The Tower of London: History's Most Notorious Prison

In the annals of world history, there are a handful of prisons whose very names are guaranteed to send a shiver down your spine. Alcatraz is one, Devil’s Island another. But even these can’t hold a candle to the most notorious prison of them all. We’re talking, of course, about the Tower of London.
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Our sister channels:
Biographics - / @biographics
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Credits:
Host - Simon Whistler
Author - Morris M.
Producer - Jennifer Da Silva
Executive Producer - Shell Harris
Business inquiries to [e-mail]
Source/Further reading:
(Quick overview, lots of stories): www.historyext....
www.history.co...
www.britain-ma...
A history of the Tower menagerie: www.theparisre...
Guy Fawkes and the gunpowder plot: www.history.co...
Some technical details: www.britannica...
Ranulf Flambard: www.durhamworl...

[@geographicstravel]

Have you checked out my latest channel Business Blaze? It's interesting business stories with a dose of ridiculousness thrown in. Check it out here: kzbin.info/door/YY5GWf7MHFJ6DZeHreoXgw

[@matthewsquires423]

Its anglo saxons. Then vikings. Then normans. King harold hardradda was a viking lol

[@lucisferre6361]

Sorry for my pedantism but at 3:45 you said the Lantern Tower was built in 2020 when it was supposed to be 1220. I usually don't mention these sorts of minor errors but this time y'all even put a 1220 graphic on screen when you said it.

[@Cobraman8447]

1189 was actually the 3rd crusade.

[@ricoatthebeach]

Yes, I have.

[@john-paulsilke893]

I’m not sure I should listen to Simon about his other channels. After all he has less then six trousers. I simply can’t trust a man who’s wardrobe doesn’t include enough pants to wear a different set of leg coverings for every day per week. 😁

[@resileaf9501]

"He had more wives than I have pairs of trousers." Does he have more wives than you narrate channels though, Simon?

[@givmespace]

exactlyyyyy, this guy is everywhere, i cant even

[@WrongWayJ]

I heard he works for the CIA as a spy and moonlights as a butcher.

[@CCaptinnemo]

Lol

[@Ferroes]

4 vs 7, so no. Henry still being a chad

[@evildead7549]

😂😂😂

[@sinatariummaximus7881]

Simon Whistler, I have learned more with random bits of world history/geography from you in the short time I've watched you rather my 12 years in school. Thank you for making History/Geography fun, good work

[@TomFooleryTheAustere]

It’s cuz you chose to watch this. School was force fed.

[@harryoates91]

School taught me the basics but it's places like this that I really learn

[@russellpeffer7736]

@@harryoates91 Things from the history of the tower of London to the Cuban missile crisis were a few short paragraphs in our history books. There's so much more to learn!

[@Pepius_Julius_Magnus_Maximu...]

You're not supposed to learn at school, you're supposed to become obedient and submissive through conditioning

[@jameskennedy3851]

This channel always gets facts wrong.

[@BadgerOff32]

I'm proud to say that my uncle was the Chief Yeoman Warder at the Tower of London for nearly 20 years. He literally ran the place. He lived in flat above the front entrance and his bedroom used to be a prison cell which housed a famous prisoner (sadly I forget who it was now...). His daughter got married at the Tower and his grandkids were christened in the chapel. Family events like those were always quite special. We would turn up suited and booted, walk straight past a massive long queue of tourists, and be waved straight through the front gate. Some of the looks we got from tourists were priceless lol. I'm sure they must have thought we were royalty or something (we definitly are not lol) because of the 'special treatment' we got from the Yeoman Warders. We'd be allowed in to areas where tourists aren't allowed too, like the private yeomans bar and the chapel grounds, so we always had loads of tourists taking photos of us. I'm fairly certain that I'm probably in quite a few photo albums of tourists from around the world who though we were something special lol

[@ktkt9982]

Great anecdote thanking you for sharing. 😮❤

[@jackryan4313]

I hope that's true cuz that's badass

[@yusufaden8433]

What year

[@quintenwhyte6660]

"Finally in 2020..." Wtf?! 😂😂😂

[@Youngxfatal93]

Quinten Whyte I want what he’s smoking

[@billofjazz]

I heard it too.

