A Medieval Mystery | The Princes in the Tower

[@anthonybirch6291]

I wish that I could have had this man as a teacher. You can tell he actually cares about the subject matter and takes a great interest in it. That sort of enthusiasm goes a long way when learning.

[@thehistorysquad]

Cheers Anthony 👍🏻

[@MsKK909]

I was lucky to have had an excellent history who ignited my life long love of history and my great curiosity about the lives of those who have gone before us. This channel ticks so many of my “history boxes”.

[@thehistorysquad]

@@MsKK909 Good to hear it, thanks!!

[@ltipst2962]

Its funny isn't it that all these comments are the same. Something to be very proud of.

[@windigee3848]

It really is a blessing to have people like this and im glad i had teachers in history like him, and why i became a graduate in history

[@r.j.powers381]

Ever since Alison Weir wrote about The Princes In The Tower I've been intrigued by this true tale. You have brought it to life with such clarity and compassion and your historians unbiased observations. Wonderful.

[@Moose.-vy5ye]

Alison Weir is unreliable.

[@jawnhansen235]

Being American a lot of the things you talk about we never learned and I’ve never even heard of. This sounds like one of those historical things kids learn in school. Great video like always.

[@Bonkers4Hex]

I think our kids in Britain are more likely to learn about lgbtq, they/them nouns and pronouns or Muhammed and the Quran than this stuff. I'm 35 and recall learning some stuff on the Tudors as a child, it's sad but I'm probably one of the last generations that did.

[@jawnhansen235]

@@Bonkers4Hex not much different in America nowadays! Just in the decade since I’ve been in school the curriculum is completely different. World history was never really a big deal in American schools anyways though.

[@Dovietail]

Don't say that Jawn! What, was your history teacher the town drunk? I grew up in a little town in East Texas, and we learned all this good stuff.

[@jawnhansen235]

@@Dovietail I went to a good school in Pennsylvania but I don’t think we had more than one semester of world history. We had American history every year though. Because I’m so close to Washington DC, Philadelphia, civil war battlefields, and the war college it may be location based curriculum. Like being in Texas you probably received a lot more Mexican history than I ever would’ve.

[@soulie2001]

@@Dovietail Texas still has some dignity ,thats why. Its Northern states that pander to the Critical Race Theory and Theology (That isnt christian or pagan, none of either allowed)

[@jerrydempsey3490]

Hi Kevin, Just discovered you today. I've watched several of your videos now and they are very good. Educational, entertaining and extremely well made. I've subscribed look forward to binge watching all of your videos.

[@thehistorysquad]

Thanks and welcome 👍

[@christyhollis7909]

You also show how you keep history alive not just in this case but your other films too. Thank you again

[@cindysuecox1]

I loved this!! What an amazing video. I have my own opinion as to what happened to these boys. I'm glad you're being impartial, I also dearly loved the fact you were wearing the white boar symbol of Richard Duke of Gloucester/Richard III. just an observation.. Thanks! I appreciate you!!

[@thehistorysquad]

🤣 you spotted it - nice one. Thanks for the visit 👍

[@manfrombritain6816]

This guy is so inexplicably captivating

[@HarryWHill-GA]

Another wonderful video Kevin. Margaret Tudor was my 14th great-grandmother. I'm descended through Henry VIII's older sister Margaret. Thomas Grey was my 13th great-grandfather.

[@thehistorysquad]

Oh wow!

[@darrkinney1787]

I wish you were my history teacher. The death of the 2 brothers have always been a mystery to me.

[@normdunbar2943]

LOL Totally impartial commentator, is that a Richard III cap badge on your cap comforter? Couldn't resist it lol!!!! Truly it is a great tale and a fascinating mystery. I subscribe to the theory of a loving mother caring more about her children and their safety than the throne, and so doing a deal with Richard. What good and honest, loving mother would sacrifice her children, even in those times, when she had an option of saving them to live a decent lifestyle in some degree of safety.

[@thehistorysquad]

Haha, you spotted the boar 😜. Thanks for watching Norm 👍🏻

[@normdunbar2943]

@@thehistorysquad Cheers mate, I watch every one.

[@DR-zj4od]

Keep up the great work.

[@thehistorysquad]

Thanks, will do!

[@petehall889]

An excellent explanation of theories surrounding the Princes in the Tower and their demise, Kevin. Much food for thought there! It didn't escape my notice the you were wearing boar insignia and I have always thought more generously than many of Richard III. I was pleased when his remains were exhumed from beneath the car park in Leicester and given reverent Christian burial, as befits an anointed King of England. As for the battle of Bosworth Field in 1485 that brought Henry to the throne, I have never thought well of the Stanleys' role in the conflict!

