# Richard III — Character guide

> Key figures in Richard III by William Shakespeare.

- [King Richard III](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/richard_iii_se/characters/richard_iii.md): The ambitious, deformed protagonist who schemes and murders his way to the English throne.
- [Duke of Buckingham](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/richard_iii_se/characters/buckingham.md): Richard's chief ally and political enforcer, who later hesitates and is executed.
- [Queen Elizabeth](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/richard_iii_se/characters/queen_elizabeth.md): Widow of King Edward IV, who bitterly opposes Richard and fears for her children's lives.
- [Lady Anne](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/richard_iii_se/characters/lady_anne.md): Widow of Prince Edward whom Richard woos and marries, later tormented by guilt.
- [George, Duke of Clarence](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/richard_iii_se/characters/clarence.md): Richard's brother, imprisoned and murdered on Richard's orders.
- [Lord Hastings](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/richard_iii_se/characters/hastings.md): Loyal lord to Edward IV, executed by Richard for refusing to support his usurpation.
- [King Edward IV](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/richard_iii_se/characters/king_edward_iv.md): Elder brother of Richard and Clarence, whose death triggers the succession crisis.
- [Queen Margaret](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/richard_iii_se/characters/queen_margaret.md): Widow of Henry VI, a cursing prophetess who haunts the court with her grief.
- [Duchess of York](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/richard_iii_se/characters/duchess_of_york.md): Mother of Edward, Clarence, and Richard, who laments her sons' fates.
- [Sir Richard Ratcliff](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/richard_iii_se/characters/ratcliff.md): Richard's loyal and ruthless military commander and confidant.
- [Sir William Catesby](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/richard_iii_se/characters/catesby.md): Richard's close advisor and agent, instrumental in political machinations.
- [Lord Stanley](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/richard_iii_se/characters/stanley.md): Stepfather of Richmond, who secretly supports the Tudor cause.
- [Earl Rivers](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/richard_iii_se/characters/rivers.md): Brother of Queen Elizabeth, arrested and executed by Richard.
- [Lord Grey](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/richard_iii_se/characters/grey.md): Son of Queen Elizabeth, executed alongside Rivers.
- [Marquis of Dorset](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/richard_iii_se/characters/dorset.md): Son of Queen Elizabeth, who flees to join Richmond.
- [Sir Robert Brakenbury](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/richard_iii_se/characters/brakenbury.md): Lieutenant of the Tower, who guards Clarence and later the princes.
- [Sir James Tyrrel](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/richard_iii_se/characters/tyrrel.md): Hired by Richard to murder the young princes in the Tower.
- [Prince Edward (Edward V)](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/richard_iii_se/characters/young_edward_v.md): Elder son of Edward IV, imprisoned and murdered in the Tower.
- [Richard, Duke of York](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/richard_iii_se/characters/richard_of_york.md): Younger son of Edward IV, murdered alongside his brother.
- [Henry Tudor, Earl of Richmond](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/richard_iii_se/characters/richmond.md): Future King Henry VII, who leads the rebellion against Richard.
- [Sir Thomas Lovel](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/richard_iii_se/characters/lovel.md): A messenger and minor courtier loyal to Richard.
- [Cardinal Bourchier](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/richard_iii_se/characters/cardinal_bourchier.md): Archbishop who is persuaded to fetch young York from sanctuary.
- [Lord Mayor of London](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/richard_iii_se/characters/mayor_of_london.md): Civic leader manipulated by Richard to legitimize his claim.
- [Mistress Shore](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/richard_iii_se/characters/mistress_shore.md): Former mistress of Edward IV, punished by Richard.
- [Forrest](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/richard_iii_se/characters/forrest.md): One of the murderers hired by Tyrrel to kill the princes.
- [Dighton](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/richard_iii_se/characters/dighton.md): Accomplice to Forrest in murdering the princes.
- [Captain Blunt](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/richard_iii_se/characters/blunt.md): A loyal supporter of Richmond in the final battle.
- [Earl of Oxford](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/richard_iii_se/characters/oxford.md): A commander fighting for Richmond at Bosworth Field.
- [Thomas, Earl of Surrey](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/richard_iii_se/characters/surrey.md): A nobleman fighting on Richard's side at Bosworth.
- [Duke of Norfolk](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/richard_iii_se/characters/norfolk.md): A key commander in Richard's army at Bosworth.
- [George Stanley](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/richard_iii_se/characters/george_stanley.md): Son of Lord Stanley, held hostage by Richard.
- [Sir William Brandon](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/richard_iii_se/characters/sir_william_brandon.md): Standard-bearer for Richmond at Bosworth.
- [Sir Thomas Vaughan](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/richard_iii_se/characters/sir_thomas_vaughan.md): A loyalist to Edward V, executed by Richard.
- [Prince Edward (son of Henry VI)](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/richard_iii_se/characters/prince_edward_son_of_henry.md): Son of Henry VI, killed at Tewkesbury; appears as a ghost.
- [King Henry VI](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/richard_iii_se/characters/king_henry_vi.md): Deposed king murdered by Richard; appears as a ghost.
- [Clifford](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/richard_iii_se/characters/clifford.md): A minor character from the Wars of the Roses, mentioned but not present.
- [Rutland](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/richard_iii_se/characters/rutland.md): Young son of York, killed by Clifford; appears as a ghost.
- [Lady Margaret Plantagenet](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/richard_iii_se/characters/lady_margaret_plantagenet.md): Daughter of Clarence, mentioned but does not appear on stage.
- [Young Elizabeth](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/richard_iii_se/characters/young_elizabeth.md): Daughter of Edward IV, courted by Richard and later married to Richmond.
- [Christopher Urswick](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/richard_iii_se/characters/christopher_urswick.md): A priest who serves as a messenger for Stanley.
- [Earl of Northumberland](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/richard_iii_se/characters/northumberland.md): A nobleman who reluctantly supports Richard.

HTML index: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/richard_iii_se/characters