Birth of Catherine of York

13th August 1479

ஜ۩۞۩ஜ

           Catherine of York was born in Etham Castle on 11 August, and is the ninth and sixth daughter of our greatest and beloved King Edward IV and his wife Elizabeth Wydville. Rumours mean that the king has concluded a marriage contract with John, Prince of Asturias.

ஜ۩۞۩ஜ

Bridget of York is born

11th November 1480

ஜ۩۞۩ஜ

            Bridget, the tenth child and seventh daughter of the royal and fertile couple, was born yesterday in Etham Palace. She was baptized today by the Bishop of Chichester, Edward Story. Cecily Neville, Duchess of York, her paternal grandmother and her oldest sister Elizabeth of York were her godmothers and William Waynaflete, Bishop of Winchester, her godfather.

ஜ۩۞۩ஜ

Elizabeth Woodville Pregnant all the times

15th January 1481

Queen Elizabeth Wydville

ஜ۩۞۩ஜ

           As you know my Dear Reader, our Queen Consort of England, Elizabeth Wydville married King Edward IV from 1464 until his death in 1483. Her marriage is still considered nowadays as a minor supporter of the House of Lancaster.

           Sir John Grey of Groby, her first husband, died at the Second Battle of St Albans, leaving Elizabeth a widowed and a mother of two sons; Sir Thomas Grey  and Sir Richard Grey. Her second marriage, to Edward IV, happened thanks to Elizabeth's great beauty and lack of great estates. As we said, she had already 2 sons from her first husband Sir John Grey but it didn’t made stop our young queen...

           She had many children after the marriage with our beloved King Edward IV. She always wanted to have many babies and she had 10 children with Edward IV:

•   Elisabeth who is born at Westminster Palace on 11 February 1466. Her godparents at the front were her grandmothers, Cecily, Duchess of York, and Jacquetta Duchess of Bedford, and Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick, Anne Stafford, Duchess of Buckingham, was her godmother at the confirmation.

Cecily of York

• Mary was born at Winsdor, shortly before her baptism there on 12 August 1467.

Mary of York

• Cecily was the third daughter of king and queen and she was born at Westminster on 20 March 1469.

• Eward, future Edward V, was born in Westminster Sanctuary on 2 November 1470.

• Margaret was the short-lived on who was born on 10 April 1472 and died on 11 December 1472. The infant was buried at Westminster by St. Edward’s shrine.

• Richard who was made Duke of York, was born at Shrewsbury on 17 August 1473.

• Anne was born in 1475 she shared her birthday, 2 November with her older brother Edward.

Katherine of York

• George was the little-known third son of Edward and Elizabeth and he was likely born in 1477. George was possibly named for his uncle George, Duke of Clarence.

Bridget of York

• Katherine was probably the child which probably could be born in early 1479 at Eltham.

• And finally Bridget the last of Elizabeth’s and Edward’s children was born on 10 November 1480 at Eltham where she was christened next day.

 Well as you see my Reader Queen Elizabeth has been to long pregnant. A new child each year it’s too much but again bravo for this strong and healthy woman who have passed 14  years of her life pregnant.

BRAVO!

ஜ۩۞۩ஜ

Edward IV is dead : Long Live King Edward V

11th April 1483

ஜ۩۞۩ஜ

           Edward IV was our king from 4 March 1461 until 3 October 1470, and again from 11 April 1471 until his death in 1483. He was the first Yorkist King of England. The first half of his rule was marred by the violence associated with the Wars of the Roses, but he overcame the Lancastrian challenge to the throne at Tewkesbury in 1471 to reign in peace with his beloved wife, Queen Elisabeth Wydville until his sudden death. Before becoming king he was 4th Duke of York, 7th Earl of March, 5th Earl of Cambridge and 9th Earl of Ulster. He was also the 65th Knight of the Order of the Golden Fleece.

