Medieval Conspiracy & Betrayal: The Man Who Killed Richard III | Timeline

This is a story of conspiracy and betrayal, of a lust for power and a lost allegiance; the story of the man who killed King Richard III.
In this documentary we set out to prove that the Welshman Sir Rhys ap Thomas, master of Carew Castle in Pembrokeshire, killed King Richard III, changing the course of British history. Sir Rhys ap Thomas had sworn allegiance to King Richard III. He had accumulated lands and status in Wales that were dependent, in part, on his loyalty to Richard. But at the Battle of Bosworth he betrayed him, fighting on the side of Henry Tudor. He dealt the fatal blow to Richard III. We uncover what drove Rhys ap Thomas to betray not only his master but a King - and we reveal his remarkable story; from a childhood embroiled in the War of the Roses and exile to the continent, to a determined and ambitious man who brought an abrupt end to the Plantagenet line, carving the way for his own rise to power at the heart of the Tudor dynasty.
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[@ModelTrainOutsider]

Could intelligent people stop saying "changed history." You can't change history. You can only alter the course of the future. The Battle of Bosworth, the death of Richard, did not change England's history, it changed the course of England's future.

[@pauljackson3838]

I get your point but don't you think it's being a bit hardcore ! Hahaha !

[@MissMadeleine9]

I like the way your brain works. And I shall take up this banner. Also, can people please stop saying, "I could care less"?

[@yellowfellow7246]

But how do you know for a fact that Thomas wasn't actually a time traveler sent back after scientists from the year 3027 discover the exact point where the chain of events leading to planetary collapse started, back in the Battle of Bosworth? HUH?

[@idontgiveafaboutyou]

Technically it changed both

[@sperez98324]

@@yellowfellow7246 get off the meth & the crack-cocaine 💉👀

[@kalavinka3]

Makes me wonder how this documentary would be written now that Richard's body has been discovered revealing not a military execution, but gratuitous over kill and bodily humiliation.

[@jonathanbennetts2632]

It was made after. You didn't watch it properly.

[@Butchinthewaikato]

At 15 mins: "Here at Bosworth the Richard III Society, which played such an important part in his reburial.." Played a pretty important role in his finding, too.

[@YouTube4me]

Remember Richard III likely had killed the two princes (just young boys and his own nephews) to gain his crown. Richard III was no innocent. The body humiliation injuries were likely after death. It was a brutal time.

[@FelixstoweFoamForge]

Nope. In combat, you hit someone till they fall over, then you KEEP hitting them until they stop moving. There's a VERY good documentary on Towton where the frequent multiple injuries on many of the skeletons from the discovered grave pits show just these sort of repeated blows. There was a similar conclusion "mutilation", until a New York police forensic pathologist came along and pointed out that individuals today suffer similar injuries from attacks. Hollywood shows us a "one hit, one kill" myth of hand to hand combat, and I think that's why we don't really appreciate the sheer, repeated savagery of combat in this period.

[@BobCratchit-773]

Exactly how and who carried out the killing remains shrouded in mystery. Having seen his battle line collapsing under a flank attack by Breton troops. Richard charged Henry Tudor and his bodyguard. He immediately killed William Brandon, Henry’s standard bearer. The standard crashed to the ground only to be picked up, according to Welsh tradition, by Rhys ap Maredudd (Rhys Fawr).Broken bones and weapon marks consistent with historical accounts of Richard III’s death have been identified on the skeleton suspected to be the remains of the medieval monarch.Researchers from the University of Leicester used CT scanning to piece together the king’s final moments at the Battle of Bosworth in 1485. Among his injuries were several blows to the head, which suggest that Richard lost his helmet near the end of the battle. The blows were inflicted from above indicating that they were delivered by a halberd, the weapon favoured by Welsh men-at-arms. Adding insult to injury, there were also several injuries to the body, including a long stab wound through the right buttock. Scientists believe that they were probably inflicted after his death as the armour he wore during battle would have defended against such injuries.This is in line with historical accounts that describe how Richard III’s naked body was slung over a horse after his death and subjected to further injuries.

[@ericjohnson1472]

I think Richard charged thinking Rhys was going to help him, but as soon as he took his eyes off him, he came from behind and killed him, like all rats do, that’s why he was racked with guilt on his deathbed.

