Britain up to 1483

Monarchs during the Wars of the Roses...

• Henry V
  1413 - 1422
• Henry VI
  1422 - 1461
• Edward IV
  1461 - 1470
• Henry VI
  1470 - 1471
• Edward IV
  1471 - 1483
• Edward V
  1483 - 1483
• Richard III
  1483 - 1485
• Henry VII
  1485 - 1509

(NOTE: you don't have to remember all these dates. Only the last two!)

Richard III, of Gloucester

• Brother of Edward IV
• Married Anne Neville and became the most powerful land owner in the North
• Rivalry with Edward IV's wife Elizabeth Woodville
• Suspected of killing the Prince's in the Tower
• Prospered under Edward IV's reign
• Respected leader in the North
• A strong military leader

Makings of a villain?

• Born in the middle of the Wars of the Roses during usurps and violence
• Witnessed his brother benefit from violence
• Saw murder achieved results (murder of Henry VI and brother George by Edward IV)
• Learnt to trust no one, especially in politics
• Believed absolute power for a monarch is necessary to minimise treachery

The Usurpation...

• Powerful nobles supporting the Woodville family were imprisoned (Sir Richard Grey)
• Edward V travelled to London
• Richard III was named Protector under Edward V's minority reign
• Edward V's coronation was set to 22 June and parliament was called on 25 June
• Hasting and other counsel members grew wary of Richard III's trust in Buckingham
• Richard III and Buckingham called armed men to assist against the Woodvilles
• Members of the counsel, including Hastings, met privately concerned with Richard III
• Richard III became aware of this and called a set-up counsel meeting to arrest the men
• Hastings was taken from the meeting and executed right then for treason
• Richard of York was ordered to join his brother in the tower
• Propaganda was set declaring the two Prince's illegitimacy
• Richard III was now successor to the throne
• The declaration of Richard as King of England was titled Titulus Regius

Edward V and Richard of York

• Sons of Edward IV and Elizabeth Woodville
• Taken to the Tower of London by their uncle, Richard III
• They were never seen after 1483
• Presumed to have been murdered in the Tower by Richard III
• James Tyrell admitted to their murders on behalf of Richard III
• Elizabeth Woodville then backed Henry Tudor's claim to the throne, believing her sons were dead

The Mystery of their disappearance

• The traditional story is that they were murdered by Richard III
• This may have been to prevent the crown from Woodville influence
• He also failed to show the Prince's alive when damaging accusations were made

• Rumours were also of Henry Tudor being the murderer also spread
• His clear motive would have been to strengthen his claim to the throne
• No charges were made towards Tudor though