Richard III vs Machiavelli

[MrScorpio]

Poll question: Richard III vs Machiavelli

Choose

[Aristus]

1. Richard.

Richard III was a far better King and person than Shakespeare has led us to believe. I love The Bard, but he had to suck up to Elizabeth I, whose grandfather defeated Richard for the throne. So he had to sling mud like the knobby tires at a monster truck rally.

[JNelson6563]

3. Not to mention Thomas More's writings

Henry VII was very wiley and he knew the power of propaganda. Having the likes of More put out some writing that was clearly unflattering to Richard was smart. Very smart.

Julie--who thinks Henry VII is as good or better a candidate for having the young princes whacked.

[Orsino]

2. Richard was played by Ian McKellen...

...and therefore wins.

[NYCGirl]

4. Richard was played by Laurence Olivier and therefore always wins.

:hi:

[sarge43]

5. Well, the comparison doesn't work.

Mac was a civil servant and a political analyst. Rich was a power player.

Richard did have the motivation and the opportunity to off his nephews, but there's no credible evidence that he did. As for the other murders Shakespeare lays at his feet, as Aristus says, so much mud slinging. If the boys died during his reign, it doesn't automatically follow he had anything to do with it.

One thing is sure, if they were alive and in England the evening of the Battle of Bosworth, they weren't 24 hours later.

[mix]

6. neither