Bosworth: The Birth Of The Tudors Birth Of The Tudors

Richard III and Henry Tudor's legendary battle: one that changed the course of English history. On the morning of 22 August 1485, in fields several miles from Bosworth, two armies faced each other, ready for battle. The might of Richard III's army was pitted against the inferior forces of the upstart pretender to the crown, Henry Tudor, a 28-year-old Welshman who had just arrived back on British soil after 14 years in exile. Yet this was to be a fight to the death - only one man could survive; only one could claim the throne. It would become one of the most legendary battles in English history: the only successful invasion since Hastings, it was the last time a king died on the battlefield. But BOSWORTH is much more than the account of the dramatic events of that fateful day in August. It is a tale of brutal feuds and deadly civil wars, and the remarkable rise of the Tudor family from obscure Welsh gentry to the throne of England - a story that began 60 years earlier with Owen Tudor's affair with Henry V's widow, Katherine of Valois. Drawing on eyewitness reports, newly discovered manuscripts and the latest archaeological evidence, Chris Skidmore vividly recreates this battle-scarred world in an epic saga of treachery and ruthlessness, death and deception and the birth of the Tudor dynasty. On The Morning Of 22 August 1485, In Fields Several Miles From Bosworth, Two Armies Faced Each Other, Ready For Battle. The Might Of Richard Iii's Army Was Pitted Against The Inferior Forces Of The Upstart Pretender To The Crown, Henry Tudor, A 28-year-old Welshman Who Had Just Arrived Back On British Soil After Fourteen Years In Exile. Yet This Was To Be A Fight To The Death - Only One Man Could Survive; Only One Could Claim The Throne. It Would Become One Of The Most Legendary Battles In English History: The Only Successful Invasion Since Hastings, It Was The Last Time A King Died On The Battlefield. But [this Book] Is Much More Than The Account Of The Dramatic Events Of That Fateful Day In August. It Is A Tale Of Brutal Feuds And Deadly Civil Wars, And The Remarkable Rise Of The Tudor Family From Obscure Welsh Gentry To The Throne Of England - A Story That Began Sixty Years Earlier With Owen Tudor's Affair With Henry V's Widow, Katherine Of Valois. Drawing On Eyewitness Reports, Newly Discovered Manuscripts And The Latest Archaeological Evidence, Chris Skidmore Vividly Recreates This Battle-scarred World In An Epic Saga Of Treachery And Ruthlessness, Death And Deception And The Birth Of The Tudor Dynasty. --book Jacket. Fortune's Wheel -- To Conquer Or Die -- Exile -- Usurpation -- Rebellion -- The Rat, The Cat And The Dog -- A Confederacy Of Rebels -- The Spiral Of Decline -- March To War -- Secret Friends -- The Battle Of Bosworth -- Our Victorious Field -- Reward, Retribution And Reconciliation -- Bosworth Rediscovered. By Chris Skidmore. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Cover Title Page Dedication List of Illustrations and Maps Map of England, France and Brittany during the Wars of the Roses Family Trees Introduction A Note on Money and Dates Prologue PART ONE: BEGINNINGS 1. Fortune’s Wheel 2. To Conquer or Die 3. Exile PART TWO: ASCENT 4. Usurpation 5. Rebellion 6. The Cat, the Rat and the Dog 7. A Confederacy of Rebels 8. The Spiral of Decline PART THREE: 'THIS OUR ENTERPRISE' 9. March to War 10. Secret Friends 11. The Battle PART FOUR: AFTERMATH 12. Our Victorious Field 13. Reward, Retribution and Reconciliation 14. Bosworth Rediscovered Postscript Appendix Bibliographic Essay By Chris Skidmore Acknowledgements Index