[@mikebeatstsb7030]

@@Youngxfatal93 sugar and spice and all things nice that would be

[@r.m.nelson2752]

movin too fast....dammm 2020.....They really don't edit that well

[@jva6232]

I caught that too 😂

[@dazsmith3201]

Nearly 1000 years of history in 20 mins? Even the guards at the Tower take an hour!!! I didn't think you would cover it all, but you certainly hit all the high points! Well Done!!!

[@johnnymittens77]

As far as animals at the tower? You forgot the Ravens. "If the Tower of London ravens are lost or fly away, the Crown will fall and Britain with it"

[@franl155]

That's why the ravens have their wings clipped, to prevent them from flying

[@rsmith6366]

@@franl155 They only clip one wing so that their flight is irregular. They're also fed twice a day and cared for quite lovingly (something an intelligent animal can't ignore), so they're more inclined to stay. Either way, they keep a pair of spares just incase some die.

[@franl155]

@@rsmith6366 - I knew about the spares but not rest, so thanks for that

[@TenRyuEridu]

I was about to mention the same thing. Its a prophecy that the crown didn't necessarily believe but didn't want to test either. So it stuck.

[@franl155]

@@TenRyuEridu - lol yeah, why take chances?

[@ignitionfrn2223]

1:15 - Chapter 1 - A symbol of conquest 4:05 - Chapter 2 - Whoether takes the tower 7:45 - Chapter 3 - A gilded cage 10:55 - Chapter 4 - Bigamy & brutality 14:35 - Chapter 5 - The greatest zoo in history 17:50 - Chapter 6 - Life during wartime

[@dorinpopa6962]

Richard Lionheart did not participate in the First Crusade. He participated in the Third Crusade

[@peters7196]

Popa Dorin thanks, I was questioning myself for second there

[@dannymulryan.7415]

Exactly!

[@ehtuanK]

Common misconception. It was actually the 1rd crusade.

[@nateellington3328]

ehtuanK no the first crusade was fought in the the 11th Century, Richard was even alive

[@jerrysstories711]

@@ehtuanK The 1st Crusade was 1095-1099

[@dvnhstl3429]

3:43, you said "2020" instead of "1220" lol gotcha bro

[@aidanm131]

Crazy to think how many videos are going across all these channels, this really is full time work and I truly appreciate all who are making these videos from the forefront, Simon, to the editors and researchers. I have learned so much and I could never thank you guys enough.

[@aidanm131]

Also, please do Edinburgh castle!

[@resileaf9501]

"Oh, John, you rapscallion. Of course I'll forgive you for trying to overthrow me! It's the 1200s after all, everyone does it." - Richard the Lionheart, apparently

[@Mycroftsbrother]

Boys will be boys.

[@lordmemeayes7138]

​@@Mycroftsbrother A fantastic use of that phrase.

[@WintrBorn]

Admittedly, Richard and John did have issues from their father. That Henry didn't share (and both before and after kings gave the heir lands to gain income and practice from), even though the sons were promised. If I recall my history correctly, John was the father's favorite, Richard the mom's.

[@effieboo9275]

@@Mycroftsbrother the power hungry will be the power hungry 🤷 lol

[@edsr164]

It’s speculated that he did that because of homosexuality, he knew that if killed his brother he would die without heir

[@TheBasqueWasp]

3:43. A massive rupture in the space-time canvas sends the Tower straight to our near future

[@XanderNotZander]

Heard it, came to the comments and couldn't have worded it better than this

[@raymondfernholz367]

and Richard the Lionhearted is now in the first crusade, instead of the third

[@jevinday]

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

[@TheBasqueWasp]

Something like the Philadelphia project, with fortress instead of battleship.