[@rtalbeau7965]

But he killed an even bigger rat (Richard III) so…..

[@alancoe1002]

Richard held his family hostage, just like Thomas Stanley's son, Lord Strange. He wanted Brackenbury to deliver Hungerford and other hostages to Bosworth. Brackenbury let them go where they would go. Brackenbury fought for Richard. Hungerford and the others fought for Henry Tudor. Local politics. National consequences.

[@alancoe1002]

@@rtalbeau7965 you must be related to Gilbert Talbot. Well met!

[@conniehopkins6105]

@@alancoe1002 And Richard released Stanley's son, Lord Strange even though Richard knew he was betrayed by Stanley.

[@carsonthomas4879]

I’m one of his descendants. Rhys was a stud, unlike your ancestors

[@ModelTrainOutsider]

The Tudors spent so much time re-writing the events of the mid-late 15th Century, then add Shakespeare's Tudor-fawning version, that we will never know what really happened in full in those times. Richard was not nearly as bad as portrayed, nor Henry Tudor as good. And never discussed enough was the schemings of Edward IV's wife who, upon the death of her husband began appointing her less-than-qualified family members to every post imaginable. There were rumors even then that she killed Edward. Murky, twisted events- all committed evil, none were innocent except the two young princes. By the way, very few history lessons and documentaries point out that the two young princes were more in the way of Henry's path to the throne than Richard's. If Richard did order their deaths, Henry definitely shed no tears.

[@marinatebbenham4011]

Richard was indeed not as bad as is portrayed. But, Elizabeth Woodville wasn't either... She did what any worried mother would do; why would she kill Edward? Stop demonising her; yes she was one of Richard's enemies; but she is all too often unfairly condemned; for something that any mother and wife would do. I'm not her fan, I am a Ricardian; however, demonising Elizabeth and other mothers is not the way to save Richard's reputation. We don't have to see one or the other as "bad" but doing whatever they had to do to survive in the Wars of the Roses. Yes, I'm fed up of the demonisation of Richard III; but I'm also fed up of the demonisation of all the mothers who acted for the well-being of their sons in a time when they had few rights.

[@leanie9660]

@@marinatebbenham4011 I agree with you re Elizabeth Woodville's undeserved reputation.....but there can be little doubt that she made a serious error when she tried to take control of the recency following her husband's death. Her family had no right to rule. She should have trusted Richard to do as his brother had ordered. Richard was a known leader. Elizabeth essentially tried to usurp the crown. She may well have forced Richard to behave as he did. I guess we'll never know what their true characters and intentions were.

[@marinatebbenham4011]

@@leanie9660 I think she let her maternal urges get the better of her; she being from a low-born family perhaps didn't understand mothers can't be regents. She and her family did some rash actions, which may have forced Richard to take drastic action on his part.

[@Salamon2]

@@marinatebbenham4011 She was twice a widow, and the first time around she took charge of ensuring her husband's (Sir Richard Grey IIRC) lands were there for her sons by him. She had the experience that if her children were to receive their due "rights" she was going to have to go to bat for them, because no one else was going to do so. That was her experience, I can see why it informed the actions she took and did what she did.

[@marinatebbenham4011]

@@Salamon2 Yes. Exactly. Elizabeth Woodville was acting as a mother, trying to ensure her sons' safety as well as her family. It just happened to put her at odds with Richard. As a Ricardian, I am a proponent of rehabilitating Richard III's image; but at the same time I do not think demonising Elizabeth Wooville or Lady Margaret Beaufort and putting them as the "babbies" is the way to go. They just happened to have interests that conflicted with Richard's. No one here is the baddie; just people struggling for their interests, coming, into conflict with eachother.

[@gamerdad5363]

Damn, my ancestor was a knight who fought for Henry (Sir Alexander Nans), I'm extremely proud, and at the same time, it's still a sad time in English history...I'm an American now, but it's my dream to have my family visit Cornwall, and see where we all came from, Semper Eadeam to my ancestors....i will fly the flag of my ancestors coat of arms, and pass it on....everyone needs to know their roots.

[@benaveiga546]

Isn't it funny how all Americans have ancestors who are nobility...as pre 1535 birth records were not compuslary I fail to see how Americans always trace their history back to the 15th century and before.

