The Princes in the Tower: A Historical Mystery of Medieval England

Introduction
The fate of the Princes in the Tower—Edward V and his younger brother, Richard, Duke of York—is one of the most enduring and tragic mysteries in English history. These two boys, the sons of King Edward IV, disappeared in the summer of 1483 while under the protection of their uncle, Richard, Duke of Gloucester, who later became King Richard III. Their disappearance has fueled centuries of speculation, debate, and historical investigation.
Were they murdered? By whom, if so? Did they escape and live in secret? The lack of definitive evidence has turned this case into one of history’s greatest unsolved crimes. This article explores the events leading up to their disappearance, the key suspects, and the various theories that historians have proposed over the centuries.

The History: The Wars of the Roses To understand the fate of the Princes in the Tower, we must first examine the political turmoil of 15th-century England, particularly the Wars of the Roses (1455–1487)—a series of civil wars between two rival branches of the royal House of Plantagenet: the House of Lancaster (red rose) and the House of York (white rose).
The Rise of Edward IV
Edward IV (of the Yorkist faction) became king in 1461 after defeating the Lancastrian King Henry VI.
In 1470–1471, Edward's reign was briefly halted when Henry VI was briefly reinstated, but Edward regained power following the Battle of Tewkesbury. Edward IV ruled until his sudden death on April 9, 1483, leaving his 12-year-old son, Edward V, as heir.
The Regency Crisis
Since Edward V was too young to rule, his uncle, Richard, Duke of Gloucester, was named Lord Protector to govern until the boy came of age. However, Richard’s actions soon raised suspicions.
The Events of 1483: From Heir to Prisoner
1. Edward V’s Journey to London
After Edward IV’s death, young Edward V was in Ludlow Castle under the care of his maternal uncle, Earl Rivers.
Richard intercepted the prince’s escort, arrested Rivers, and took control of Edward V, claiming there was a plot against him.
2. The Imprisonment in the Tower
Edward V was placed in the Tower of London, then a royal residence as well as a prison.
His brother, Richard, Duke of York, joined him there in June 1483.
3. The Declaration of Illegitimacy
Richard declared that Edward IV’s marriage to Elizabeth Woodville was invalid because Edward had been pre-contracted to another woman.
As a result, Edward V and his siblings lost their claim to the throne and were declared illegitimate. On June 26, 1483, Richard was proclaimed King Richard III.
4. The Disappearance of the Princes
By mid-1483, the princes were seen less frequently.
By autumn 1483, they had vanished entirely.
Rumors spread that they had been murdered.
Key Suspects in the Disappearance
1. Richard III: The Traditional Villain
Shakespeare’s portrayal in Richard III cemented Richard’s image as a hunchbacked tyrant who murdered his nephews.
Motive: Removing rival claimants to secure his throne.
Evidence Against Him:
He had the boys declared illegitimate and took the crown.
The Tower in which they were held was under his control. Sir Thomas More later wrote that Richard ordered their deaths.
However, some modern historians argue that Richard had little to gain from killing them since they were already declared illegitimate.
2. Henry Stafford, Duke of Buckingham
Buckingham was Richard’s ally but later rebelled against him in 1483.
Motive: If he acted independently, he may have wanted to destabilize Richard’s reign.
Some theories suggest Buckingham ordered the murders without Richard’s knowledge.
3. Henry Tudor, or the upcoming Henry VII Henry Tudor defeated Richard III at the Battle of Bosworth (1485) and became Henry VII.
Motive: If the princes were alive when Henry took power, they were a threat to his claim.
Evidence:
Henry had Edward IV’s children declared legitimate again—but only the daughters, not the princes.
He never produced the princes alive, suggesting he may have had them killed.
4. Escape Theories
Some believe one or both princes escaped:
Perkin Warbeck (1490s): A pretender claimed to be Richard, Duke of York.
Lambert Simnel (1487): Another pretender posed as Edward, Earl of Warwick.
However, both imposters were eventually exposed.
Historical Evidence and Discoveries
1. The Bones in the Tower (1674)
In 1674, workers found two small skeletons beneath a staircase in the Tower.
King Charles II had them reburied in Westminster Abbey as the presumed princes.
In 1933, an examination suggested the bones belonged to children of the right age, but no DNA testing has been done.
2. Contemporary Accounts
Dominic Mancini (1483): By the end of 1483, according to an Italian chronicler, the princes were thought to be dead. Thomas More (1513): Wrote that Richard ordered their smothering, but his account may have been politically influenced.
3. Modern Investigations
Some historians argue Richard’s reputation was blackened by Tudor propaganda.
The Richard III Society campaigns for his re-evaluation, suggesting he was framed.
Conclusion: An Unsolved Medieval Mystery
One of history's greatest mysteries is the Princes' disappearance in the Tower. Although Richard III is the most likely suspect, there is room for doubt given the lack of concrete evidence. Other possibilities—such as Buckingham’s involvement, Henry VII’s potential guilt, or even a secret escape—keep the debate alive.
Until new evidence emerges—perhaps through DNA testing of the Tower bones—the fate of Edward V and Richard, Duke of York, will continue to haunt historians and intrigue mystery lovers worldwide.