[@fvckyoutubescensorshipandt2718]

With so many channels to narrate there's no time to stop and say "wait a minute, that's gotta be a typo on the teleprompter" so it's just read as written.

[@SpencerFH]

Just watched this while in the Tower of London! I’d say this video is better than the audio tour! Love your videos Simon!

[@TechWechSech]

I do love the medieval mindset: ''Ofcourse we should allow a massive and highly agressive white bear to swim in the heart of the largest city in the realm. What could possibly go wrong?''

[@DanGoodShotHD]

"Bit of a classic king of England move . Am I right Americans!" That was good.👍👏👏👏😆

[@geographicstravel]

:D

[@workhardism]

Yes! Today we just have Democrats doing the same thing with taxes. LOL.

[@jo-vf8jx]

Thanks to her sister Queen Mary, Queen Elizabeth I was also a prisoner in the Tower for about 2 months. Edit: Sorry for any confusion, that’s Queen Elizabeth the 1st lol.

[@magmafang7187]

Lol I read it as Thanks to her sister queen Elizabeth , I was a prisoner in the tower

[@funtime-bi2dl]

I am too for 40yrs I rape and murder my lover

[@LennoxMatt1]

I would have also mentioned that it still houses the crown jewels

[@CB-fn3me]

So it does. Now it's basically a big vault. :-)

[@davyt0247]

And the ceremony of the keys, locking the Tower every night at 10pm. Only late once in 600 years

[@bronskipink4593]

Also the ravens wandering around..

[@KumaBean]

And the Beefeaters private pub, I'd love a pint in there! 🍻

[@noneofyourbeeswax01]

@Megan B Which is why they keep the wings of the Tower Ravens clipped. Or at least they always used to... with modern sensibilities and understanding I wouldn't be surprised if nowadays they didn't just have a tailored breeding colony imprinted upon the location.

[@curiousworld7912]

I remember touring the Tower of London, years ago, and what I remember most is the Norman Chapel (Saint John's) inside the White Tower, which, as I recall, is the oldest part of the Tower. What a wonderful example of Romanesque architecture...

[@gothicmom5232]

HAHA oh Simon! Only YOU can get away with calling the Tower of London a "medieval Death Star " and we all get a mental CLICK that says.."Oh, damn...he's right!" 🤣🤣 Great video and very, very entertaining!!

[@clemstevenson]

"Finally in 2020, The Lantern Tower" Construction has been delayed by 800-years, due to industrial disputes and the occasional war.

[@MrEvanfriend]

Anne Boleyn was beheaded with a sword. Henry had a special executioner brought over from France to do it.

[@Claytone-Records]

Evan Friend, Didn’t Simon see the Private Life of Henry the VIII? I did and I live in Texas ;)

[@GM-wq6kq]

Bloody romantic...

[@sandrastreifel6452]

That was Henry being “merciful”!?!

[@Claytone-Records]

Sandra Streifel, Proves his love ;)

[@mfaizsyahmi]

TFW the French really has the best head choppers, recognized around Europe even centuries before the guillotine even became a thing!

[@tehbonehead]

"Your Majesty! Your Majesty! The peasants are revolting!!" "Yes. Yes, they are."

[@amb163]

The Beefeaters are wonderful guides -- every one of them has their own unique spin and selection of stories they tell tourists. I go whenever I'm in London and hold a high respect for their storytelling abilities!

[@dsxa918]

They might not make it, I don't know, but it's a catchy name

[@CptMoroni35]

Heard of this place mentioned so much in the British history docs I watch often. But these shows are on the BBC, so naturally it stands to reason that most watching the BBC know all about the Tower. However, this Yank wanted to know more. I mentioned the Tower as a possible future video some time ago.......thanks for delivering! Well done! 👍🏻

[@stenbak88]

Does anyone else think KZbin was created so Simon could narrate

[@benjamintaylor3934]

Like Morgan Freeman, only white and bald 😄

[@wishgodgirl1903]

Yes, he is absolutely the best...

