Page 30 - All About History - Issue 28-15

Murder in the Tower

when he died suddenly, leaving his 12-year- culprit has baffled and intrigued scholars Countdown
old son, Edward V, as king. This for more than 500 years. In
wasn’t unprecedented; children 1674, a wooden box containing to murder
had ‘ruled’ before, usually “It is entirely two small human skeletons
through the guidance of regents, was discovered near the White The final movements before
but it certainly wasn’t ideal possible that Tower, the suspected site of the the princes’ disappearance
with so many would-be heirs boys’ burial. Believed to be the O 9April1483
snapping at his heels. Edward V Richard remains of the princes, the bones Akingdies
was an independent boy; he was were buried in Westminster After suffering from
mature beyond his years and he had the boys Abbey under the order of Charles a short illness,
Edward IV dies.
had already been preparing to II. However, these bones have The reason for
be king, but he was a child in a transported out not yet been subject to DNA his death is a
man’s world, and it did not take analysis, and many experts mystery, with
long for people to take advantage of the country” don’t believe they belong to the rumours of a
possible poisoning
of his fragile position. princes at all. as well as typhoid
While awaiting his coronation The problem with identifying considered.
ceremony in the Tower of London with his the children’s ‘killer’ is the era in which the
O 24 April 1483
younger brother, Richard of York, the throne was murder supposedly occurred. It was a time when The last journey
torn from beneath Edward before he even had murder and treason were rampant and ambitions His son Edward V
a chance to sit on it. His father’s marriage to his were sky high. There is not just one, but an array and the royal party
mother was ruled invalid, as he had allegedly been of possible suspects, all with their own motives leave their home at
Ludlow to travel
pre-contracted to another beforehand, and their for committing the crime. Contemporary accounts to London for his
children, including young Edward, were declared are unreliable due to the writer’s own political coronation.
illegitimate. Bastards were not judged worthy of alliances, and all of them contradict other versions
the throne, so the crown fell into the hands of the of events. Shakespeare’s play popularised the O 4 May 1483
next legitimate heir, his uncle – Richard III. figure of Richard III as a scheming, heartless A royal
entrance
From this point on, the fate of the princes fades hunchback, willing to murder anyone to secure his Edward enters the
into myth and legend. Their last reported sighting throne, but just how accurate is this? Richard had capital with Richard III and
was late summer 1483, and from then the records his reasons to do away with the boys, but so did a the Duke of Gloucester. They are
greeted by the mayor and
run dry. They were certainly never seen again in host of others, and even more people had reason
hundreds of citizens.
public, and soon rumours began to surface that to drag Richard’s name through the mud.
the young boys had been murdered. There was Is the common belief that Richard is responsible O 19 May 1483
no evidence that the princes had been killed, simply encouraging a vicious rumour created by Final
save their disappearance, but the search for the his enemies some 500 years ago? residence
Edward is moved
into the Tower of
London, which is
the usual place for
kings to stay prior to
Did the boys
know what a coronation.
awaited them as
they slept in the O 16 June 1483
gloomy Tower? The brothers reunite
After previously being
held with his mother
and half-siblings
in sanctuary in
Westminster,
Richard joins
his brother at
the request
of the Duke of
Gloucester.
O 22 June 1483
A new king
Theologian Ralph Shaa preaches
a sermon that declares all
of Edward IV’s children
illegitimate. Three
days later, Richard
III is declared king.
O End of the summer
Last
sighting
The children are
withdrawn to the
inner apartments of
the Tower and are seen
less and less. By the end of
summer, they are presumed dead.
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