The story of the Princes in the Tower remains one of the most intriguing mysteries in British history.
These two young boys, Edward V of England and his younger brother, Richard, Duke of York, were famously imprisoned in the Tower of London in 1483.
Their fate has been the subject of intense speculation, with historians and writers trying to unravel what truly happened to them.
Their disappearance was a turning point in English history, and it played a crucial role in the tumultuous end of the Plantagenet dynasty and the rise of the Tudors.
This article explores the history, events, and theories surrounding the princes in the tower, examining the key players and consequences of their mysterious disappearance.
Key takeaways about the Princes in the Tower
- Enduring Mystery: The fate of the princes remains a compelling historical enigma.
- Political Intrigue: The event highlights deep political maneuvers, including Richard III’s controversial accession.
- Historical Impact: Their disappearance influenced the transition from the Plantagenets to the Tudor dynasty.
- Speculation and Theories: Numerous theories about their fate reflect the complex nature of interpreting historical events.
The historical background of the Princes in the Tower
To understand the context of the Princes in the Tower, it’s important to first consider the political landscape of 15th-century England.
The Wars of the Roses were a series of civil wars between two rival branches of the royal House of Plantagenet: the House of Lancaster and the House of York. After decades of conflict, the Yorkists emerged victorious when Edward IV ascended to the throne in 1461.
Edward IV’s reign brought relative stability to England, but his death in 1483 set off a new wave of political turmoil. Upon his death, Edward IV’s eldest son, Edward V, was supposed to succeed him.
However, the young king-to-be was only 12 years old, and his uncle, Richard, Duke of Gloucester, was named Lord Protector to govern until Edward V came of age.
The events leading to the princes’ imprisonment
After Edward IV’s death, Edward V was escorted to London by his maternal relatives, the Woodvilles. The Woodvilles were highly influential at court, but they were deeply unpopular with the old nobility, including Richard, Duke of Gloucester. Richard quickly acted to take control of his nephew, capturing Edward V and sending him to the Tower of London—a traditional residence for monarchs awaiting their coronation.
Shortly after, Richard arrested members of the Woodville family, including the boys’ uncle, Earl Rivers. With Edward V effectively under his control, Richard declared that the young king’s coronation would be postponed. To secure his position further, Richard also brought Edward V’s younger brother, Richard, Duke of York, to the Tower of London. Initially, this move was seen as a precautionary measure to protect the royal heirs during the unstable political situation. However, the boys were never seen in public again after the summer of 1483.
Richard III’s controversial rise to power
One of the most critical aspects of the Princes in the Tower mystery is the role of Richard, Duke of Gloucester, who would later declare himself King Richard III.
In June 1483, Richard claimed that Edward IV’s marriage to Elizabeth Woodville had been invalid due to a pre-contract with another woman.
As a result, Edward V and his brother were declared illegitimate, and Richard assumed the throne as the legitimate king. His coronation took place on July 6, 1483, with widespread opposition from those loyal to Edward V.
Richard III’s reign was immediately controversial. Many saw his rise to power as an outright usurpation, and rumors quickly began to circulate that the Princes in the Tower had been murdered to eliminate any potential threats to Richard’s rule.
These suspicions were fueled by the fact that the boys were not seen again after they were placed in the Tower.
Theories about the fate of the Princes in the Tower
What exactly happened to the Princes in the Tower remains a matter of conjecture. Several theories have been proposed, but none have been conclusively proven.
Some of the most prominent theories include:
- Murder ordered by Richard III: The most widely accepted theory is that Richard III, fearing a future challenge to his throne, ordered the murder of his nephews. Contemporary chroniclers such as Thomas More and the Italian diplomat Dominic Mancini suggest that Richard had the princes killed, likely sometime in the late summer of 1483. More’s account details how the boys were smothered in their sleep by hired assassins.
- Responsibility of the Duke of Buckingham: Another theory points the finger at Henry Stafford, the Duke of Buckingham, one of Richard III’s closest allies during his rise to power. Buckingham had his own ambitions and may have wanted the princes dead to strengthen his influence. Some historians argue that Buckingham acted on his own initiative, perhaps even without Richard’s direct orders.
- Survival of one or both princes: A less popular theory posits that one or both of the princes survived the events of 1483. Several pretenders to the throne, most notably Perkin Warbeck, claimed to be Richard, Duke of York, who had escaped execution. However, these claims were never substantiated, and Warbeck was eventually executed for treason in 1499.
- Blame on Henry VII: Some historians suggest that Henry Tudor (later Henry VII) may have been responsible for the death of the princes. Henry defeated Richard III at the Battle of Bosworth in 1485, ending the Wars of the Roses and becoming the first Tudor king. To secure his position, Henry married Elizabeth of York, the sister of the princes. By this time, the boys had already disappeared, but some argue that Henry may have had them killed to prevent any future Yorkist claims to the throne.
For what it’s worth, it’s highly likely that the princes were indeed murdered on Richard III’s orders, and other theories are typically fanciful.
The discovery of the bones in the tower
In 1674, during renovations at the Tower of London, workmen discovered a wooden box containing two small human skeletons.
These remains were found near the White Tower and were believed to be those of the Princes in the Tower.
King Charles II ordered that the bones be interred in Westminster Abbey, where they remain today. In 1933, the bones were examined and found to be consistent with the ages of the two princes.
However, modern forensic methods were not available at the time, and no definitive identification was made.
Despite the discovery of these remains, there is still no certainty about the fate of the princes. Some historians argue that the bones may belong to other children who died at the Tower, as it was not uncommon for prisoners to be executed or to die within its walls.
Richard III’s legacy and the impact of the princes’ disappearance
The disappearance of the Princes in the Tower left a lasting stain on Richard III’s legacy.
Though some argue that Richard was a capable and fair ruler, his association with the potential murder of his nephews has overshadowed his accomplishments.
Shakespeare’s portrayal of Richard III as a villainous, power-hungry monarch in his play Richard III cemented this negative image in popular culture.
The mystery of the Princes in the Tower also contributed to the downfall of the Plantagenet dynasty.
Richard III’s reign was short-lived, and his defeat at the Battle of Bosworth in 1485 marked the end of the Wars of the Roses. Henry VII’s victory ushered in the Tudor dynasty, which would rule England for over a century.
The continuing mystery of the princes in the tower
More than five centuries later, the fate of the Princes in the Tower remains unsolved. Theories about their disappearance continue to captivate historians and the public alike.
Advances in forensic science have sparked interest in re-examining the remains found in 1674, but there has been resistance from some quarters, including the royal family, to disturbing the princes’ resting place in Westminster Abbey.
The story of the Princes in the Tower endures as one of England’s greatest historical enigmas.
Whether they were victims of political intrigue or simply disappeared under mysterious circumstances, their legacy has had a profound impact on English history.
The questions surrounding their fate continue to invite speculation and debate, ensuring that the mystery of the Princes in the Tower will remain a subject of fascination for generations to come.
Conclusion
The story of the Princes in the Tower is not just a mystery; it is a narrative deeply intertwined with the complex politics of the Wars of the Roses and the transition from Plantagenet to Tudor rule.
Whether they were murdered by their uncle Richard III, Buckingham, or another figure entirely, their disappearance remains a dark chapter and one of the most controversial events in English history.
Despite the discovery of bones believed to be theirs, the truth may never be fully known, leaving the Princes in the Tower one of the most enduring and tragic mysteries of the medieval world.