[@andrewwebb-trezzi2422]

It’s amazing when you can trace your genealogy back that far!

[@valeriehoward6482]

Your family was traitors! The Howards never forget treachery lol also in America now still remember, we have a castle in York named after our family, castle Howard.

[@kevinjamesparr552]

May family all fought for houses of York .Many died in service to our cousins Nevill Edward 1v in 1471 at Barnet . Richard at Bosworth . Richard 111 did not kill his nephews the Princes he was framed or how would Morton,his enemy, know where they where buried yours Sir Kevin Parr Bt

[@taylorlibby7642]

Another great video! Thanks so much!

[@rk4397]

A few years ago, I was invited to a birthday lunch for Jim Thomas, stepfather of a friend of mine. We are both interested in genealogy, and Jim commented that he was a 13th great-grandson of Rhys ap Thomas, the man who killed Richard III. I had recently read several books about Richard III, so I recognized the name.

[@benaveiga546]

Richard the 3rd suffered 11 different wounds just to the head, cuts, blows, war hammer, halbard, sword and dagger. I doubt one man killed him.

[@rk4397]

@@benaveiga546 That is probably true.

[@davidmcallister1280]

@@benaveiga546 People aways tend to lean towards one individual to blame. Even nowadays when 2 people commit a crime there is always one who shoulders the majority of the blame, I think that's what happened here.i think you are right

[@angelbulldog4934]

Rhys was my 18th great-grandfather. So good to see this and learn more about him. Thank you.

[@pentegarn1]

Hello cousin!!! :)

[@angelbulldog4934]

@pentegarn1 Hi cuz! Are you maybe in America? I'm on the eastern side.

[@pentegarn1]

@@angelbulldog4934 Yes we're here in Virginia. I'm actually not sure if this is the right Rhys ap Thomas that I'm related to? Looking at our family tree is says Griffith Rhys Price II 1500-1525 (Wives as Lady Jane Stuart and later Princess Margaret Jane Stuart) and his father was Sir Knight Price (1473-1525) wife down as Mary Trevor. And his father was Sir Thomas Price 1449- 1525. But that doesn't really jive with the guy in the video's wiki page?

[@angelbulldog4934]

@@pentegarn1 I'm just down the road in North Carolina. Rhys was supposedly the original Thomas (surname). My dad's family comes from Christopher Thomas (another grandson of Rhys), who sailed to Maryland in 1625, then headed south not too many years after. I'm sure we're convoluted cousins in some way.

[@pentegarn1]

@@angelbulldog4934 Ohh nice! Yeah I often shop in Boone/ Seven Devils NC when gas isn't too high. Yeah I see the surnames spelled Rhys...Rice...and Price. It's very confusing. I notice all my family listed above are from the same area the guy in the video lived....Carmarthenshire, Wales. So they must be related somehow?

[@saraw7812]

Love these videos, keep it up ^__^

[@jennijenkins5235]

Henry Tudor’s claim time the throne is ridiculously bad. It’s almost as if it all has to do with who can kill the hardest

[@lorenzodeagostini8941]

Im Brazilian but love English history and believe that Henry had no right to any claim to the throne. Seems like it was all just a bunch of revengeful Lancastrians trying to put any pretender there

[@sharonkesel4682]

Henry did not gain the crown by birthright. He won it by force of arms, so bloodlines didn't matter.

[@juliancain3872]

Conquest has little and less to do with birth claims. But it does make ruling the region easier when you have a claim and or marry the daughter of the last King.

[@ArminiusGloria]

Henry tudor was a usurper!!

[@alexteague9075]

He was also a coward, when Richard charged Henry hid behind his troops as much as he could. But most importantly he was a propagandist, portraying his birthright and demonizing Richard.

[@ForbiddenHistoryLIVE]

THANK YOU TIMELINE

[@211212112]

Rhys definitely had a lot to look back upon and ponder. He was the most successful man from a successful family. Everything he was in succeeded. He was truly blessed. However, many of the men who have such outstanding achievements like his often have a major failure in common that seems like the universe telling the great man he was great only cause fate let him be and even then great men are never great enough to ensure the continued success of the family. Sons die, grandsons die, succession plans are again and again destroyed. Look at Rhys families year of death. His grandpa died and not long after his father died. Then he lived a good long life. His son dies just a few years before Rhys dies. Then his grandson died just 6 years after his grandpa. Augustus was probably the greatest or luckiest. In return he struggled his whole life to have a smooth and good succession in place, but was foiled time and again

[@jameseicher6916]

Truly excellent! Thank you!!!