          Edward IV had ten children by Elizabeth Woodville, seven of whom survived him. His first son Edward is now the next King of England as Edward V. But this young king is not ready to rule England and his father appointed his brother, Richard, Duke of Gloucester as Lord Protector. But he will have surely to chare this education with Anthony Wydville... An other quarrel?

ஜ۩۞۩ஜ

The Royal Crown ; Subjet of War and Death

24th April 1483

ஜ۩۞۩ஜ

ஜ۩۞۩ஜ

           Our country is divided since 1455, the beginning of the war between York and Lancaster. Today, while King Edward IV is dead, the conflict continue... 

           Even if the beginning of the quarrel dates since 1455, in reality the discord already exist for almost a century. Indeed, in 1399, Henry Bolingbroke (future Henry IV), Duke of Lancaster, dethroned his cousin Richard II however Henry wasn't legitimate. He descended from John of Gaunt, third son of Edward III and normally the throne was for the descendant of Lionel of Antwerp, second son of Edward III. Lionel's grandson, Roger Mortimer, was considered the true heir to the throne.

Henri VI

           This is why, in 1455 while Henry VI was king, Richard, Duke of York rebel against King Henry reminding the illegitimancy of the House of Lancaster and claiming himself as the true heir. And on 22th May 1455, he won the battle of Saint Albans, after that Richard Duke of York, headed the country during four years, Henry suffered of madness, he lived out of the kingdom. 

           But in 1459, Richard was hunting out of the court by Henry VI, still king, and Margaret of Anjou. At this moment, Richard formed an alliance with Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick but Duke of York died during the Battle of Wakefield. Then, Henry took the power again. 

           In 1461,Yorkist won the battle of Towton. And on 28th July, 1461, Warwick made Edward IV, Richard's son, the king. Margaret and Henry ran away in Scotland. 

           In 1469, Warwick betrayed King Edward IV with George, Duke of Clarence, Edward lost the battle of Edgecote Moor and he was jailed. But he recovered the throne quickly and forgave them. After an other treason, Warwick and George ran away in France and made an alliance with Margaret of Anjou. Warwick suceeded and put back Henry VI to the throne. But, Edward IV won the battle of Barnet where Warwick was killed and then the battle of Tewkesbury in 1471.

           From this moment and nowdays, there were no more battles between the two roses however with the death of our King, things can change... 

ஜ۩۞۩ஜ

Finally, because of this war, many important people died...

• Richard, Duke of York,1460;
• Richard Wydville, Earl of Rivers, Last Queen Elizabeth's father, 1469;
• John Wydville, Last Queen Elizabeth's brother, 1469;
• Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick, 1471;
• Edouard of Wesminster, Last King Henry VI' s IV son, 1471;
• Georges, Duke of Clarence, 1478;
• Henry VI, 1471.

ஜ۩۞۩ஜ

Weddings of the years

15th May 1483

ஜ۩۞۩ஜ

Queen Elizabeth Wydville

          During King Edward IV's reign, many weddings were made. Here, it's a little recap of most important weddings of this reign!

          Certainly, the most striking wedding was those of the king himself with Elizabeth Wydville. This wedding brought about the disagreement between King Edward IV with Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick. Indeed, Warwick wanted Edward IV marry Bona of Savoy to make an alliance with France. What's more, Elizabeth was a sympathiser of the House of Lancaster by her first wedding with Sir John Grey, and Warwick didn't accepted this marriage -humiliation-. His influence fell in favour of Wydville's family and he made a rebellion against Edward IV.

King Edward IV

          In 1469, Georges, Duke of Clarence, married Isabel Neville, Warwick's daughter. Warwick prepared his rebellion against Edward IV and at this moment, he wanted to make George the king. The goal of Warwick was to come closer to the throne, with his daughter as the queen, he could increased his power. Then he organized the marriage between her and the duke in Calais.

          But, Warwick droped quickly George in favour of Edouard of Wesminster, Henri VI's son. So he decided to marry him with his other daughter Anne in 1470 for the same reasons.

