By David T Gardner,
This index lists the key individuals (players) involved in William Gardiner: The King Slayer of Bosworth Field, providing their names as standardized in modern academia in 2025, followed by the alternative spellings (AKA) found in historical documents from the 15th and 16th centuries. The index is derived from our project’s timeline, FAQs, and citations, ensuring accuracy and relevance to our narrative.
- Gardiner, Ellen (née Tudor)
- Modern Name (2025): Ellen Gardiner
- AKA in Historical Documents: Ellen Tudyr (Visitation of the Northern Counties, Citation 12), Helen Tudor (WikiTree, Citation 86), Elen Tudur (Cronicl o Wech Oesoedd, Citation 1), Ellen Gardyner (TNA C 1/66/399, Citation 15).
- Notes: Daughter of Jasper Tudor, married William Gardiner in 1478, contributed to the Bosworth coup, died by 1501.
- Gardiner, Richard (Alderman)
- Modern Name (2025): Alderman Richard Gardiner
- AKA in Historical Documents: Richard Gardyner (TNA SP 1/14, Citation 11; Letters and Papers, Citation 37), R. Gardyner (Chronicles of London, Citation 7), Richard Gardynyr (Guildhall MS 31706, Citation 3), Richard Gardener (Estcourt, Citation 9).
- Notes: London alderman, funded Henry VII’s invasion, led the Shoreditch welcome in 1485, likely died c. 1490–1495.
- Gardiner, Thomas
- Modern Name (2025): Thomas Gardiner
- AKA in Historical Documents: Thomas Gardyner (Visitation of London 1568, Citation 105), Thomas Gardynyr (TNA C 1/252/36, Citation 298), Thomas Gardener (Hermathena, Citation 48).
- Notes: Son of William and Ellen Gardiner, born 1479, Prior of Tynemouth, King’s Chaplain, consecrated Henry VII’s Lady Chapel in 1516, died 1536.
- Gardiner, William
- Modern Name (2025): William Gardiner
- AKA in Historical Documents: Wyllyam Gardynyr (Cronicl o Wech Oesoedd, Citation 1; Crowland Chronicle Continuations, Citation 66), William Gardyner (TNA PROB 11/7/167, Citation 103), William Gardener (Guildhall MS 30708, Citation 2).
- Notes: London skinner, killed Richard III at Bosworth in 1485, knighted by Henry VII, married Ellen Tudor, died 1485.
- Tudor, Henry (Henry VII)
- Modern Name (2025): Henry VII
- AKA in Historical Documents: Henry Tudyr (Cronicl o Wech Oesoedd, Citation 1), Henricus Tudyr (Crowland Chronicle Continuations, Citation 66), Henry Tudur (Ballad of Bosworth Field, Citation 67), Henry Tudor (The Battle of Bosworth, Citation 30).
- Notes: Lancastrian claimant, became Henry VII after Bosworth in 1485, crowned 1485, died 1509.
- Tudor, Jasper
- Modern Name (2025): Jasper Tudor
- AKA in Historical Documents: Jasper Tudyr (Cronicl o Wech Oesoedd, Citation 1), Jasper Tudur (Plantagenet Ancestry, Citation 13), Jasper Tudyr (Letters and Papers, Citation 37).
- Notes: Henry VII’s uncle, led the 1485 invasion, father of Ellen Tudor, died 1495.
Additional Notes on the Index
- Modern Standardization (2025): In modern academia, names are standardized for clarity and consistency. For example, “Gardiner” is used for the family members, reflecting the most common modern spelling, while “Tudor” is standardized for Henry and Jasper, aligning with current historical scholarship.
- Historical Spellings: The AKA spellings reflect the variations found in 15th- and 16th-century documents, such as chronicles, legal records, and visitations. These variations (e.g., Gardyner, Gardynyr, Gardener) are due to the lack of standardized spelling in the period, with scribes often using phonetic or regional forms.
- Scope of Players: The index focuses on the core individuals directly involved in our narrative: the Gardiner family (William, Ellen, Richard, Thomas) and the Tudors (Henry VII, Jasper). Other figures, such as Gilbert Talbot or Rhys ap Thomas, are mentioned in the timeline but are not central “players” in the Gardiner story, so they are excluded from this index.About the AuthorDavid T. Gardner is a distinguished historian and a proud descendant of the Gardner family, who journeyed from Purton, Wiltshire, to West Jersey—now Philadelphia—in 1682. Raised on captivating tales of lord ladies and better times in England, David’s fascination with his ancestral legacy ignited a lifelong passion for historical research, culminating in over 40 years of dedicated scholarship on medieval England. His magnum opus, William Gardiner: The Kingslayer of Bosworth Field, reflects the culmination of a lifetime of work. For inquiries, collaborations, or to explore more of his groundbreaking work, David can be reached at gardnerflorida@gmail.com or via his blog at sirwilliamskey.com , a digital haven for medieval history enthusiasts (TNA SP 1/14).