[@ferociousgumby]

Simon IS KZbin. But is that a compliment?

[@jeremyv2163]

What?

[@philippvoid1800]

Britain's history is like a Monty Python movie

[@0ldFrittenfett]

The comment section too. Reminds me of the miners who are disputing historical events and brawl about it "It was the damn peace of westfalica, you bummer" and their boss is completely ignorant of any history.

[@Konoronn]

Or maybe Monty Python was based on Britain's history?

[@troystaunton254]

Britain’s history, is like a monty python movie starring Edmund Blackadder.

[@Obironnkenobi]

French monarch go-to name: Louie English monarch go-to name: Edward

[@tonilove8245]

Henry, James, Charles to name a few!

[@lizardplanetjoe4326]

@@tonilove8245 dont forget George

[@LeFaisDoDo]

Louis

[@martinhanke1670]

Or Henry.

[@workhardism]

American Monarch go-to name: N/A

[@dorrisgonnawreckyou7111]

When you said we have never had wild lions in the UK you are very wrong, there was lions all over europe and cave lions even as far north as the UK (They were even bigger than african lions)

[@jackiehall458]

I was curious if anybody would note that

[@ktkt9982]

Really wow.

[@yusufaden8433]

Those were the stone age times

[@Homeschoolsw6]

2:38..." London Death Star " The Tower was also the cities armory.

[@CafPhine]

With all due respect, the production cost of making a three hour documentary covering every detail is costly. Consider it an abridged version.

[@jimcraig9882]

The man who had his head chopped off during the peasants revolt was called Sudbury and his head is still partially mummified today just Google sudbury's head

[@badger1858]

"Three more lions than we ever had in the wild..." - That's not entirely true. Britain did in fact once have wild lions, but we're talking 13,000 years ago.

[@matthewmarino4327]

Try 40,000+ years ago during the Pleistocene era.

[@spiritofthetime]

None of them had as bad an end as Edward II. It's also rather splendid that Richard III's final resting place was beneath the asphalt of a local authority car park in Leicester.

[@NaRii]

A family friend of my parents is a beefeater at the tower of london and I always loved hearing him speak about the tower. It's such a scary yet fascinating place

[@orangsquid1174]

They also have a nightly ceremony to lock the tower up. It's called the ceremony of the keys. No photographs or videos of the actual ceremony exist at the queen's behest despite it happening nightly but it's an amazing experience to be there, especially once it is locked up.

[@orangsquid1174]

@jane lam it's of a rehearsal of the ceremony, the actual one takes place late at night.

[@nicolaprimrose4656]

“ Sort of a medieval Death Star “ best description ever 😂

[@MrMatt135791113]

You forgot to mention the vital ravens of the tower! If the ravens fly away then Britain and its crown will fall. 6 are kept captive for the sake of superstition

[@jaywalkin1793]

Ya but they cheat they are caged and their wings are clipped

[@ViDeOMaStErPaUl]

@@jaywalkin1793 Not caged, they are seen hoping on the lawns.

[@jaywalkin1793]

@@ViDeOMaStErPaUl I haven't been their since I was 8 so I'm not sure if I'm wrong or if that changed 😂

[@vixendoe2545]

The Ravens did disappear during the Blitzkrieg. When they didn't return after the war, nestlings from Scotland were brought to the Tower, the Ravens in residence are descended from these. There is still hopes that wild Ravens will return to London.

[@thomasslone1964]

how to we convince youtube to focus on quality youtubers, it's guys like this, scott manly, destin, being the only thing keeping me on the platform

[@katerwhall1865]

As a student of history I wounder if Simon see's it repeating itself. we live in divided times, it seems like lessons are not learned from.

