Richard III Holds First Parliament

1484

The English parliament passed the Titulus Regius formally recognizing Richard III's claim based on the alleged illegitimacy of his nephews. It also passed important legal reforms, including the first English statute in English rather than French. Richard's brief, energetic government was producing administrative change his reputation would later obscure. His legal innovations, including bail for the accused and prohibition of forced benevolences, survived his overthrow and remained in English law.