If true, this would mean that Edward IV was illegitimate, and had no claim to the throne. Medieval historian Professor Michael Jones has determined through court records that Edward's legal father, Richard, Duke of York, was over 100 miles away from his mother, Lady Cecily, at the time when Edward must have been conceived. However, it is possible that Richard's claim is based on the truth, though not through Edward's betrothal vows. Richard would have found it easy to gather support against the queen, for she was very unpopular.Īt first glance, it would appear that this claim is a feeble attempt to legitimise Richard's own claim to the throne. Given the customs of the time, a prior betrothal could have invalidated Edward's subsequent marriage, so any children of that union would be illegitimate.

Richard's claim to the throne was based on his assertion that the princes were illegitimate because Edward had been betrothed before his marriage to Elizabeth Woodville, the prince's mother. After a seemly show of reluctance, Richard agreed and was crowned king. Based on this 'evidence' Richard called an assembly which in due course asked him to take the crown as the only legitimate heir of the House of York. Richard then had a tame priest, Dr Shaw, preach a sermon at Paul's Cross, claiming that Edward IV had been precontracted in marriage to another woman before marrying Elizabeth Woodville. By placing the princes in the Tower of London, Richard was not, in theory, placing them in prison, or under arrest. It is worth remembering that the Tower of London did not at that time have the reputation it was later to acquire it was a royal residence, an armoury, a protected place in royal hands. He pressured the queen into giving Richard, Duke of York, into his care, and Richard joined his elder brother in the Tower of London. He arrested those lords most likely to oppose such a move, and had Lord Hastings executed. Within six weeks Richard gathered support for a move to declare the princes illegitimate and have himself named king. The queen took sanctuary at Westminster with her daughters and her second son. He arrested the lords Rivers and Grey, who were later executed. He rode quickly to intercept the royal party before they could reach London, and on 29 April, took Edward into his own custody. But Richard, acting with the decisiveness and courage which marked most of his life, forestalled the queen. Edward IV certainly made his own wishes known, appointing his brother Richard as Lord Protector on his deathbed.Īt the time of his father's death, Edward V was in the company of his mother at Ludlow, so the queen's cause looked the brightest.

Richard and the queen were openly hostile, however indeed, there was very little public support for the queen. The two most obvious people to head that regency were Queen Elizabeth and Richard of Gloucester. Given the youth of the heir to the throne, a regency would be needed. The other player in the scene was Richard, Duke of Gloucester, Edward IV's younger brother and most able supporter and ally. England needed a period of peace and a stable government, but it was not going to get it.Įdward had two children, Edward, aged 12, and Richard, aged 9. When Edward IV died on 9 April 1483, England was nearing the end of the tediously long conflict known as the Wars of the Roses.

Skeletons tower of london