[@thehistorysquad]

You and me both Pete 👍🏻

[@cindysuecox1]

Bosworth, I am not even kidding a little bit when I say that everytime I hear that battle mentioned, I say a little prayer for Richard, as he fought valiantly, and that is always immediately followed by ...well I will call them unkind thoughts about the Stanleys.. I agree also that it is an excellent thing Richard was found and given a proper burial. No matter what, he was an anointed King and deserved far more than being beneath a carpark! 🙏

[@Ionabrodie69]

Another nail in Margaret Beauforts coffin … she may not access to the tower but she was married to someone who had …or at least power to gain it… he was one of Richards trusted ally’s.. As for the Treachery on the battlefield, Those two men and Rhys Ap Thomas were the instruments of Richards downfall without a shadow of a doubt… I think it’s scandalous that Richard was reinterred in Leicester.. he should have been taken to Yorkshire/ York.. where he loved and is loved.. I’m from Barnard Castle ( 5 miles away anyway) and he is still loved up here.. the thought that he lies where he was so treacherously defeated makes my blood boil… but we know why…🙄🇬🇧

[@petehall889]

@@Ionabrodie69 Indeed! I know which side I would have fought on - I've always thought Richard was the victim of character assassination by the devious and rather unpleasant Henry Tudor after Bosworth. I may be from the South, but I have always been a White Rose man. At least our King Richard is finally interred with the respect due to him, though it might have been nice for him to come home - York Minster would have been a suitably magnificent resting place. Incidently, my middle name is Richard, a name I am proud to bear.

[@thehistorysquad]

@@Ionabrodie69 A great comment, thanks 👍🏻

[@lisabaccich9270]

Amazingly presented as always! I’ve often wondered about those dear boys. I always understood the Shakespearean presentation as factual history, but can we really say that? Blind acceptance is never a good idea. With all those theories (my favorite is the last one), I don’t think we will ever know. Thank you for such wonderful history brought to this American watching in her home in the USA!

[@thehistorysquad]

Thanks for watching Lisa 👍🏻

[@andrewrice2376]

Another excellent video, and the riddle of the two kids vanishing... :)

[@babbybailey2534]

You laid out the family very well. Thanks again.

[@thehistorysquad]

My pleasure, thanks for watching 👍🏻

[@peterkost4376]

Your videos are great. Just finished a book on Henry #7 and it talked about these boys

[@H_E_N_X]

There was a documentary on this very story on TV the other night here in Australia.

[@thehistorysquad]

Cheers Mark, glad you liked this one 👍🏻

[@petaandrews6424]

What channel?

[@Blessed_V0id]

No wonder this community is so supportive and (from what I've seen) kind with a spear head like this. Absoloute legend. Respect to him. If you read this my friend, the good work you do has effects. Butterfly effect and all. You are a respectable example of police and soldiers, and I will approach the topic with much more respect entirely thanks to you.

[@thehistorysquad]

How kind of you, thanks very much 👍🏻

[@DRUM2Xs]

You crack me up how you go from serious to “welp! Ok now!” 😆😆👊🏾🤙🏾 I enjoy the vids

[@mariamanasewitsch2977]

I think Margaret Beaufort is the least likely candidate for murder. Having become a mother at 13 & spending most of HER life keeping her son’s hope of becoming Henry VII, king of England. She was far more “crafty” in helping sell Elizabeth Woodeville on the plan to marry her son to her daughter, thereby ending the war of the roses. Buckingham was the most obvious accomplice. He had a LOT to gain, if the Prince’s were gone. With them gone, he certainly had a better claim than Henry Tudor. Love your videos. You seem to enjoy your topics & I always find them interesting

[@judyvaughn761]

I am a new subscriber I love Downton Abbey and then this morning you popped up and I love 💘 IT

[@thehistorysquad]

Great to hear, thanks & welcome to the channel

[@WildBillCox13]

A useful approach. Thanks for posting.

[@thehistorysquad]

You're welcome!

[@Bonkers4Hex]

The church in Devon looks beautiful, reminds me of a Church in one of my favourite places in the country Ribchester (or the Ribble Valley in General) although I'm probably a bit biased as it's probably place with such beauty and history rolled into one and just down the road from me (mainly Roman of course) some details on the church - St Wilfrid's Church is an Anglican 13th century church in the village of Ribchester in Lancashire, England that is situated close to the site of a Roman fort. It is an active parish church in the Diocese of Blackburn. It is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade I listed building. I love this Church I've visited for as long as I can remember, although I find it quite ignorant of myself, I have only just descovered (for myself) some Roman grain stores that were unearthed during the Victorian era and had shown evidence that they had been purposely burnt, as to not let then enemy make use of the grain it says when the Romans finally started to leave the area (crafty eh?) Ribchesters also very famous for a Roman helmet found there, for anyone who doesn't know or have seen the Helmet it's definitely worth a Google search. Thanks Kevin again, sent me off on a tangent there at 4am here in Accrington after rewatching your video, love it.

[@mickusable]

Another intriguing video Kevin, I’ll be buggered if I know what to believe 🤪🤘🏹

[@thehistorysquad]

😜 that's what make it a mystery eh?

[@richardgallon5986]

Fascinating! thank you so much...

[@phillwilkes7764]

Brilliant.

[@bradclifton5248]

Richard 3 is painted badly. Therefore it's easy to lay blame. But, he was close to his own brother. There seems to be little animosity between them. Seems like a major twist would be required for Richard to have killed his nephews.