[@markmorris7123]

When things are divided its usually for a reason, the reason is nearly always corruption

[@katerwhall1865]

@@markmorris7123 Sad, but often true.

[@timsvea5980]

Ever since reading Robert Bolt's "A Man for all Seasons" about Sir Thomas More, who stood up to Henry VIII and paid for it with his life, I have wanted to pay a visit to the infamous Tower of London. Both Thomas More and Bishop John Fisher followed their consciences instead of bowing to the pressure of Henry and his lackey, Cromwell; were both martyred in the tower and are now venerated as Saints. Henry VIII and Cromwell are remembered as villains. Ah, it is good to know history!

[@dereklippincott2803]

I love all your videos and I have to admit that errors rarely happen when you are reading the "script." This misspoken error was an 800 year mistake. Though I had to laugh when you said 2020 instead of 1220. Please keep making videos like this.

[@jackryan4313]

Not that big of difference between the two...😂

[@KEVMAN7987]

If we're all lucky, we may actually get to see Jeff Goldblum ride a T-rex off into the sunset in Jurassic World 3.

[@Timmothy_plays]

The most notorious prison I know of is Australia,... not a building IN Australia, but Australia itself.

[@Aronmasonarts]

how can you do such a good documentary and miss out the Ravens!

[@Sal77]

I'm surprised Simon didn't talk about the Beef eaters and the ravens. Legend has it, if the ravens leave, the tower will collapse and the monarchy will fall.

[@philipwebb960]

Yes, the monarchy will fall and skin its knee.

[@blicknessraven]

You know, after watching this, suddenly the tacit acceptance that ghosts wander the halls of the Tower makes some sense. I personally don't hold that belief, but then I've never really been there, nor have I felt a desire to visit it. The insight into its past is much appreciated.

[@charamia9402]

If ever there were such a thing as a haunting, the Tower would for sure be it.

[@Amsayy]

Tower of London is one of my favourite places to visit. I go every time and spend a day there. You can have a good lunch, see some funny skits, catch the Crown Jewels. It’s a cool place to hang out.

[@CuteDwarf11]

Thank you for making this video. The Tower of London has always fascinated and frightened me with its dark rich history, and ghost tales that accompanied it, and it is one of the places I would love to visit if and when I get the chance to visit London...

[@helenafarkas4534]

Jane was already in the tower when Mary came to the throne. the Tower was still considered to be a royal residence as well as a prison, and traditionally all english kings and queens spent time there immediately prior to their coronation. Jane was in the tower for the entire nine days of her reign, and when she was deposed by Mary, she was simply moved to different quarters. also, there are still animals kept in the tower: the ravens. it was said that as soon as ravens stopped roosting in the tower, the british empire would fall. measures were immediately undertaken to tame and clip the wings of several generations of ravens, ensuring that they would never fly away, a practice that has continued to the present day, even though the british empire has most definitely fallen.

[@sandrastreifel6452]

Helena Farkas: There’s still the Commonwealth of Nations, though! The era of colonialism is over.

[@workhardism]

Thank you, Simon, for a brief history of Edwards. I think you also mentioned a tower or something in there as well.

[@MsCharley13]

I bet the Krays loved being locked up in such a iconic place. Something to brag about when out on the town with their celebrity friends.

[@rockylewis5218]

Notorious prisons rabit hole (video subject ideas): Alcatraz, Sing Sing, Leavenworth, Joliet, the chateau (french prison from The Count of Monte Cristo), Siberian gulags, German POW stalags and/or concentration camps, American Japanese internment camps, there were a couple of POW camps from the American Civil War (from both sides) that were notorious for their cruelty, there are many "luxury" prisons around the world. Australia & Georgia, U.S.A. both started out as prison colonies i believe. Bataan death march The River Kwai and its bridge... (Just spitballing ideas, i know a couple of these have been covered. Going to watch this video now.)

