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Most people think of Richard III as Shakespeare portrayed him - a scheming King who murdered his way to the throne. But is this the correct version or was the dead King's reputation severely maligned. Was he instead a highly regarded King until someone else murdered the little Princes - his nephews - and he was inevitably blamed? We will probably never know for sure but there is no reliable evidence that Richard killed his own nephews.
Richard and his brother George were raised by the Earl of Warwick after their father, the fourth son of Richard, Duke of York died. When his brother Edward became King Edward IV, Richard showed himself to be an excellent commander of armies at Barnet and Tewkesbury and he was appointed Governor of the North. He married Anne Neville, the Earl of Warwick's daughter - most of the evidence suggests that the marriage was happy. Sadly, however, their only son died young. When Edward died Richard became protector of the King's sons and took them into custody into the Tower of London. When it became clear that Edward had been previously betrothed his marriage was declared invalid and as the children were then illegitimate Richard became King. Richard, the last Plantagenet King, was killed at the Battle of Bosworth Field in an uprising led by Henry Tudor. The Mystery The central question of his reign is: Did he murder the two Princes? There is much evidence to suggest that he has been falsely accused. Shakespeare's play was based on the account of Thomas More which was deduced from John Morton who was Richard's worst enemy. As Josephine Tey points out in her novel: The Daughter of Time based on the mystery before the boy's disappearance Richard had a good reputation and appeared to be a man of integrity. There were many other claimants to the throne and murdering the boys did not help his claim. The most convincing reason she gives is that Elizabeth Woodville, the boy's own mother remained friendly with Richard even after the boy's supposed murder and attended Palace festivities. It is extremely doubtful that any mother, no matter how ambitious and self-serving, would remain friendly with someone she suspects of murdering her children! If Richard wasn't the murderer who was? Other suspects include Henry Tudor and, of course, the Duke of Buckingham. Henry certainly had motive. He repealed the Act which acknowledged the children's illegitimacy - this made the elder boy the King and the younger boy the next heir. When he accused Richard of cruelty and tyranny in his Act of Attainder he failed to mention the young Princes- this suggests that the boys were still alive. He got rid of Elizabeth Woodville soon after he became King by sending her to a convent and depriving her of her living. Go To Page: 1 2
The copyright of the article Beloved Prince or Hunchbacked monster? The Mystery of Richard the III in British Social History is owned by Viola Ashford. Permission to republish Beloved Prince or Hunchbacked monster? The Mystery of Richard the III in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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