perfectspecimens2: 17 August 1473 – Richard of Shrewsbury, Duke of York, the sixth child and s
perfectspecimens2:17 August 1473 – Richard of Shrewsbury, Duke of York, the sixth child and second son of King Edward IV of England and Elizabeth Woodville, is born in Shrewsbury, Shropshire. King Edward IV died in May, 1483 and Richard’s older brother became King Edward V, with Richard as the heir presumptive. Their uncle, Richard, Duke of Gloucester (Edward IV’s younger brother) was named Lord Protector of the two boys. He had them placed in the royal apartments at the Tower of London for their safety. A few weeks later, a priest named Robert Stillington, Bishop of Bath, preached a sermon outside Old St. Paul’s church claiming Edward IV’s children were illegitimate because the King had promised to marry Lady Eleanor Talbot – and she was still alive when Edward married Elizabeth Woodville, instead. A special council was organized and they concluded Edward’s marriage was invalid and all of his children were ineligible for the throne. The council named the Duke of Gloucester the legitimate King of England. He was crowned Richard III in July, 1483. The last time the boys were seen in public was in August of that year. It is generally assumed the boys were murdered in the Tower – presumably upon Richard’s orders. King Edward V and the Duke of York in the Tower of London, by Paul Delaroche. Oil on canvas, dated 1830. Louvre, Paris. The tradition of giving the title Duke of York to the second son of the reigning monarch began with Richard and continues to this day. -- source link
#history#15th century