[@VincentBeville]

2020? It clearly showed the date of 1220. Lol

[@NlpDiaries]

"More wives than I have pairs of trousers"... That was so good.🤣

[@kralje1]

Where does the tradition come from that England will stand as long as there are ravens in the tower????

[@archstanton6102]

In addition to Sam's information they actually clip the wings of the raverns to stop them flying away. Which I think is cheating, slightly

[@archstanton6102]

@Sam Bacon Wow didn't know that. Thanks

[@samb6070]

Great work, Simon! I watch a few of your videos everyday, my favourite lately has been your Biographics channel. Thank you man :)

[@annettefournier9655]

Did I miss the part where he said that it held royal apartments sumptuous in nature? And that all the kings and queens stayed there the night before their coronations. With much pomp and splendor?

[@lilmaxAlarcxn]

4444444

[@Harharharleyq]

Am I the only one that has watched so many of these videos that I’m now thinking in his voice? Lol

[@pyromania1018]

The Peasant Revolt was darkly comical. The peasants demanded liberty, equality, and brotherhood. And when did they want it? NOW! 400 years before the French Revolution. Talk about pushy. The king went home to think about it. Annoyed, the peasants decided to make their point more forcefully, so they rampaged through London, killing lots of Flemish people. When they got into the tower, they also poked into the beds with their sticks, and burned up a bunch of debt documents.

[@Dibby98]

The original fight club

[@ramtron1775]

London is freaking awesome. Blew my mind.

[@boogalowo7022]

3:40 finally in "2020" It says 1220

[@ferociousgumby]

No retakes.

[@richardcutts196]

Lions, Leopards, and Bears... Oh my!

[@viper6257]

13:49 A head in a basket kind of brings new meaning to the phrase ‘basket case’ don’t ya think

[@johnbaugh2437]

My son and I enjoyed visiting it a few years back

[@Wolfpaw754]

I would love it if you did a video on the Taj Mahal, was it really true that the builders got their eyes gouged out so they could not see anything more beautiful then what they worked on? Was it built like the hagia sophia that Byzantine architecture style?

[@helgaformo2054]

My Geography Teacher: "Why aren't you learning?" Me: "Why aren't you Simon?"

[@isaacschmitt4803]

10:30 If you accept that particular narrative. . . I myself believe that Richard the 3rd was murdered by the bumbling Edmund Blackadder the 1st, whose father, Brian Blessed, ruled England for a few years before, in turn, being accidentally murdered by his own son. . . Oh, and then his ancestor, Edmund Blackadder beheaded Charles the 1st after Baldrick accidentally got him captured. . .

[@HyBr1dRaNg3r]

Hey Simon, any bloopers of you saying “annals” in interesting ways?😂(like effortlessly😂)

[@effieboo9275]

I think Eye of Sauron vs Death Star might be a more accurate equivalent. Edit: change from equivocation to equivalent. What I learned today... Equivocation is a fallacy of an interpretation of a word which has multiple meanings due to ambiguity. Such as saying Man in the in the US Constitution and bill of rights ... Does it mean Man as in a male/masculine person or does it mean man-kind/humans. Whilst equivalent is the correct word for meaning two things are comparable and similar (though not completely equal). The more you know 😊

[@candacetorres282]

Love your new channel!! I have always enjoyed your voice. I am always learning something new as I watch and listen to you!! Thank you!!

[@franciscomm7675]

4:30 third crusade, not first crusade. Besides that, good video

[@andybracken1627]

My last comment on one of Simons channels was no adverts! Ta-dah! No adverts! Keep up the good work Simon (and I forget your producers name, I'm sorry) I subscribe to them all anyway

[@hannahskipper2764]

The Peasant's Revolted sounds kinda like the Boston Tea Party. 😁

[@theq4602]

"jumped up and down on the kings bed" sounds like a bunch of 5 year olds. and can we be sure it wasn't the kings mother demanding the kisses from her grandchildren?

