Richard III was crowned king of England in 1483. He became king when his nephews Edward V and Richard were imprisoned in the Tower of London and never again seen alive. Historians think he had them killed so that he could become king.

He was king for only two years when Richard III was defeated in August 1485 by Henry VIII at the battle of Bosworth Field. It was during battle that he was killed.

Shakespeare found inspiration in King Richard III and he became one of Shakespeare's best villians and the title character of a play. It is thought that Shakespeare's Richard III is an exaggeration. In the play, Richard is described as physically malformed and portrayed as evil.

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Text: Hajar Yazdiha & Jenny M. Buccos
Image: Courtesy of Penguin Publishing