Which commander led the Tudor vanguard at Bosworth Field?

The Earl of Oxford, John de Vere, led the Tudor vanguard at Bosworth Field.

John de Vere, 13th Earl of Oxford, was one of Henry Tudor’s most experienced Lancastrian commanders. After years of opposition to the Yorkist regime, he joined Henry’s invasion in 1485 and commanded the forward division of the Tudor army at Bosworth.

Oxford used a tightly organised formation later known as the Oxford Wedge. His troops, including archers, drove into the forces of Richard III and engaged the Yorkist vanguard led by John Howard, Duke of Norfolk. Norfolk was killed during the fighting, while Oxford’s attack helped keep the Tudor army effective during the battle.

Lord Stanley also played a decisive role at Bosworth, but he did not lead the Tudor vanguard. His forces entered the battle later, helping determine the outcome. Another common mix-up is the Earl of Surrey, who was a Yorkist commander and Richard III’s trusted supporter, not Henry Tudor’s vanguard leader.