Princes in the Tower

The Princes in the Tower Edward V of England (1470–1483?) and Richard of Shrewsbury, 1st Duke of York, (1473–1483?) were the two young princes, sons of Edward IV of England and Elizabeth Woodville, who were declared illegitimate by the Act of Parliament known as Titulus Regius.

Suspects

Four major suspects have been identified, and the arguments in favour of each potential culprit are, in short:

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Richard had eliminated the princes from the succession. However, his hold on the monarchy was insecure, and the princes remained a threat as long as they were alive. Rumours of their death were in wide circulation by early 1484, but Richard never attempted to prove that they were alive by having them seen in public.

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The Duke of Buckingham was Richard's right-hand man and sought personal advantage through the new king. Many regard Buckingham as the likeliest suspect: his execution, after rebelling against Richard in October 1483, might signify that he and the king had fallen out because Buckingham had taken it on himself - for whatever reason - to dispose of Richard's rival claimants. Buckingham was also descended from previous kings and, after Henry Tudor's line he was the next Lancastrian claimant - some even think his claim was stronger than Henry's.

Related Topics:
The Duke of Buckingham - Henry Tudor

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King Henry VII of England was undoubtedly a ruthless man, who, following his accession, proceeded to find a legal excuse to execute rival claimants to the throne. He married the princes' eldest sister, Elizabeth of York, to reinforce his hold on the throne, but her right to inherit depended on both her brothers being already dead. Realistically, Henry's only opportunity to murder the princes would have been after his accession in 1485, but it has been suggested that Buckingham, if he was responsible, was acting on Henry's behalf rather than Richard's.

Related Topics:
Henry VII of England - Elizabeth of York

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John Howard, later the first Duke of Norfolk of the current creation, was a claimant to the estate of the Mowbray Dukes of Norfolk. He was given custody of the Tower of London under less-than regular circumstances the night the Princes are supposed to have disappeared from the Tower. He had opportunity and motive - Richard, Duke of York was also Duke of Norfolk in right of his deceased child bride Anne, the daughter of the last Mowbray Duke.

Related Topics:
John Howard - Duke of Norfolk - Tower of London - Richard, Duke of York - Anne

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