          After Edouard of Wesminster's death at the battle of Tewkesbury in 1471, Anne Neville married Richard, Duke of Gloucester in 1472. Thanks to his wedding, Richard was the legitimate sharer of lands of Neville's family. This fact created conflicts with his brother George, Duke of Clarence, who lost a part of the inheritance of domains. But in 1475, they found an agreement, Richard had to renounce of a part of Neville's inheritance and of the title of Earl of Warwick.

ஜ۩۞۩ஜ

          During Edward IV's reign, Wydville's family was powerful and some persons of this family were married with influential people:

• John Wydville married Catherine Neville, duchess of Norfolk who was very rich after the death of his husband. We remind this union made a scene because Catherine was much more elderly than John...
• In 1465, Catherine Wydville, Elizabeth's sister, married Henry Stafford, Duke of Buckingham.
• In 1467, Anne Wydville, other sister of Elizabeth married William Bourchier who was the son of Isabel of York, the sister of Edward IV's father. 
• The same year, Mary Wydville married Lord Dunster, Earl of Pembroke. 

Thanks to this weddings, Wydville's family consolidated her supremacy during this period...

ஜ۩۞۩ஜ

The heirs of Edward IV are illegitimate

26th June 1483

ஜ۩۞۩ஜ

          Ralph Shaa, a theologian, created a huge panic in the kingdom saying King Edward IV was already betrothed when he wedded Elizabeth Wydville. Her name was Lady Eleanor Talbot, wife of Sir Thomas Butler before her marriage with the king.

          Hearing this revelation, Richard, Duke of Gloucester has had no choice of declaring his nephews illegitimate because both of their father's polygamy and of the last queen's brother, Anthony Wydville. This was evident Edward V's Lady Mother and his uncle Earl of Rivers, Anthony Wydville, will rule for him. And we know Richard, Duke of Gloucester hates the Rivers Family. This family which where of the Lancastrian side before the secret wedding of King Edward IV, had a great acenscion and have no wishes of letting power to the duke.

          This is clear Edward's brother will be on the throne. His wife Anne Neville will be by this way Queen Consort of England as her father's wishes. Hope he's seeing this from the Heaven.

ஜ۩۞۩ஜ

The Princes Go to the Tower of London

17th June 1483

ஜ۩۞۩ஜ

Tower of London

          After the unexpected death of our beloved and greatest King Edward IV, his first born son Edward became the new King of England as Edward V.

          Edward was at Ludlow with his uncle Lord Rivers when he learnt that his father died on 9 April. His advent was announced in London on 14 April. Edward joined London on 4 may.

          Richard, Duke of Gloucester was designated as Lord Protector of the king. He will take care of matters of the Kingdom during the minority of Edward. Wydville's family are not very agree with this decision, they don't trust Richard, Duke of Gloucester. They are scared of losing their influence on the Kingdom. Elizabeth Wydville, Queen Mother, took refuge in Wesminster Abbey with her childrens, she is afraid for their lives.

          Indeed, Wydville's family is nowdays the ennemy of Richard. Then he accuses Elizabeth to conspire against him. It's why Lord Hastings was jailed, the duke accuses Hastings of plotting with Wydville's family against him because of Edward IV's loyalty. Richard doesn't want Wydville monopolizes the power by interest. Incidentally, Lord Rivers was arrested by Duke of Buckingham, a close noble of Richard, before the arrival of the prince in London on 4 May.

          On 19 May, Prince Edward took up residence on the Tower of London pending his coronation and yesterday his brother, Richard, joined him. Recently, his coronation was postponed...

ஜ۩۞۩ஜ

King Richard III and Queen Anne

6th July 1483

♖♔♕♖                                                                  

Queen Anne, King Richard III, Edward of Middleham

                                                                    ♖♔♕♖

           Richard, Last Duke of Gloucester, has been made King of England ahead God. But this is by his own wishes he decided to make his Queen of England his beloved wife and partner, Lady Anne Neville, Last Duchess of Gloucester.

