Who Are We?
We are a newly formed International Society with a committee and members comprised of people from overseas as well as the British Isles. Our aim is to change the public’s perception of Richard the person, as well as Richard the King.
We want to challenge the myths and untruths that have been built up regarding his character and his actions ever since Tudor times. If you read beyond Shakespeare and More, you will find that Richard is so much more than just the two years he was King, and he was far more than the “Warrior King” he has also been called.
But why is Richard judged by different standards to every other person, as if different rules are applied to him? Why is his every action dissected to the tiniest degree? Why are Ricardians called “revisionists”, and treated with disdain in some quarters?
These are the questions we, as a new group, are going to tackle, and in doing so hope to change people’s views on one of our most maligned kings.
Looking to the future, we also aim to set up Ricardian trails, publish booklets and offer talks, as well as educational packs.
Why A New Society?
During the period between the rediscovery of King Richard III’s remains and his eventual re-interment, it became obvious that there was no official platform advocating Richard’s rights as a once living, sentient human being. He was treated as a remote historical figure, an archaeological specimen, a tourist attraction and a Fund-Raising ‘decoy’.
The media hype persisted in portraying Shakespeare’s fictitious drama as historical fact, regurgitating the old myths of a villain. No-one thought to present him as a once living person, with the fundamental human right of being laid to rest in a place he thought of as home.
Richard III’s Loyal Supporters aim to fill that gap and we are the only official Society to focus on King Richard III, as opposed to a more general representation encompassed in a wider historical society.
Our Aims are simple:
- The promotion of a more positive view of King Richard, challenging the myths both historical and modern
- Continue to work to see that King Richard is honoured appropriately, including his eventual re-interment in York Minster
- Promote and support research into the life of King Richard and publish the findings as widely as possible
- Encourage the membership to participate in the work of our Society
So if your interest in King Richard encompasses our aims, we would love to have you join us.
