Today we're doing a double header, because the next Monarch of England didn't rule for long (2 months or so.) The famously forgotten, never actually crowned king of England, Edward V!
-The eldest son of Edward IV and Elizabeth Woodville, Edward and his little brother Richard were born in the middle of the Wars of the Roses. Most of their childhood was spent being hidden, protected, or threatened.
- He was born in Westminster Abbey, when his mother was living there seeking sanctuary from the Lancastrians. He was thus known as Edward of Westminster.
- Was raised primarily by his uncle, Anthony, Earl of Rivers. His was a sheltered life. King Edward IV refused to let his son even hear swear words of any sort. Perhaps because Edward was a bit of a lout, he seemed worried that his sons would wind up the same way.
- When he was 12, his father died. The Earl Rivers quickly scooped up the young prince of Wales and intended to quickly get him into London, to secure the Rivers family as protectors of the young king. Richard of Gloucester, Edward's uncle, had other plans. He had been appointed as protector of the 2 young princes, and intercepted the Rivers party, along with Richard Grey at Stony Stratford. While there, weapons were found to be in the possession of the Rivers family. Richard of Gloucester had the Rivers family entourage, along with Anthony himself, arrested and sent north to a secluded place, where they were summarily executed. Though young Edward protested, he was taken along with his brother, now Duke of York, to London, where they were promptly placed in the tower for "their protection."
- The rest of the council expected young Edward V to be crowned immediately... after all, Henry VI had been crowned at 7... Richard II at 10. Surely, Edward V could be crowned at 12. However, Richard delayed the coronation again and again. Suspicions began to arise as to whether or not Richard intended to ever let young Edward have the crown.
- Then came shocking news! Edward IV had had another wife! Before marrying Elizabeth Woodville, he was in a marriage contract with Eleanor Butler! SCANDAL! This meant that the princes were not princes at all, but bastards born from bigamy! The horror! Richard, of course, broke this news with a "heavy heart." After all, if young Edward and Richard were bastards, that meant the children of the middle child, George, would be next. BUT! George was a traitor and had been killed by Edward IV. His children were therefore ineligible. Who would be king?
- Oh, that's right... Richard of Gloucester, Edward IV's youngest brother, would be next in line. So, despite his "trepidation" to do so, Richard of Gloucester stepped up and became Richard III of England. It was all very legal and by the book, of course.... OF COURSE.
-What happened next is one of the most controversial topic in English history. Edward and Richard were seen less and less... then stopped being seen altogether. They were simply never seen again... ever. Did Richard III have them murdered? Many think so. However, when he was accused of such, he produced the two boys, unharmed, if a bit bedraggled. It wasn't brought into question again. Some think they were smuggled out of England. Also possible, but unlikely. Fact is, we'll never know. Edward V would be counted as a king of England, though he was never crowned. The mystery of the "Princes in the Tower" would never be truly solved.
-The eldest son of Edward IV and Elizabeth Woodville, Edward and his little brother Richard were born in the middle of the Wars of the Roses. Most of their childhood was spent being hidden, protected, or threatened.
- He was born in Westminster Abbey, when his mother was living there seeking sanctuary from the Lancastrians. He was thus known as Edward of Westminster.
- Was raised primarily by his uncle, Anthony, Earl of Rivers. His was a sheltered life. King Edward IV refused to let his son even hear swear words of any sort. Perhaps because Edward was a bit of a lout, he seemed worried that his sons would wind up the same way.
- When he was 12, his father died. The Earl Rivers quickly scooped up the young prince of Wales and intended to quickly get him into London, to secure the Rivers family as protectors of the young king. Richard of Gloucester, Edward's uncle, had other plans. He had been appointed as protector of the 2 young princes, and intercepted the Rivers party, along with Richard Grey at Stony Stratford. While there, weapons were found to be in the possession of the Rivers family. Richard of Gloucester had the Rivers family entourage, along with Anthony himself, arrested and sent north to a secluded place, where they were summarily executed. Though young Edward protested, he was taken along with his brother, now Duke of York, to London, where they were promptly placed in the tower for "their protection."
- The rest of the council expected young Edward V to be crowned immediately... after all, Henry VI had been crowned at 7... Richard II at 10. Surely, Edward V could be crowned at 12. However, Richard delayed the coronation again and again. Suspicions began to arise as to whether or not Richard intended to ever let young Edward have the crown.
- Then came shocking news! Edward IV had had another wife! Before marrying Elizabeth Woodville, he was in a marriage contract with Eleanor Butler! SCANDAL! This meant that the princes were not princes at all, but bastards born from bigamy! The horror! Richard, of course, broke this news with a "heavy heart." After all, if young Edward and Richard were bastards, that meant the children of the middle child, George, would be next. BUT! George was a traitor and had been killed by Edward IV. His children were therefore ineligible. Who would be king?
- Oh, that's right... Richard of Gloucester, Edward IV's youngest brother, would be next in line. So, despite his "trepidation" to do so, Richard of Gloucester stepped up and became Richard III of England. It was all very legal and by the book, of course.... OF COURSE.
-What happened next is one of the most controversial topic in English history. Edward and Richard were seen less and less... then stopped being seen altogether. They were simply never seen again... ever. Did Richard III have them murdered? Many think so. However, when he was accused of such, he produced the two boys, unharmed, if a bit bedraggled. It wasn't brought into question again. Some think they were smuggled out of England. Also possible, but unlikely. Fact is, we'll never know. Edward V would be counted as a king of England, though he was never crowned. The mystery of the "Princes in the Tower" would never be truly solved.