Abstract

The recent announcement of the discovery of the real site of the battle of Bosworth does more than shift our cherished notions of where Richard III met his end. It also forces us to reappraised the role of artillery on 15th century battlefields. The primary finds evidence is over two dozen roundshot ranging from large handheld gunpowder weapons to those that must have come from mobile field artillery pieces. Dr. Walton will talk about our general knowledge of both the Battle of Bosworth and late 15th century artillery in the light of these finds.

Steven A. Walton is an Assistant Professor of Science, Technology, and Society at Penn State University (USA) and is this autumn term a Visiting Leverhulme Professor at the Institute for Medieval Studies, University of Leeds, helping develop the “Origins of Firepower” Initiative at Leeds and in conjunction with the Royal Armouries, Mary Rose Trust, and other UK universities.