The death of Richard III at the battle of Bosworth Field (see page 48) meant the end of Plantagenet rule in England. The succeeding house of Tudor would provide monarchs such as the gargantuan historical figures Henry VIII and Elizabeth I, while significantly reshaping the country’s religious, political and cultural landscapes.
Born at Pembroke Castle in 1457, Henry Tudor spent 14 years living in Brittany after the Yorkist King Edward IV regained the throne from Henry’s uncle, Henry VI. By the end of 1483, Henry had become the most credible alternative to Richard III, a perception bolstered by his pledge to wed Edward’s daughter, Elizabeth of York, a marriage that would unite the houses of York and Lancaster. Already the favoured choice as king for Lancastrian supporters, the marriage vow also secured the backing of Yorkists disillusioned by Richard’s power-grab.