The Princes In The Tower Flashcards
What happened on 16 June 1483?
Both of Edward IV’s male heirs were imprisoned in the Tower of London.
No additional information.
What occurred in late July 1483?
A plot to free the princes from the Tower was unsuccessful, possibly prompting Richard III to consider murdering them as potential rivals.
No additional information.
What parallel was drawn between Richard III and Edward IV?
Richard’s actions may parallel Edward IV’s killing of Henry VI in 1471, which secured the Yorkist regime.
No additional information.
Is there clear evidence that Richard III murdered his nephews?
No clear evidence exists that Richard III murdered his nephews, though many accounts suggest so.
No additional information.
Who was Dominic Mancini?
Dominic Mancini was an Italian diplomat in London during 1482-1483.
He wrote his account in late 1483 after returning to Italy, at the request of the Archbishop of Vienne. Mancini admitted his account was imperfect, lacking full and accurate details. He reportedly gathered information from the princes’ physician, Doctor Argentine. Mancini praised Edward V for his intelligence and saintly behavior, possibly as a rhetorical device to contrast Richard III’s alleged actions. Mancini hesitated to confirm what happened to the princes, leaving their fate uncertain.
Who wrote the History of King Richard III between 1513 and 1517?
Sir Thomas More wrote his History of King Richard III between 1513 and 1517.
He was only six years old at the time of the events, relying on the testimony of John Morton, later Archbishop of Canterbury, who was hostile to Richard III. More used Polydore Vergil’s work as a source. More claimed Richard III ordered the deaths of the princes shortly after his coronation to secure his hold on the throne. According to More, Sir James Tyrell was tasked with killing the princes, who were smothered with pillows by Miles Forest and John Dighton. The bodies were allegedly buried at the foot of the stairs in the Tower of London.
Who is suggested to have been the instigator of the princes’ murders?
Henry Stafford, Duke of Buckingham, is suggested by some sources, including a London chronicle, to have been the instigator of the princes’ murders.
Buckingham’s potential motive was to advance his own claim to the throne through his connection to the Beaufort family. Buckingham had a complex relationship with Edward IV and was not favored by him, despite being married to Katherine Woodville, Elizabeth Woodville’s sister. After Edward IV’s death, Buckingham became a key supporter of Richard III, helping seize Edward V and promoting Richard’s claim to the throne. He was later given significant power, including control over Wales and the Marches, but eventually rebelled against Richard III.
When did Polydore Vergil begin his History of England?
Polydore Vergil, an Italian priest, began his History of England in 1507 at the request of Henry VII, completing it around 1512-1513.
He is noted for critically analyzing his sources. Vergil claimed that Richard III initially ordered Robert Brackenbury, the lieutenant of the Tower of London, to murder the princes. When Brackenbury refused, Richard III allegedly turned to James Tyrell, a loyal member of his retinue. Tyrell reportedly had the princes killed by two men under his command.