 Anne and her husbands

           The ceremony took place at Westminster Abbey and they shared a joint coronation. Anne Neville wore a kirtle and mantle made from 27 yards of white cloth-of-gold furred with ermine and miniver, and trimmed with lace and tassels of white silk and gold. Then the day ended with a magnificent banquet at which Richard was served on gold and Anne on gilt.

           A wonderful ceremony and coronation which will stay in our mind.

                                                                     ♖♔♕♖

Your view point

Anne Neville,
Richard Duke of Gloucester

   Lady Elinor Selwyn; 31 ; Lady-in-waiting of Queen Anne

           Queen Anne was very pretty and noble during her coronation. I dare add her husband King Richard III insisted about a joint coronation and they were crowned together. Queen Anne, when she was married to Edward of Westminster, was destined to be a Lancastrian Queen but now she's a Yorkist Queen! Then her son sould be on the throne

Your enjoyement gives us a smile, and your convictions are a pleasure of hearing! Then you look truly faith to the king and the queen. 

    Sir Walter Froste; 47 ; Yorkist Soldier

           When I heard Last King Edward IV was already betrothed to an other Lady, I admit I wasn't surprised. You know as me how he was and how he liked women. I guess he loved beauty, that's why he made Elizabeth Wydville his queen, I suppose. King Richard III, when he was Duke of Gloucester, ruled the North with a great hand, and even if rebellions could happened, I am not afraid of the future. I'm sure he will rule England as well as he did in the North with his beloved Queen of England.

And God save the King and Queen of England! 

      ♖♔♕♖

The Princes of the Tower Disappeared ?

31th July 1483

ஜ۩۞۩ஜ

             Few weeks ago, we told you the Princes went in the Tower of London. And as you know too, the elder of the two succeeded to the throne of England as Edward V on the death of his father Last King Edward IV.

             However, after the Ralph Shaa's revelation, Richard, Duke of Gloucester, declared himself king as Richard III. And  no one saw them until about mid-July... No tracks, no evidence of showing their disappearance or their murders.

             And this mysterious disappearance increases rumours about their uncle's part in it. Did he order their murder to secure himself to the throne? Or was he trapped by someone?

             We remind you Henry Tudor is a potential heir to the throne by his Lady Mother Magaret Beaufort. Now she's Sir Thomas Stanley's wife since 1472 but we can assure you she is willing to go as far as she could to put her son on the throne... Despite he has to cross several coffins...

ஜ۩۞۩ஜ

Edward of Middleham Prince of Wales is dead

9th April 1484

ஜ۩۞۩ஜ

Edward of Middleham

            Edward of Middleham, Prince of Wales since 24 August 1483, is dead, causing huge grief to the king and queen.

            The little Prince was the only child of King Richard III and Queen Anne Neville and he was born in Middleham in 1473. In 1478, he was created Earl of Salisbury and after his father's coronation, Prince of Wales and Earl of Chester in a splendide ceremony in York.

            This terrible but expected death by his weakness let Richard III without a legitimate child. Edward, Earl of Warwick, son of Clarence and Isabel Neville, should take his place as heir to the throne if Queen Anne does not give him an other child. However she did several miscarriages and she risks her life for her duty.

           All the population sympathize in their grief, any mother would seen their children go before them. And we do not doubt Queen Anne will have difficulties to move on, as her husband who looks truly in pain.

ஜ۩۞۩ஜ

King Richard III and his niece ?!!

23th August 1484

ஜ۩۞۩ஜ

           When we told you Margaret Beaufort' son was a potential heir to the throne of England, we were in the right way... Indeed Henry Tudor claimed on Christmas Day of the last year at Rennes Cathedral in Brittany, his wishes to marry Elizabeth of Yor, eldest daughter of King Edward IV. 

           And by this annoucement, he claimed the throne as his own. And he received the homage of his supporters. But even if the Princes of the Tower are presumed dead, even if Richard III's died few months ago, he has to be on the throne to fight for. And King Richard III won't let him take the throne.

