The princes in the Tower. Edward V and his brother Richard of York: versions of the murder

History - science is capacious and complex, concealing many mysterious and incomprehensible incidents that can not be fully comprehended and understood.

How many mysterious and foggy are stored in themselves centuries-old palaces and castles, tunnels and monasteries. How many still unknown and unknown obscure silent walls, underground passages and lost documents ...

One of these little-studied and not fully clarified episodes in world history is the conclusion of young heirs to the throne in the dungeon. History calls this event short and monosyllabic: "Prince in the Tower."

This incident is a black spot throughout the UK, it strikes with its heartlessness and incomprehensibility.

Let's transfer our imagination six centuries ago and find out what happened and why.

The famous prison

To begin with, the most famous Tower of London - a fortress located on the north bank of the River Thames - almost from the very beginning of its foundation was a state prison for people of noble birth and high rank.

Prisoners were kept in those premises that were not occupied. We guarded them thoroughly and thoroughly. Prisoners were often brought along the river and injected through the intimidating "Gate of Traitors".

But who are they, princes in the Tower, and why were they taken into custody?

The beginning of history

The princes in the Tower are two teenage boys, the uncrowned young King Edward V and his younger brother Richard. How did they happen to be imprisoned?

The father of the crowned children, Edward IV, died in April, 1483. It was a difficult and difficult time of ruthless palace intrigues and a fierce struggle for power.

The king himself was given the throne by the Wars of the Roses and the White Rose. He had a brother and heir to the throne - Duke Richard Gloucester. However, King Edward IV got married and got many descendants. Soon he died, suddenly and suddenly.

Elder Son

At that time, the eldest son of the deceased king was at Ludlow Castle, where he was trained under the tutelage of his uncle Anthony Woodville, his mother's brother.

I wonder how the day passed the little heir. He must have been present at the morning and mass, then all day he was engaged and only in the evening could spare time active active games. Such education has beneficially affected the character of the child - he was intelligent, attentive, reflective and well-read.

When Edward IV died, his eldest son was barely twelve. Under the protection of his uncle and mentor, the boy hurried to London to occupy his father's throne. On the way to the capital, he met his younger brother.

Second heir

Richard York, who at that time was about ten years old, also lived away from his father. He lived in Shrewsbury, in his own castle, owned by his young, but already deceased wife.

After the news of his father's death, Richard of York went to London, as he was the first heir to the throne after his elder brother.

What did the children expect in the capital?

Father's brother

By order of the deceased King of England, Edward V was governed under the tutelage of his uncle, the brother of King Richard Gloucester. The mother of the boys - the dowager Queen Elizabeth Woodville - also was in London and tried to exert political pressure on her son. Behind the back of the queen were her numerous relatives who wanted to cash in on the English throne. This state of affairs was at odds with the desires of the protector of the king, the Duke of Gloucester.

He did not want to share his power with people unpleasant to him, so he decided to act in his own way.

Intrigues and Arrest

Having met with nephews, Richard Gloucester swore an infant king and ordered to mint his profile on all new coins. At the same time, he ordered the arrest of the influential relatives of the young monarch on the maternal line, and Edward himself was transported to the Tower, allegedly under his protection.

As some sources say, the little king tried to protect his relatives and himself, but no one dared come to his aid.

The Royal Council, together with Queen Elizabeth, insisted that Edward's coronation take place as soon as possible. However, the calculating and influential Duke of Gloucester leisurely drew time.

Elizabeth Woodville, realizing that delay could be fatal for her, took the rest of her offspring (from King Edward IV she gave birth to seven children) and chose as a refuge Westminster Abbey.

Unfortunately, at that time the regent had not yet shown all his cruelty and brutality. He managed to persuade the Dowager Queen to send away his second son, Richard of York, allegedly in order for him to compose the company for his elder brother, who was waiting for his coronation in the fortress.

So the heirs of the throne were imprisoned and went down in history under the famous and mournful designation: "princes in the Tower".

Sad events

Two months later, Richard Gloucester, who wanted to become king and realized that nobody would interfere with it, ordered the execution of the arrested relatives of the young king, while Edward and his brother were declared illegitimate. How did the heartless ambitor base his accusations?

He had evidence that the deceased King Edward IV (famous for his love affairs) was engaged to Eleanor Butler, so his marriage with Elizabeth was considered void, and the children born in this union were considered illegal.

In addition, Gloucester accused his crowned sister-in-law of conspiracy against his life and in witchcraft. And although these accusations did not entail serious consequences and did not threaten the life of the widowed queen, they prevented a woman from standing up for serious and furious protection of her children.

As a result, Lord Protector Richard Gloucester became King Richard III, and the innocent princes in the Tower - Edward V and Richard of York - remained imprisoned.

Further events

After some time, Elizabeth tried to plot with the goal of releasing her children and elevating them to the throne, but one of her closest allies told her that they were dead.

A year later, the queen was deprived of her land holdings, but Richard III publicly promised her and her daughters life and freedom.

Elizabeth settled at the court, where the power soon changed: her brother-in-law was killed in battle, and Henry Tudor ascended the English throne.

Elizabeth did not know the real fate of her sons.

The Fate of the Princes

What happened to the little prisoners? Most likely, they died in 1483, a few months after their arrest. Although, according to some information, for several years, money was allocated for their detention.

Versions about the murder of heirs of the English throne are still occupied by the minds of historians and all not indifferent people. The main culprit for the death of the brothers is, of course, Richard III. English lawyer and writer Thomas More wrote that the princes in the Tower were strangled by James Tyrrell by order of their uncle.

However, there is another attempt to explain the disappearance of crowned boys. For example, there is an opinion that they were killed by the order of Henry Tudor, who was afraid to leave the direct heirs of the English throne alive. In order to consolidate his royal position, he even married with the sister of the missing princes - Elizabeth.

There was another version of the murder, according to which Edward V suffered death from illness or poor treatment. But, to believe this legend, it remains an open question about what happened to Richard of York.

Centuries later

About two centuries after the disappearance of the brothers in one of the tower towers were found the skeletons of two teenagers. The remains were discovered under the stairs and were reburied under the orders of the incumbent King Charles II under the names of Edward and Richard.

In the mid-1930s, the study of the remains of princes was conducted, which showed that they lack some elements and there is an admixture of animal cells.

Today, it is impossible to conduct a full investigation of these remains, as the current Queen of Britain refuses to exhume and conduct research. Therefore the belonging of the skeletons found in the Tower to the children of Elizabeth Woodville and King Edward is not proved. In the same way as their further destiny is not fully understood.

According to official data, at the end of the 15th century a man named himself Prince Richard of York appeared. He managed to convince some European monarchs of this and organize an uprising, but he was soon executed with his supporter. The origin of this man is still unknown, but his external resemblance to the children of Edward V says that he is one of the illegitimate sons of the king himself or his closest relatives.

The mystery of the princes of the Tower remains a mystery. Most likely, we will never know the truth about their death and burial.

However, there is a hope that somehow documents are stored somewhere that can reveal to us the secret of their sad fate. Wait and see.