[@Isabella-nh5dm]

A very interesting and compelling documentary. It has added yet another piece to the History of England and Wales. Now I must complain. (Here's an OMG out to the viewing public and the makers of these documentaries.) I have no idea who does the captioning for so many of these documentaries but I feel sorry for the hearing impaired that must rely upon them to gain any benefit from the history being provided. I wonder if they use direct voice captioning system. That may be the explanation for names etc that are used many times yet never captioned the same way and certainly not correctly even once. I can't really think of anyone that could not pull the captioning into some form of accuracy and consistency. If they do have the captions done by an actual person I would very much enjoy finding and firing them. Producers should be taking more care to insure their work reaches the public in better condition.

[@colinluckens9591]

...but basically Rhys' allegiance to Henry was nothing to do with principle - really just with an eye to the main chance....and he happened to get it right

[@dthomas9230]

Richard said he wold kill Thomas' son if he didn't fight for his side.

[@rackzz9358]

Nice video

[@joesteers1940]

Probably a fair few of those who formed the Tudor ‘coalition’ of 1485 had regrets about bringing Henry VII to the throne. Life in England and Wales was generally peaceful and prosperous in his reign but his relentless regime of fines and bonds made virtually everyone hate him. From the Earl Of Oxford to the farm labourers, nobody was exempt. The country was overjoyed when he died and he was quickly forgotten.

[@heisallpine]

at the end they talk about Rhys ap Gruffydd's "bad behavior" but he rebeled against Henry VIII bc the king gave many of Rhys's inherited titles to someone else! i'd probably hold a grunge too 👀

[@theredqueen2283]

I am glad people are challenging Shakespeares lies and propaganda about Richard III , he was no tyrant and the princes in the tower is an accusation, it benefits Tudors more than richard to say richard killed them

[@clareb8015]

👏👏👏👏

[@jamesjay6642]

lies and propaganda? Shakespeare took characters and tried to illuminate what humans were capable of, the basic evil and good in us and see how they react under pressure, he borrowed many stories and wrote very few totally original stories of his own but his genus was just that, to show us who we are, warts and all...

[@HernMasterPain]

It’s the fact that they hate northern England and especially Yorkshire.

[@rosemaryallen2128]

@@HernMasterPainHate is a strong term. What do you mean?

[@angelbulldog4934]

Shakespeare didn't write anything. He was actually illiterate and couldn't even sign his own name. Just another part of history we don't know the truth about.

[@dawsongilbert968]

Found out I was descended from this Rhys Ap Thomas and had no idea that he killed a king 😳

[@flyingdutchwoman]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/bIa1qZWDoqqAmdk which calls into question your statement that he killed a king

[@veejdeej]

Henry VII is my 16th great-grandfather, so thanks from my family to yours, I guess! Without your forebear joining the fight I wouldn't be here :)

[@void.null.8917]

@@veejdeej this interaction is the only correct way to dicuss medieval ancestry omfg

[@intothewildexplore]

@@veejdeej Great scott! 😱

[@johndobson8199]

@Dawson Gilbert so am I! It also means you’re distantly related to Anne Boleyn and Elizabeth i as one of his grandchildren married in to that side of the family :)

[@jaobyeden4143]

King richard slew a standard bearer and unhorsed a 6 foot 8 giant, he was small and feeble, Henry hid from him at bosworth, Richard died a man and Henry stole the crown a coward

[@211212112]

The fact that Rhys declares his support via letter instead of in person should of told everyone where Rhys stood.

[@AB-wf8ek]

I've been watching a lot of documentaries of medieval England. How does anyone keep track of all the Henrys, Richards & Philips?

[@sallielyon552]

The numbers after their names might have something to do with it 😂

[@rosemaryallen2128]

I cannot resist a most apposite quotation: 'It profit a man nothing to give his soul for the whole world... but for Wales!' Unlike Rhys ap Thomas and the Stanley brothers, traitors and oathbreakers all, Sir Thomas More paid the ultimate price for integrity - but kept his soul, and the respect of posterity, intact!

