The Princes in the Tower
Perhaps history's greatest mystery is
the unsolved murder of two young boys - Edward V (aged 12) and Richard, Duke of
York (aged 9) - the sons of Edward IV. The princes posed a great threat to the
reign of Richard III, and for this reason it is commonly believed that he
instigated their murder. But the questions remain: who was the real killer, and
how did the boys die? The truth is yet to be discovered.
Their disappearance had much to do with the fact that, in the eyes of
Richard III, the boys were illegitimate. He imprisoned them soon after their
father died. One of the boys, Edward, was meant to have his coronation soon
after, however this never took place. So the brothers were locked away in the
tower, isolated and far from the eyes of the world. Many went mad in the tower,
or starved, and the princes were no exception to the mistreatment of prisoners.
After their death, rumours emerged that they were either suffocated in their own bedding, drowned in wine, bled to death, or poisoned.
When Henry VII killed King Richard on the battlefield, and ascended the throne, he did not mention the boys' disappearance. Where they were, or what had been done with them, remained a secret. It is strange that Henry did not blame Richard for the murder, as he despised him; it would have been ammunition against any opposition. This placed much suspicion on the new monarch's shoulders.
After their death, rumours emerged that they were either suffocated in their own bedding, drowned in wine, bled to death, or poisoned.
When Henry VII killed King Richard on the battlefield, and ascended the throne, he did not mention the boys' disappearance. Where they were, or what had been done with them, remained a secret. It is strange that Henry did not blame Richard for the murder, as he despised him; it would have been ammunition against any opposition. This placed much suspicion on the new monarch's shoulders.
Years later, in 1674, two
skeletons were discovered by workers ten feet below a staircase leading to the
White Tower's chapel. However, the
Queen will not allow forensic tests to be carried out on the remains, buried in
the Lady Chapel at Westminster.
Until an autopsy is undertaken, the fate of the young boys remains a mystery, and their killer perhaps will never be identified. Richard III, if he did kill the boys, covered his tracks considerably well, and Henry VII burnt all evidence of Richard's claim to the throne.
Until an autopsy is undertaken, the fate of the young boys remains a mystery, and their killer perhaps will never be identified. Richard III, if he did kill the boys, covered his tracks considerably well, and Henry VII burnt all evidence of Richard's claim to the throne.
Hopefully, current studies on the
murder will reveal new evidence, to settle many conspiracies and give more of
an indication of what really happened to Edward and Richard.
Sources:
1. http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/princes_in_tower.shtml
1. http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/princes_in_tower.shtml
2.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/the-princes-in-the-tower-will-the-ultimate-cold-case-finally-be-solved-after-more-than-500-years-10466190.html
3. Leanda de Lisle, ‘Tudor, the Family Story'.
Pictures:
1. http://alisonweir.org.uk/books/bookpages/more-princes-in-tower_35_772479843.JPG
2. https://static.independent.co.uk/s3fs-public/styles/story_medium/public/thumbnails/image/2015/08/21/18/Princes-2-Getty_2.jpg
By 44886446
Shannen B.
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