          After this annoucement, our beloved king changed his behaviour with Lady Elizabeth who came back to court months ago. Indeed, to humiliate Henry Tudor, he tried to show his interest and intention of marrying his niece, while his wife is dying... Queen Anne Neville is very ill and suffered of sorrow and of disease. And it suceeds. Rumours are saying she's in love with his uncle, dazzled by him and she hopes to become his future wife... As rumours say.

          This play will have surely consequences for King Richard III who is reading to play every cards he had to secure the throne, even to lose his Queen. (Lover?).

ஜ۩۞۩ஜ

Anne Neville, Queen of England is dead

16th March 1485

ஜ۩۞۩ஜ

Queen Anne Neville

           Today, England experienced a great eclipse of the sun, the king experienced a great loss of love. Queen Anne Neville died this morning and rumours say this is the price of power, of thirst of power.

Lady Anne Neville, Princess of Wales, Duchess of Glouchester, Queen of England

           Lady Anne was born at Warwick Castle on 11th June 1456, and was the second daughter of the Kingmaker, Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick and Ann Beauchamp. She spent her childhood at Middleham Castle with her sister Isabel and Richard Plantagenet, later Duke of Gloucester, and King of England.

           Firstly betrothed to Richard, appointed Duke of Gloucester by his brother, King Edward IV, her father married her to Prince Edward of Westminster, son of Henri VI and Margaret of Anjou. Her father died at the Battle of Barnet in April 1471 and her husband is killed in May 1471. She was not Princess of Wales anymore but prisoner of her sister and brother-in-law. The dispute of Warwick lands and inheritance increased when Lady Anne became Duchess of Gloucester of marrying her cousin, Richard.

           Then, when Edward IV died in April 1483, she became Queen Consort of England after Edward IV's heirs were proclaimed illegitimate to the throne and the coronation of her husband. Her only child, Edward of Middleham died in April 1484, causing her huge sorrow.

           But her misfortune didn't stop there because Henry Tudor swore his wishes of marrying Elizabeth of York and she saw her beloved husband, trying to seduce his own niece to make Henry Tudor, heir of the House of Lancaster, a fool.

           Rumours. Rumours increase whispers, and even influence minds and way of thinking:

• King Richard III poisoned his wife to marry his niece;
• Queen Anne died by a curse, (who?);
• Lady Elizabeth of York mudered her;
• Queen Anne died of sorrow, grief, broken heart;
• She died of tuberculosis.

What is the truth?

ஜ۩۞۩ஜ

King Richard Cried During the Ceremony

18th March 1485

ஜ۩۞۩ஜ

King Richard III and Queen Anne Neville

           Two days ago, Queen Anne died. This same day, England experienced a great eclipse and some persons saw in it the fall of the House of York, threaten by Henry Tudor. [King Richard III is the only survivor if the Sons of York.]

           Today, the ceremony took place at Westminster Abbey and she was buried there. And some of the nobility saw King Richard III crying... Who could crying during a burial despite the Protocol and in front of a full abbey but a man in huge grief? 

           He didn't divorced even if she gave him any heir who is actually alive... Perhaps he sees now what is the price of keeping the throne close to him. Without his wife, his partner, his Queen.

ஜ۩۞۩ஜ

King Richard III died at Bosworth

22th August 1485

ஜ۩۞۩ஜ

           Today, I told myself it wasn't totally bad Queen Anne and her beloved son Edward of Middleham were dead. Indeed, they have not to see Richard III being killed at the Battle of Bosworth against the Army of the House of Lancaster.

           On 22 August 1485, our greatest King Richard III fought against the forces of Henry Tudor with 8.000 soldiers. Even if the Lancastrian heir had 5.000 soldiers, the betrayal of Sir Thomas Stanley helped him. He had under his command 6.000 men. He reported, when the king was surrounded, he cried "Treason!". 

A traitor, that's what you are Sir.

           But Last King Richard III fought bravely and ably during the battle, he unhorsed Sir John Cheyne, a well-known jousting champion, and killed Sir William Brandon.