[@FairbrookWingates]

An analogy linking history and Star Wars....ah, Simon, I do love your narrations.

[@313heythere]

You didn't talk about the ravens :(

[@YukiTsunoda7]

*"YO Henry"* *Henry* : *"yah?"* *'nono Henry'* *yooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo*

[@mangalover0149]

Wait wait - what about the Tower’s ravens!?

[@teethgrinder83]

I was about to type the same thing lol I'm pretty surprised it wasn't mentioned

[@teethgrinder83]

@victor bruun yeah because no other country has been terrible to animals has it. I mean it's not like America, the "enlightened country of the world" that she is, has laws currently that let individuals keep the same type of animals and they are often kept in terrible conditions. And im sure no other European countries did similar terrible things to animals. Seriously though, take your head out of your ass mate-noone in their right mind would be proud of what happened there but it is what it is and all I can say is thankfully the UK has finally came a long way since then

[@teethgrinder83]

@victor bruun that wasn't exactly what I was saying though was it? I clearly said that noone in their right mind would be proud of a horrible history like that. Also I made sure to carefully add in Europe as well as the USA so dont get all excited about that. One more thing-even if I were to have entered your last name and saw it was Danish that firstly wouldn't mean much since people do tend to travel and secondly most people tend to use an alias and not their actual name. So again, why is Britains terrible history to animals any different? Noone is hiding from it, Simon didn't whitewash it-lets be honest, you thought youd give yourself a little warm glow by attempting to be high and mighty-i sincerely hope your not older than 25 lol

[@davyt0247]

The one thing I would have mentioned is the Crown Jewels are in the Tower, and the Ceremony of the Keys is performed every night at 10 PM

[@seonaelizabethcoster8465]

Correction: it's unlikely that the "princes in the tower" actually died in the tower. And Richard III almost certainly had nothing to do with their disappearances, because their mother - a long time enemy to Richard - sent her daughters to Court under his care. Not something she would have done had she had even the slightest hint that he had killed her sons. Another thing in defense of Richard is the fact that there were two rebellions in the time of Henry VII where the leaders claimed to be one off these lost princes . Indeed, one of them was taken so seriously by Henry that he didn't kill him, but made him a Royal page.

[@sianhoyle2364]

The boys were mostly likely killed on the instructions of Maraget Beaufort. Also it is likely that Richard was swapped with another boy before Elizabeth Woodville allowing Duke Richard to take the boy to the tower, which sparked and allowed the appearance of "Richard of York" years later. Also the bones have been proven to not be those of the Princes through DNA testing x

[@nicobyrne2774]

Simon is relentless.

[@danielschein6845]

When Thomas Cromwell was executed Henry VIII was particularly mad at him so he arranged for a rookie axe man to do the job... and botch the beheading spectacularly. It was like Nearly Headless Nick in the Harry Potter books but worse.

[@benjamintaylor3934]

Really? Henry VIII commuted Thomas Cromwell's sentence from hanging, drawing and quartering (HDQ), to beheading; this was seen as an act of mercy, as HDQ was the prescribed method of execution for traitors. I believe he showed such mercy, as Cromwell was once a dear and close personal friend to the king.

[@sianhoyle2364]

@@benjamintaylor3934 Henry VIII did commute the sentence because of who Cromwell had been. But he had a poorly qualified executioner in presence because he was so frustrated with TC for not swearing the oath about Hviii being the head of the Church.

[@samzaiger5902]

BRILLIANT! This place is definitely on my bucket list! Thank you Simon! 💙

[@colincurrie2431]

Can we get a Geographics on Bastille

[@NoAvailableSpace]

You get a thumbs up for the live T-Rex being ridden by Jeff Goldblum joke.

[@Science-ev1he]

Is it _really_ the *most* notorious prison though?

[@theq4602]

*cough* *cough* Alcatraz

[@hannahdyson7129]

​@@theq4602Been there . Seems a bit tame compared to the tower

[@brokentombot]

Is Simon Whistler just on fire as hell and doing several channels at once? Badass! I mean: Goodass!

