Richard III's traumatic childhood

In the first episode of our new series The Full Story, Chris Skidmore tells Spencer Mizen how a traumatic youth – witnessing war, rebellion and the brutal death of his father – shaped the reign of the Plantagenet king

Composite image featuring a colour portrait of Richard III on the left, overlaid on a black-and-white illustration of a chaotic medieval battle with armoured soldiers, swords, shields and horses

Published: October 26, 2026 at 10:30 AM

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Richard III is one of the most divisive kings in all of English history – a man whose seizure of the throne in 1483 has provoked fierce debate for more than five centuries. But to what extent was his rise to power the product of his turbulent childhood? In this first episode of our four-part series on the Plantagenet king, Chris Skidmore tells Spencer Mizen how a traumatic youth – witnessing war, rebellion and the brutal death of his father – shaped his reign.

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More episodes in this series:

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Authors

Spencer MizenSenior production editor

Spencer is senior production editor of HistoryExtra magazine

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