[Video] Today in History: August 22, 1485 — Wars of the Roses Ends

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Today in History: August 22, 1485 — Wars of the Roses Ends

On August 22, 1485, the Wars of the Roses came to a decisive end with the Battle of Bosworth Field. Henry Tudor, leading the Lancastrian forces, faced off against the Yorkist king, Richard III.

The Plantagenet dynasty had ruled England for over 300 years, but this battle would bring their reign to an end. In a dramatic turn, Lord Stanley, who had initially pledged loyalty to Richard, betrayed the king by turning his forces against him during the battle. Richard III was killed in the fighting, marking the last time an English king died in battle.

This victory not only secured the throne for Henry, who would become Henry VII, but it also marked the end of decades of civil war between the houses of Lancaster and York. With the establishment of the Tudor dynasty, a new era of stability began for England, shaping its future for generations to come.