us through Shakespeare play?[1]Richard did have some positives, ?Richard III was a man of

considerable, energy and attractiveness? 2.

?The intellectual depth and political ability was always there? 3. In my opinion Richard III doesn?t

deserve such a reputation. Although it is difficult to judge one must consider

the context in which all this took place, this was a time of political

instability. One thing is for sure; his antics and reputation will mean that he

will never be forgotten in English folk law.?

[1] 1 ?Sir

Winston Churchill ? History of the English Speaking Peoples 2? A.J

Pollard ? Richard III and the Princes in the Tower 3? M.A

Hicks ? Richard III, The Man Behind the Myth