[@jean-luceyesofyoureyes5502]

He had balls to wear his crown into battle

[@johnsrous1616]

And probably swallowed those balls when he went down

[@c.s.7266]

@@johnsrous1616 lol! No doubt

[@jean-luceyesofyoureyes5502]

@wildheart And as a true King willing to die with his men... That's pretty rare

[@gunnarnordtmme4843]

Maybe made it easier for his enemies though..

[@timrice65]

apparently Rhys ap Thomas had a lot of descendants including me

[@nealmcgloin2984]

I wonder what it must have been like for Sir Rhys to get to know his son again after the release of his son and how they got on afterwards. Still, very confusing times to live in.

[@MonologueMusicals]

His son wasn't taken hostage. Thomas Stanley's son George was.

[@wenthulk8439]

Richard III was an effective king. But he is the likeliest candidate for killing the Princes in the Tower.

[@doreensika837]

Isn’t the thumbnail pic of Henry vii.

[@Ihsaan1c]

Doreen Boadu yes

[@daniellefleetwood1765]

Well spotted Doreen. It certainly is 🤗

[@voraciousreader3341]

The kingship didn’t make Henry VII happy, nor even cheerful. His “dynasty” only lasted for 2 generations and he suffered losses which couldn’t be replaced. The only good that happened is that he ended the Wars of the Roses, but his son,grandson, and eldest granddaughter inflicted too much misery and confusion on their people.

[@rpm1796]

The Ghosts of 700 Years............Well told.

[@Isabella-nh5dm]

Oh... compelling and interesting as this documentary is I,too, am quite certain that Black Adder did the deed and he has been 'done a dirty' by not being given credit due.

[@daniellefleetwood1765]

Hi Etta, I'm sure Baldric would have something to say about it 🤗

[@luckylouis5851]

What is the music called at 10:09

[@xavierwaterkeyn]

Allegri’s Miserere mei, Deus

[@SilenTHerO78614]

Shame Rhys ap Thomas never was given the title of Kingslayer.

[@leanie9660]

Yieeee..."kingslayer" would not be a desirable title...anyway, Henry VII backdated his rule to preceed the battle, ergo, technically, Richard III was NOT the king at Bosworth.

[@yaboyed5779]

SilenTHerO78614 jaime Lannister approved

[@JediJan]

In those days a King was supposed to have been right to rule from God (by grace of God) so killing God’s representative would have been considered the worst kind of sin, and something one would not wish to be widely known. What I found very disconcerting was that Rhys as Thomas’ motivation was supposed to be the welfare of his legitimate son (he had 12 illegitimate descendants) yet King Henry later had his grandson executed for treason.

[@SilenTHerO78614]

@@JediJan eh 1 grandson out of how many aint bad.

[@SilenTHerO78614]

@@leanie9660 yes but not predated fsr enough to make richard III not king

[@2serveand2protect]

Jeesus! - what an astonishingly beautiful land!...

[@leecooper5988]

Can't watch this. Way too many adds in it. Just breaks the flow of the programme up...thanks youtube.

[@Gotabeme13]

Hmmmm, I thought Black Adder killed King Richard III.

[@lorihenderson673]

Why I have never heard of Sir rhys?? Truly I had an English centric education I know have to dig deep. ❤

[@colinluckens9591]

Wow this was published today...cool!!!😃...but, as #John Paul points out (see below), don't you think you should REALLY have released it on 22nd?

[@markthomas9769]

So the treason of the Grandson was "bad behavior"; while the treason of the Grandfather was understandable... 🤔

[@leza6288]

I wonder what he did!!???

[@Light-at-Dawn]

It is a shams Richard didn't get to have much of a life aside from Commanding an army during war. He deserved to be known as a great king in other fields too

[@reverendsaltine6852]

The narrative seemed good from what i could understand through the different accents. But the “re-enactments” were just plain pathetic and should have been edited out,except maybe for crowd scenes without the stupid tents in the background. Overall, absurdly bad reenactments.

[@pfranks75]

Reverend Saltine I agree the re-enactments are cheesy. No blood, guts or mud!

