Battle of Bosworth Field: Richard III’s Restless Spirit

On August 22, 1485, King Richard III led his army against the rebel Henry Tudor. By the end of the day, Richard was dead—the last English king to die in battle—and the Tudor dynasty had begun. The discovery of Richard’s skeleton in 2012 and his reburial in 2015 renewed interest in his ghost, which had been reported at Bosworth for centuries.

The History

The Battle

Richard III was king of England, but his claim was challenged:

• Henry Tudor landed with a Franco-Welsh army
• Richard had the larger force
• Lord Stanley’s forces stood aside
• Richard charged Henry’s position personally
• He was cut down just short of his enemy

Richard’s Death

Richard III died fighting:

• His horse became stuck in marshy ground
• He was surrounded by Welsh soldiers
• His last words: “Treason! Treason!”
• His body was stripped and humiliated

The Lost Grave

Richard was buried in Greyfriars Church, Leicester:

• The church was dissolved in the Reformation
• The grave was lost
• His skeleton was discovered in 2012 under a car park
• He was reburied in Leicester Cathedral in 2015

The Hauntings

Richard III’s Ghost

The last Plantagenet king appears:

• On horseback, charging across the field
• In his battle armor
• Crown on his head
• He seems to be re-fighting his last moments
• The charge replays eternally

The Battle Echoes

The sounds of medieval warfare:

• Clash of armor and weapons
• Horses and men screaming
• Commands shouted
• The chaos of combat
• Dawn brings silence again

Stanley’s Treachery

Lord Stanley’s forces betrayed Richard:

• Phantom armies stand watching
• They refuse to move
• The betrayal that cost Richard everything
• Stanley placed the crown on Henry’s head

Crown Hill

Where Richard died and the crown was found:

• Intense activity at this location
• Figures struggling
• A fallen king
• The moment when England changed forever

After the 2012 Discovery

Since Richard’s remains were found:

• Activity may have decreased
• Some say his spirit found peace
• Others report continued sightings
• The reburial in 2015 was dignified
• Did it release his ghost?

The Visitor Centre

Bosworth Battlefield Heritage Centre:

• Tells the story of the battle
• Staff have reported phenomena
• The atmosphere is charged
• Visitors feel the weight of history

Modern Activity

Bosworth remains haunted:

• Anniversary sightings are common
• Local residents have stories
• The battlefield is well preserved
• Richard’s ghost rides on

---

Richard III was the last English king to die in battle, his crown lost in the mud of Bosworth Field. For over 500 years, his ghost haunted the site of his death and defeat. His body has been found and honorably reburied—but some say his spirit still charges across the field, seeking the victory that was stolen from him.