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In the belief that many features of the traditional accounts of the character and career of Richard III are neither supported by sufficient evidence nor reasonably tenable, the Society aims to promote in every possible way research into the life and times of Richard III, and to secure a re-assessment of the material relating to this period, and the role in English history of this monarch
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Look at What's New...
April 28, 2012
Richard III Society
2012 North American AGM and Conference
The Richard
III Society of Canada is pleased to host a joint
American-Canadian AGM and
Conference from September 28 to 30, 2012 in Oakville, Ontario.
Join us at the Hilton Garden Inn Toronto/Oakville at 2774 South Sheridan
Way, Oakville, ON L6J 7T4 905-829-1145
www.torontooakville.gardeninn.com
Please visit
our blog at
http://r3toronto2012.blogspot.com/ for the latest news on AGM
speakers, silent auction items, and updates.
For registration information, click HERE
September 2, 2011
Glasswater Theatre in Toronto is staging a production of The Queens by Normand Chaurette. "Drawing inspiration from the characters of Shakespeare's Richard III, The Queens tells the story of 6 ruthless and passionate royal women, all vying for a chance at power." Find further information here.
A member has found this recent article from BBC News, with the tantalizing story of Thomas Longe, a farmer and common soldier who fought for King Richard at Bosworth Field.
August 22, 2011
Our annual In Memoriam to commemorate the death of King Richard III appears in the Monday, August 22nd edition of The Globe and Mail.
August 6, 2011
It is with deep regret we report the passing of Mrs. Anne Buyers, who, along with her husband William (Bill), founded The Richard III Society of Canada in November 1966. Anne died in Niagara on the Lake on Sunday, July 31, 2011 aged 96.
March 19, 2011
The Toronto Group of the Canadian Branch will be hosting a joint American/Canadian Conference and Annual General Meeting in Toronto in 2012. Keep up to date with the planning for this event by reading our blog: http://r3toronto2012.blogspot.com
New page added: The Wars of the Roses , a summary of the battles fought between York and Lancaster.
Added more chronological detail to Biography of Richard III
Updated Reading List with newest publications
Updated Calendar of Events
See all recent website updates
It has been Shakespeare's dramatic genius which has served to perpetuate
the portrait of King Richard III as the consummate monster - schemer, usurper
and murderer of children. And for centuries, this fantasy of theatre has been
accepted as fact.
What has been proven is that, during his reign, Richard extended the
scope of trial by jury, passed laws to prohibit the intimidation of juries and
established the first system of bail for prisoners awaiting trial, while
prohibiting the seizure of their property before they had been found guilty by
due process of law. He was a patron of music and architecture, and a competent,
respected soldier.
The Richard III Society does not serve to make a martyr of a long-dead king. Rather, the mandate of the Society is to winnow kernels of truth from the chaff of rumour and hearsay, to find a reliable foundation of history upon which to build our understanding of our past, present and future.
The Richard III Society was founded in England in 1924 as the Fellowship of the White Boar (the badge of Richard III), by S. Saxon Barton FSA (Scot), a Liverpool surgeon. With the advent of the Second World War, its activities declined, but it was reconstituted in 1956. The name was changed to the Richard III Society in 1959. This year is the 60th anniversary of the re-founding of the Society, and the 40th anniversary year of the founding of the Canadian Branch.
Tudor "histories" have left an almost indelible image of Richard as a physically deformed tyrant, who usurped the English throne from his own nephew, Edward V; later having the youth and his younger brother murdered to secure his position. None of this is substantiated by reliable, first-hand evidence.
Ricardian scholarship within the last 82 years has critically examined a wealth of contemporary source material, and successfully challenged centuries of misconceptions and propaganda.
The Society is open to all, scholar and amateur alike, who have an interest in medieval history and the controversy that surrounds this last Yorkist king. There are currently over 4,000 members worldwide, who keep abreast of current research through the Society's journal, The Ricardian. The Canadian branch, formed in 1966, has over 60 members across the country who keep in contact through the RIII newsletter, and also enjoy access to the Buyers Library, with over 200 books, articles, video and audio tapes.
Members in the Toronto area meet regularly for friendly debates and to present short papers on the life and times of Richard III. The highlight of the year is the Annual General Meeting and costumed Medieval Banquet, celebrated on or near Richard's birthday in early October.
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Copyright © 1997 - 2012 Richard III Society of Canada
Last modified: May 13, 2012