[@jkorshak]

Everyone's garb was so bright, clean, and laundered and half the participants were middle aged and portly. Both standard for most historical reenactment groups.

[@kathrynjohnson8824]

I want to know more about my 14th great grandfather. He intrigues me

[@mysticdragonwolf89]

But that’s Henry the VII in the video pic.......I’m an American Thai Asian amateur history buff and I could see that

[@Nimrodbodeinejr]

That Thomas guy is like Tywin Lannister how the mad king trusted him at the gates thought he was there to save him cause he sent a letter pledging allegiance and then when he open the gates they sacked the city and took the throne room

[@caro2233]

as french, i am listening to the documentary with subtitles (in English)... unfortunately, most of the specific names are not written down neither properly or at all... it makes it difficult to remember who's who and who did what and when... so i guess i'm learning a litlle bit, but i won't be able to sum it up with my own words...

[@YouTube4me]

If the two princes in the tower had died of natural causes like flu or illness they would have been mourned and buried with great honors. These boys (one the young King) just disappeared. In modern times the search would be on for the killer. So no this was not what a good king does. Richard lll had much to gain by their deaths. He may have done good things in his time on the throne but he got there in a truly monstrous way. Secondly- Richard lll had several soldiers involved with his death by the quantity of different weapons and wounds on his remains. The warriors ganged up on him and slayed him as a group.

[@evilqtip7098]

King Slayer... Sir Rhys A.P Thomas of Wales

[@Invisibleplqnetsmusic]

Sir Rhys is a straight up badass.... Richard takes his son, Rhys clips his skull for him...

[@niccoarcadia4179]

Traitor or hero? Usually time/history will define one's life story. History has chosen to view him as both "a traitor and a hero!"

[@douglasmiller8607]

What is it with the Welsh? I understand they were great archers but other than Rourke's Drift battle. I knew very little. Is that the reason the Crown Prince is known as the Prince of Wales?

[@cambs0181]

No that was earlier under Longshanks

[@janetiscute77]

I am in the same MTDNA haplogroup as Richard III.

[@lunalicrichard]

There is one thing that's on my mind ; Richard was a handicapt man with a curved spine . Was he even capeble of riding a horse ? Let alone fight in battle ? Now i admit that i dont know people who have curved spines , but i've seen a few and they couldn't walk very well or where in wheelchairs . And as i've seen how curved Richards spine was and the position it is in , i do have my doubts about this whole story of Richard on the battlefield . But i am no docter so i dont know for sure ... But we must not forget that this is the winning side's story , and not necessarily what really happend !

[@mikev4621]

There is a whole documentary around a young guy who had the identical handicaps that R3 had and they trained him to wear armour and ride a horse and fight - Richard the Third was a trained and fearless soldier, despite his slight build and scoliosis

[@alleynealisleem9777]

The most Spastic Royal EVER!!!🤭🤣🤬

[@josh1048]

He is part of my family my dad has Ben doing research

[@astaridjatmiko8187]

i came here because of "Requiem of the Rose King" manga

[@kareno7848]

Henry Tydder did not kill King Richard. He hid behind his guards while others did his fighting for him. In future battles he would show up late so he didn't have to fight. He was not the Lancastrian heir either, that would have been Juan of Portugal whose sister Richard would probably have married.

[@janebeatty9472]

Karen O Most Kings did not fight. He was the prize and his men would not risk him.

[@theunknownpersonism]

The Lancastrian heir if not Henry Tudor, it would be Charles Somerset, the ancestor of the current Duke of Beaufort and Baron Raglan.

[@JGMoore]

@@janebeatty9472 Richard died on the battlefield. He died a warrior king.

[@edm5166]

Make your own video

[@B-Blom]

Henry Tudor the coward.

[@211212112]

I’d like to watch the battle with Alexander the Great. Then rewind it back. Put Alexander in Richards body and/or transport Alexander’s body guard unit to the battle after they had been shown the new armor and ways of war and got sone training in. I think Richard riding down on Henry with Alexander’s body guards helping to keep him alive and cut thru anyone in the way including Rhys would of been a win for Richard. He should of developed a guard that fought better and was fiercely loyal. That might have made all the difference in the world.

[@MarkThomas-ph1ie]

I researched my lineage and found he is my 22nd great-grandfather.

