Edward V

In the summer of 1483, two young brothers disappeared inside of one of England's most formidable royal fortresses.

The older boy was 12-year-old Edward V, who had recently inherited the English throne.

His younger brother, Richard, Duke of York, was only nine.

Both were sons of the late King Edward IV.

Their disappearance would become one of the most enduring mysteries of medieval England.

The story began in April 1483, when King Edward IV died unexpectedly.

His eldest son was supposed to succeed him as Edward V., But the boy was still a child, and England was deeply divided by political rivalries.

Edward's uncle, Richard, Duke of Gloucester, was appointed Lord Protector.

In the summer of 1483, two young brothers disappeared inside of one of England's most formidable royal fortresses.

The older boy was 12-year-old Edward V, who had recently inherited the English throne.

His younger brother, Richard, Duke of York, was only nine.

Both were sons of the late King Edward IV.

Their disappearance would become one of the most enduring mysteries of medieval England.

The story began in April 1483, when King Edward IV died unexpectedly.

His eldest son was supposed to succeed him as Edward V., But the boy was still a child, and England was deeply divided by political rivalries.

Edward's uncle, Richard, Duke of Gloucester, was appointed Lord Protector.

Anne Boleyn, the diva that you are.

The princes in the tower in 1483, 12-year-old King Edward V and his nine-year-old brother Richard, just Richard.

He's not a number.

He doesn't get a number.

All plots to bust him out have so far been foiled.

But what if, what if, Perkin Warbeck, with his prince-charming hair, scarlet cheeks, and the characteristic long plantagenet nose, pretended to be another prince in the Tower? one who could not so easily be proven to actually be in the Tower? What if Perkin Warbeck were to claim to be Prince Richard, the younger of the sons of Edward IV, who's been missing since Richard III's day? Everyone assumes that young Prince Richard, along with his brother, Edward V, was murdered shortly after bad uncle Richard III took the throne, and they almost certainly assume right.

But no bodies have ever been produced.

No burial has taken place.

In the summer of 1483, two young brothers disappeared inside of one of England's most formidable royal fortresses.

The older boy was 12-year-old Edward V, who had recently inherited the English throne.

His younger brother, Richard, Duke of York, was only nine.

Both were sons of the late King Edward IV.

Their disappearance would become one of the most enduring mysteries of medieval England.

The story began in April 1483 when King Edward IV died unexpectedly.

His eldest son was supposed to succeed him as Edward V, but the boy was still a child, and England was deeply divided by political rivalries.

Edward's uncle, Richard, Duke of Gloucester, was appointed Lord Protector.

And the Battle of Agincourt is one of those sort of great British victories that we can start waving our flags about.

Edward V, now you say to someone, tell me about Edward V, they might look blank.

But if you say, tell me about the princes in the tower, then they might get engaged and have a theory on who killed them.

Was it Richard III or was it Henry VII? So, yes, the princes in the tower are remembered.

And trying to remember which was which and what they did is quite difficult.

Queen Victoria, definitely top five.

Edward VIII, who abdicated.

He's certainly a notorious figure.

Henry IV ascended to the throne of England, much to his own satisfaction, in the year 1399, after having prevailed on his cousin and present predecessor, Richard II, to resign it to him, and to retire for the rest of his life to Pomfret Castle, where he happened to be murdered.

It is to be supposed that Henry was married, since he had certainly four sons, but it is not in my power to inform the reader who was his wife.

Be this as it may, he did not live forever, but, falling ill, his son the Prince of Wales came and took away the crown, whereupon the king made a long speech, for which I must refer the reader to Shakespeare's plays, and the prince made it still longer.

Things being thus settled, between them the king died and was succeeded by his son Henry, who had previously beat Sir William Gascon.

Henry VII.

This monarch, soon after his accession, married the Princess Elizabeth of York, by which alliance he plainly proved that he thought his own right inferior to hers, though he pretended to the contrary.

By this marriage he had two sons and two daughters, the elder of which daughters was married to the King of Scotland and had the happiness of being grandmother to one of the first characters in the world.

But of her I shall have occasion to speak more at large in the future.