Richard Plantagenet, also known as Richard III, was the last king of the House of York and the final monarch of the Plantagenet dynasty. He ruled England from 1483 until his death in 1485. Richard is often remembered for his controversial reign and the events leading to the Wars of the Roses, a series of civil wars for control of the English throne. Richard III is best known for his defeat at the Battle of Bosworth Field, which marked the end of the Wars of the Roses and the rise of the Tudor dynasty under Henry VII. His legacy has been shaped by historical accounts and William Shakespeare's play, which portray him as a villainous figure.