[@hansolowe19]

Just want to add: that chess position (it was checkmate) is not possible.

[@JamesMilliganJr]

Guess this this why we all yell for our athletes instead of our librarians!

[@kristapitchford6718]

Richard the 3rd took his son hostage, I don't blame him for killing him. If he hadn't taken his son the throne may not have changed, the tyrant king George the 3rd wouldn't have been on the throne, and the American Revolution might not have happened. The modern world might be drastically different had that one small decision been different.

[@Suuusan28]

Richard III was Duke of Gloucester before.

[@kathrynjohnson8824]

Sir Ryce ap Thomas was my 14th great grandfather.

[@suppanutjaroanphan3527]

Really?

[@benaveiga546]

You must be the 17th person to say that here in these commentaries.

[@viperexpress305]

They were all rich crooks just like now !

[@211212112]

I think Rhys was gonna betray Richard. He used the son thing as an excuse, but taking hostages like that had been common practice since time immemorial. If Richard had doubts about Rhys he should not of asked for a hostage. He should of had Rhys killed and one of Richard’s trusted welsh given Rhys possessions.

[@conniehopkins6105]

but Richard was an honorable man and did not accuse someone of treason unless he had proof.

[@ihavenoname3014]

Oddly, the narrator's last name is "Rhys".

[@Scotsmanthebedbug]

It was Edmund Blackadder

[@ethanmyers6196]

Im related to him

[@211212112]

Rhys betrayal may have caused Richard to loose his temper and say f*ck it Im gonna kill them all and charge in instead of realizing he needed to pull back after clashing some and utilizing their superior position to inflect more damage than they took. Get the advantage and chip away at the bigger force. Repeat. Maybe catch the opposing army split and off guard. Instead of that Richard saw Henry and Rhys’ smug faces which made him so made he went for the kill by himself.

[@conniehopkins6105]

sometimes I wonder if Richard was just tired of it all and wanted to be with Anne and Edward.

[@alsosprachzarathustra5505]

I wish todays politicians would settle their disputed this way.

[@leza6288]

Same here! Lot quicker turnover!

[@johnmichaelson9173]

Th whole point of having democratic political system is to avoid violence, lawlessness and anarchy.

[@rtalbeau7965]

How anyone could think well of Richard III truly boggles the mind

[@philipandrewhughes1765]

The Red Rose of Lancaster!

[@mikev4621]

Question: Once Richard knew that Thomas was against him, did he send word to have the 4 year old hostage killed ?

[@mysticdragonwolf89]

Probably didn’t have time to do that and he needed every man for battle

[@mikev4621]

@@mysticdragonwolf89 I don't find that explanation believable - a king would have had all sorts of servants and messengers in his service . He also would have had spies observing the progress of Tudor's march across Wales which Thomas had joined at a fairly early stage, so probably must have known Thomas had defected, well before the battle.

[@justhistoire]

Rhys app Thomas didn't have to send his son after all because he pleaded his allegiance to Richard III in the note he sent. So Richard didn't have his son in his custody. Thomas Stanley's son, Lord Strange, (who was a adult) was in Richard's hands and he did order him executed (or so some say) right before the battle but his order was never carried out.

[@mikev4621]

@@justhistoire why would Richard order Stanley's son executed before the battle? Stanley hadn't defected at that stage . I can't imagine Richard to place any faith in a note of allegiance from someone so likely to support HenryTudor, but maybe he did.

[@abbyreadsandstudies]

Game of chess? More like a game of thrones!

[@anthonywarren9885]

Rhys ap Thomas family was loyal to the House of Lancaster. His father and grandfather both fought for the Lancaster's but Rhys died feeling that he was disloyal to Richard III who was a Yorkist??? Obviously Rhys was a confused and delusional person.

[@jarofrice4529]

Get it grandpa

[@spitimalamati]

I am a Yank. I believe Sir Rhys ap Thomas is my 13th great grandfather.

[@benaveiga546]

Prove it with written documentary evidence.

[@shahjhanhaider26]

He was a turncoat

[@211212112]

Was Henry Tudor actually Welsh? Also, how did Rhys support of Henry play out for the welsh in the long run? I figure before long the Tudors were against the Welsh.

