Pepin the Short vs Richard III of England

Pepin deposed the last Merovingian king, Childeric III, with the support of Pope Zachary. He was anointed king by Boniface, establishing the Carolingian dynasty and legitimizing his rule through papal approval.

Pepin besieged the Lombard capital of Pavia, forcing King Aistulf to surrender and cede territories. This campaign secured Frankish dominance in Italy and fulfilled Pepin's alliance with the papacy.

Pepin granted the Pope control over territories in central Italy, including Ravenna and the Pentapolis, after defeating the Lombards. This created the Papal States and established the temporal power of the papacy.

Richard, then Duke of Gloucester, commanded the vanguard of Edward IV's army at Tewkesbury, defeating the Lancastrian forces. This victory led to the death of Edward of Westminster, Henry VI's son, and the end of the Lancastrian line.

Henry Stafford, Duke of Buckingham, led a rebellion against Richard III, aiming to place Henry Tudor on the throne. The rebellion failed, and Buckingham was executed, but it demonstrated significant opposition to Richard's rule.

Richard III was crowned king of England after Parliament declared Edward V illegitimate. His accession followed the imprisonment of the Princes in the Tower and was controversial, leading to accusations of usurpation and murder.

Richard III was killed in battle against Henry Tudor's forces at Bosworth Field. His death ended the Plantagenet dynasty and the Wars of the Roses, allowing Henry Tudor to become King Henry VII.