           

           The Burgundian chronicler Jean Molinet says that a Welshman struck the death-blow with a halberd while Richard's horse was stuck in the marshy ground. It was said that the blows were so violent that the king's helmet was driven into his skull. The contemporary Welsh poet Guto'r Glyn implies the leading Welsh Lancastrian Rhys ap Thomas, or one of his men, killed the king, writing that he "killed the boar, shaved his head".

ஜ۩۞۩ஜ

The Yorkist Army defeated

24th August 1485

ஜ۩۞۩ஜ

           King Richard III and his army lost the battle of Bosworth on 22th August... Henry, Earl of Richmond, member of Tudor's family, will become the new king.

           Henry Tudor arrived in Wales, interrupting his exile in France, on 1nd August and he walked to London with people who supported him. Richard learnt the offensive of Henry and he assembled his troop and he stopped Henry's offensive at Market Bosworth in Leicestershire on 22th August.

           Richard had 8.000 men at his side and Henry, 5.000 men. Henry's army was lead by John de Vere, Earl of Oxford while Richard entrusted his army to the Duke of Norfolk and to the Earl of Nothumberland. But the Duke of Norfolk died at the beginning of the battle, in this way, Richard lost an important supporter. While Richard's army was in difficulty, Earl of Nothumberland and Thomas Stanley who was an ally to Richard, did anything. And William Stanley, Thomas's brother betrayed Richard and attacked his army while Richard attempted a last raid toward Henry. King Richard was encircled and he died.

           In reality, some people says Stanleys made an alliance with Henry and wanted to be on the side of the winner. Henry was crowned directly after the battle at summit of Crown Hill, Richard's crown was found on the battlefield.

           With this victory, a new era begin and York's dinasty expired. However, do we really know the new King ?

ஜ۩۞۩ஜ

The Illegitimate Heir of the House of Lancaster on the Throne

30th October 1485

ஜ۩۞۩ஜ

          Henry VII became the new King but we are septic about his legitimacy...

King Richard III &
King Henry VII

          Indeed, Edmund Tudor, Henri's father, was the son of Owen Tudor and Catherine of Valois who was Henri V's widow. It's why Edmund Tudor was just half-brother of Henry VI. He didn't have royal blood in his veins.

          What's more, Henry is Margaret Beaufort's son. Margaret was a descendant of John of Gaunt , Edward III's son. John of Gaunt was also the father of King Henry IV. But John of Gaunt wasn't legitimate to the throne because he was the third son of Edouard III, true heirs of Lancaster's House were descendants of Lionel od Antwerp, second Edouard III's son.

           In reality, Henry VI designated Henry VII as his heir because his son, Edward of Wesminster died at the Battle of Tewkesbury in 1471 so he didn't have any heir. It's why, Henry VII haven't any legitimacy for Lancaster's throne. So we can think Henry couldn't become the King. Moreover, with John of Gaunt's illegetimacy, a part of Lancaster kings didn't have to put on the throne and they ursuped it to trues Lancaster heirs, it was the main reason of the war... Now, Henry is part of these kings...

ஜ۩۞۩ஜ

Elizabeth of York Queen of England

25th November 1487

ஜ۩۞۩ஜ

             Elizabeth of York, Edward IV's first born daughter, was crowned on this 25th, November. We will remind you who she is and the circumtances of her marriage with King Henry VII.

             In reality, the weeding between Henry VII and Elizabeth was foresaw since a long time. Indeed, Elizabeth Wydville, Elizabeth of York's mother, made an alliance with Margaret Beaufort, King's mother, in 1483 when Richard III was the king (Wydville was opposed to him). She promised her daughter in marriage to Henry VII if he became king. In this way, Henry insured his stability on the throne, uniting the two houses and stopping the War of the Roses. In 1485, Henry VII was crowned, he wasn't married to Elizabeth. He wedded her on 18th, January in 1486 when he received papal dispension.