[@cambs0181]

The Tudors were a Welsh noble family. He was born in Pembroke castle, though spent most his time being brought up by his uncle in France.

[@thaddeusbent9432]

Loving the salty Richardians :D Cymru am byth! :D

[@foxfoobar1600]

Let me get this straight: Richard took Thomas' 4 year old son and after Richard was killed on the battle field someone (maybe Thomas himself) shoved a sword up Richard's "backside"?

[@cambs0181]

Yep, from then on he was known as 'Taffy Brownsword' throughout the kingdom.

[@celticlofts]

Well some might see it as an act of justice that Henry had Richard killed because it was Richard who had his own nephew murdered in order to seize the throne in the first place. Some might call that Karma.

[@BrooklynGirl136]

Not exactly how it happened …

[@rachelhilla8556]

My blood

[@ImmortalDuke]

I blame Ninja

[@andythunders1049]

Rhys ap Thomas is my 15th great grandfather

[@BazzBrother]

long and short of it: man kills kids, friend of man puts an axe through his head and makes a fortune out of it.

[@davidpeterson5647]

Geez, the presenter's Welsh accent seems as thick as a Welshman's skull. And so we're clear, I have some Welsh ancestry and quite fond of it. And being self-deprecating is quintessentially Welsh!...provided the English are roped in as well. Oh look, the Tudors beat the English for the Welsh!

[@anthonywarren9885]

Richard III killed his 2 nephew's to take the throne. He deserved death.

[@kareno7848]

No proof at all and Rudder almost certainly executed Richard of Strawberry the younger of the nephews under the fake name of Perkin Warbeck.

[@guyfaulkes3035]

Plural of "nephew" is "nephews." Just FYI.

[@kck9742]

Probably, but we don’t know that for sure.

[@lynnebarnes5645]

Henry's mother was Stanley's wife who was warden if the tower when the princes disappeared, she had motive and opportunity, nothing is proven positively. Anyway they all killed opponents blood or not.

[@anthonywarren9885]

@@lynnebarnes5645 Richard put those two kids in the Tower under guise of " protection ". They where never heard from again. Use your brain.

[@12from121]

I would have left Richard under the car park. 500 years later Yorkists are still bitter.

[@idontgiveafaboutyou]

Oh bitter Tudor lover lol

[@alleynealisleem9777]

I Agree!!!

[@12from121]

Henry VII the King who should go down as a truly great king. Richard III commanded no loyalty because people knew he murdered the princes.

[@alleynealisleem9777]

I Agree!!!!

[@brettanymichellelawson-top5197]

Highly doubt that

[@cambs0181]

Henry 7th, go read about his dynasty.

[@dannyhamel81]

I am a true fan of the Tudors love the history of the battles and the kings and hated kings and the history of the two princes who were murdured by there uncle while the boys are decaying in the castles walls richard took the throne and falsely anointed as a king he did not reign much longer he took his men to battle and was taken down off his horse and died a honourable death and the crown given to henry tudor upon the family tree a queen of england will soon arose my favorite of history queen elizabeth 1st if this never had happened the history would have a different out come i do believe and always scence he had done the bad to these boys richard was greedy and hungry to take the throne so he can have power henry tudor was the rightful king upon richards death richard got his execution killed by seth

[@gazof-the-north5708]

Blackadder killed Richard iii 🤣

[@petebondurant58]

Enough with these stupid re-enactments, please. Just show pictures and interviews.

[@zipzonker1576]

You need a male narrator. Period.

[@romigithepope]

Richard III was a monster. My wife picked my son’s name - Rhys - and I was very pleased with the choice because of Sir Rhys.

[@marinatebbenham4011]

Then your wife is an idiot. Richard was one of the best kings England ever had. He did far, far more than his contemporaries to help the common people. Henry VIII killed two innocent wives too; yet no one calls him a monster.

[@B-Blom]

Richard was an excellent leader and no monster.

[@MarkWainforPGA]

Narrator's voice is annoying

[@warp9p659]

Richard, a usurper and murderer, richly deserved his fate, regardless of who brought it about.

[@alleynealisleem9777]

I Agree!!!

[@thisthat283]

Ironic how Wales wanted the change so they could be free from English Rule however....Wales is now and always has been under English Rule lol