[@missmaizey9361]

Apparently it was a sign of virility for Henry VIII to wear a large codpiece. Why didn't he simply go the whole way by having it made 4 feet long and a foot wide? Oh the stares he'd have gotten! LOL

[@bboops23]

Women used to poke his codpiece with needles to pray for fertility. I feel like those women didn't exactly know history

[@DeGerps]

This man is so good at explaining these things!

[@Iamtheliquor]

His script writer is!

[@stephenreardon2698]

You talk about the closure of the menagerie. You say there are no more prisoner's. But what of the ravens? Still living in the tower, their wings clipped so they cannot leave

[@vixendoe2545]

They can fly in a limited capacity. They are revered and treated royally.

[@georgiaayres5805]

Boy do I love this channel. I learn something new each time.

[@magnificentfailure2390]

Rudolf Hess was interred there? I guess he couldn't get away, but it would be very difficult for him to answer questions after a day or two.

[@Adam-ln4og]

Actually if memory serves he was convicted at the trails for German war criminals, and was the last one alive in the special prison made for them. He committed suicide officially, but his family protested that end. Oh yeah his secret mission of peace to the Allies was 110% not authorized by Hitler. In fact assuming he was allowed to return to Europe he would have most certainly faced a firing squad back home. The man faced a no win scenario.

[@wieldwords]

So cool to see this pop up, not just from learning about history but on a personal level, as my wife and I discovered her 15th great-grandfather, Sir John Cheke, was locked up by Mary I there. He had been Edward VI’s Secretary of State, and was at the center of Lady Jane Grey’s court for her short reign, meaning he was a staunch Protestant, which obviously drew Mary’s ire. He went into voluntary exile, but when he returned, it was to the Tower he went. He eventually recanted his Protestantism, but according to Foxe’s Book of Martyrs, it broke him and he died shortly after.

[@ruthmeow4262]

Oh lets not forget that Edward the IV had his brother George killed as well.

[@jaywilliams9294]

14:00 Guy fawkes was in the tower of London for 5 months being tortured just because he killed himself doesn't mean he got out lucky from the tower

[@sandilou2U]

Excellent video! I was not aware of the exotic animals held there. However, I would like to point out two errors (that I am aware of). One is... Mary I was Queen Jane's cousin, not her aunt. (Mary's father, King Henry VIII, was Jane's great-uncle through his sister Mary. Mary died prior to Henry and although Jane's mother, Frances, was living, Edward named Jane as his heir. Henry's oldest sister Margaret had the strongest claim but she was already serving as the Queen consort of Scotland and Scotland at that time did not want to become a part of England. Of course, the countries did merge years later when Elizabeth named Margaret's grandson James her heir. He was the son Mary Queen of Scots who Elizabeth had executed for high treason for allegedly plotting Elizabeth's murder in order to take the throne for herself. James became James I/VI. Whew! So many twists of irony during the Tudor era) And two... Queen Anne Boleyn was beheaded by a sword whereas Queen Katherine Howard was beheaded by an axe. Although they were executed at the same location and it is reported that Anne knelt at the block, they did not share the same block. Just the same fate.

[@ronnie8274]

Great video Simon, very informative.

[@jamesclendon4811]

Yay! I'm the twenty-fifth to post about the 1220/2020 mistaken date for the building of the Lantern Tower! Is there a prize?

[@Vampwatch1462]

There is a legend where if the ravens stay, the tower will stand, and England will remain unconquered.

[@lucas3918]

3:40 It's great to hear the Government of England is still expanding such a great historical monument amounst the Brexit crisis the modern, not get progressed year of 2020

[@Iamtheliquor]

Government of England? England hasn’t got a government!

[@tmfworkshop5177]

Fab as always. Need a video on Hess and Krays. 👍