             We remind the marriage of Elizabeth Wydville and Edward IV was annuled because Edward was already married with Lady Eleanor Talbot, so the legitimacy of their children was questioned. But Henry cancelled this decision to his wife and their children are completely legitimate to the throne. By the union, Arthur Tudor, their son, was born on 20^th, September 1486.

             Finally, from this day, Elizabeth of York is our queen . We can suppose with this Yorkist Queen, it's the end of the war between York House and Lancaster House.

ஜ۩۞۩ஜ

Thomas More The History of King Richard the Third

18th February 1536

ஜ۩۞۩ஜ

Thomas More

            Thomas More and his Novel "The History of King Richard the Third", how could we talk about this without mentioning the Tower of London and the presume murders of the Princes of the Tower?

            The beginning of the Tudor period marked the start of the decline of the Tower of London'suse as a royal residence. As 16th century chronicler, Raphael Holinshed said the Tower became used more as "an armouries and house of munition, and also into a place for the safekeeping of offenders than a palace royal for a king or queen to stay in" The Yeoman Warsders have been the Royal Bodygard since ay least 1509.

             During the reign of Henry VIII, the Tower of London was assessed as needing considerable work on it's defences. In 1532, Thomas Cromwell spent £3.593 on repairs and imported nearly 3.000 tons of Caen stone for the work. Even so, this was not sufficient to bring the castle up to the standard of comtemporary military fortifications which were designed to withstand powerful artillery. 

King Henry VII

             Whatever, The two princes of the tower, the beloved sons of King Edward IV were dead there as well. To More's mind Richard III, their uncle, should kill them to legitimate his right to the throne and to become the king of England with like a Queen, Anne Neville his beloved wife, and the younger daughter of Earl of Warwick. Because their were the last heirs at that time to the throne after the death of Edward IV. And as Richard III was reclaimed as their lord-protector by the King Edward IV he decided to send them to the Tower where he probably killed them at night.

          And Thomas More (1478-1535) worked on a History of King Richard III, which he never finished but which was published after his death. Some consider it an attack on royal tyranny, rather than on Richard III himself or the House of York. He painted him as tyrannical man who murdered the sons of Edward IV to take the throne. Published the first time in 1513, More's version also barely mentions King Henry VII, the first Tudor king, perhaps for having persecuted his father, Sir John More...

ஜ۩۞۩ஜ

The Beginning of Tudors' Era

15th January 1559

King Henry VII

ஜ۩۞۩ஜ

          Tudors' period began in 1485 after King Richard III's defeat on 22 August at Bosworth by King Henry VII (1457-1509). This battle was between a Yorkist king and a Lancastrian claiming as true heir to the throne. His victory is also the ending of the War of the Roses which started in 1455 because of marrying the Yorkist heiress, Elizabeth of York, King Edward IV's first born daughter.

Lady Jane Grey

          Their second son and heir, Henry, suceeded his father to the throne when he died, he older brother Arthur Prince of Wales died in 1502. He became King of England on 21 April 1509 and was crowned on 24 June 1509.

         He had six spouses, Catherine of Aragon (divorced) who gave him a girl, Mary I, Anne Boleyn (executed), mother of Elizabeth I, Jane Seymour (died of fever), mother of Edward VI, Anne of Cleves (divorced), Catherine Howard (executed) and Catherine Parr (survived).

King Henry VIII

          Then King Henry VIII died and his son, Edward became King of England but he also died on 6 July 1553. Lady Jane Grey, the Nine' Days Queen and Mary I succeeded him. The first born daughter of King Henry VIII, Mary, died on 17 October 1558 and her step-sister Elizabeth was proclamed Queen of England the same day, and today was her coronation.

Coronation of Queen Elizabeth I

           Even if Tudors' era is not finished, we could say during this period, England developed culturally and socially. The Tudors court played a prominent part in the cultural Renaissance taking place in Europe, nurturing all-round individual such as Cardinal Wolsey. The Tudors' period also saw the turbulence of two changes of official religion, resulting in the martyrdom of manyinnocent believers of both Protestantism and RomanCatholiscism. The fear of Roman Catholiscism induced by the Reformation was to last for several centuries and to play an influential role in history of Succession.

ஜ۩۞۩ஜ

King Richard III: Shakespeare's Vision

15th May 1597

ஜ۩۞۩ஜ

            Six years ago, in 1591, Shakespeare, an author of plays, wrote an historical playwright about King Richard III died during the Battle of Bosworth in 1485 against the later King Henri VII.

           And in his playwright "The Tragedy of King Richard The Third", William Shakespeare described this king as a tyrannical and bloodthirsty man. He accused him of several crimes as murdered his own nephews, Edward IV's heirs, his brother Clarence, his wife to marry Elizabeth of York, Earl of Warwick, Richard Neville and his son-in-law, Edward of Westminster by his first daughter's wedding, Anne Neville. He painted him as hunchback too but does he far from reality? Doesn't he take part of Tudors' propaganda?

            I could bet on it... 

Shakespeare; 33 ; Poet and Playwright

         I wrote this historical playwright

         Based on information which were right.

         King Richard III was deformed in all,

         Believe in me and in this play you shall,

         A monster and a tyrannical men

         He was by his several crimes and then

         By his victory, Henry Tudor,

         With his army, stopped a reign of terror.

Do you always speak in rhymes?

ஜ۩۞۩ஜ

Dickon

16th May 1929

ஜ۩۞۩ஜ

Marjorie Bowen

          This book, wrote by Marjorie Bowen and published this year, shows Richard III's life and it begins in 1460. I remind you his father Richard, Duke of York , his bother, Edmund, Earl of Rutland and his uncle Richard, Earl of Salisbury are beheaded at Wakefield. This is the first exil of Richard in Burgundy.

          In this novel, Sir John Fogge, a supporter of Edward IV at first and then a faithful man of Henry VII, made his enter. And under Richard III's reign, he fought against him.

          Divided in three sections, this novel follow Richard during his early life until 1466, under his brother's service (1470-1472), the time when he was torn between his two brothers and cousin. The third part is until his death at Borsworth in 1485.

         Marjorie gives lot of details as his violent father's death. Then " the King's sudden death and Richard's own shock to discover that his brother's marriage was not legal, his own elevation to the throne of England, the tragic deaths of his wife and son and finally his betrayal and death at Bosworth. It seems that Bowen believes that Richard was completely unconnected with the mysterious disappearances of The Princes in the Tower for unlike some other fictional treatments, such as Michael Tyler-Whittle's Richard III, The Last Plantagenet, the episode is never even referred to in the book. In fact, the two princes are still presumably alive when Richard meets his own death." ∞ Moreover, Richard is showed completely loyal to his brother the king and faith to his family.

            Marjorie Bowen is one of the person who are convinced of his innocence in the murder of his beloved nephews, and this book received nice reviews.

ஜ۩۞۩ஜ

Your View Point

Lady Eleanor Breckton; 23 ; "Refreshing view of a slandered King"

"The novel is using the literary device of an "evil genius" haunting the York branch of the Plantagenets. Well worth reading, especially considering the projected re-evaluation of King Richard III post recovery of his remains."

Suzann Bailmor; 19 ; "Dickon is a novel for the ages"

" "Dickon" is a superb historical novel set against the tangled dynastic and military events of 15th century England and the Wars of the Roses. The author brings the people and events to life so skillfully, you feel they're alive outside the pages of the book. The hero is Richard, Duke of Gloucester, who must grow up quickly from a child witness to the horrors of war into a strong, loyal young soldier who must constantly defend his House of York. He's not the twisted monster depicted by Shakespeare, that propagandist for the Tudors, but a sensitive man, a devoted brother and husband, a just and able ruler. His tragic fate, as he loses nearly everyone he loves, touches our hearts deeply. Marjorie Bowen's language is a delight to read and some passages should be read aloud and savored."

ஜ۩۞۩ஜ