[@thehistorysquad]

In my impartiality, I wholeheartedly agree 😉

[@THINKincessantly]

I like to be optimistic and am going with that last theory, its new and fresh to me, EVas WOW! --but who are the two boys remains they found in the tower? Fun stuff!

[@thehistorysquad]

That's the theory I'd like to believe too.

[@MsKK909]

It was a different world….. I’ve always felt that several diverse factions were very afraid of the Woodvilles waiting in the wings to gain power should either of the young princes ascend the throne as a minor. Edward IV had already elevated several Woodvilles to important positions…..if the Woodville uncles controlled the king, the War of the Roses could have become an even worse three way conflict! All these theories are very interesting and seem plausible.

[@rogerwright9096]

AS ALWAYS ,YOU DO SUCH AN AMAZING JOB EXPLAINING EVERY DETAIL OF YOUR SUBJECTS. I AM AN AVID FAN SIR . 🏴‍☠️👍

[@thehistorysquad]

I appreciate that! Cheers Roger 👍🏻

[@StenKilla]

some say edward IV was illegetimate. Apparently edwards father was on campaign in France when his mother became pregnant

[@paulholloway1447]

Brilliant filmKevin , could you do battles of wars of the Zroses . Eg Tewkesbury ,Towton.please.

[@thehistorysquad]

Yes, they will come once I've eventually worked through the 100 YW 👍🏻

[@azgal663]

Often best not to overthink. Usually it’s the obvious. The King/Uncle has my vote.

[@nancybradford8514]

Best mystery of all

[@barbarapaine8054]

Unbiased? And yet you wear The Hog (Richards emblem, the White Boar). Great presentation btw. Dan Jones also does a great video on this subject.

[@thehistorysquad]

Oooh you noticed 😜

[@blindarchershaunhenderson3769]

Another awesome storytelling, 😎🏹🙏

[@thehistorysquad]

Cheers Shaun, glad you enjoyed it 👍🏻

[@FalchionHawk]

kevin! love the channel!

[@mickusable]

As ever Kevin an interesting tale, one we’ll never know the answer to, my opinion, the butler did it in the kitchen with a candle stick 😂😂😂 keep up the great work. 🤘🏹

[@thehistorysquad]

🤣

[@puddysue]

Weren't there bodies found in the tower that were thought to possibly be the two princes? Sorry if that is totally off base and untrue... I just thought I remembered hearing that somewhere.

[@bostonrailfan2427]

i believe the last theory, visible evidence is better than speculation…plus it makes sense further when Henry’s son took his anger out on the monasteries which may have included Prince Richard if he still survived into that time it’s the one that makes the most sense politically and makes all around happy especially as Henry is family to them and wouldn’t hurt them lest he cause war again

[@honestyandtruth6847]

My opinion: Richard was Perkin Warbeck and executed; Edward may be lying in Coldridge Church in Devon after his loss at the battle of Stoke Field.

[@YorkistRaven]

aye, Perkin is a whole other very intriguing story! I'm going to try to get a friend of mine to comment on him here, as she is an expert on Perkin.

[@honestyandtruth6847]

@@YorkistRaven I would be very interested to hear your friend's opinion, please ask them to reply to me so that I do not miss the comment.

[@YorkistRaven]

@@honestyandtruth6847 I told her about this video and she very much wants to see it. There are few, if any, videos about this subject that are not reguritations of shakespeare's slander. Perkin is a special area of study for her. She is busy right now but by the end of the month she said she'd post some comments here. ;)

[@Believer1427]

Very mysterious. We may never know what really happened

[@loganbaileysfunwithtrains606]

I’ve never heard of this, of course I’m from the US so this type of history is not taught in any formal education, but very interesting theories. Also a bit off topic but have you ever heard about the Hatfields and McCoys? It’s a similar story of rival families battling for power, land disputes, theft of livestock and so on. Seems it’s timeless that rival families or groups will kill anyone to get something of value be it power, authority or wealth

[@thehistorysquad]

Yes, I've heard of them, but as you say, history will repeat itself despite the lessons we should learn from it.

[@loganbaileysfunwithtrains606]

@@thehistorysquad I live in West Virginia and my Grandmother on my father’s side maiden name was Hatfield she has a direct connection to the people that took part in the events there’s a weird sense of pride in it I suppose for something that had it happened in other place any other time it would be looked at with embarrassment or shame

[@keepitsimple4629]

It's highly unlikely Henry Tudor had the princes killed, as they disappeared in 1483, and he didn't arrive on the scene until 2 years later, at the Battle of Bosworth in 1485. He wasn't even in-country when their father, King Edward IV died.

[@Ionabrodie69]

No but his scheming mother was… 🙄

[@keepitsimple4629]

@@Ionabrodie69 That's true. It astounds me that Richard III would even entertain trusting Stanley, as he was married to the scheming mother of his enemy. How stupid of him.

[@kartos.]

Richard was 100% involved. If he wasn't, why didn't he launch an investigation or have an elaborate funeral, etc. The only reason to not bring attention to the princes disappearing or dying under his watch was being responsible.

[@yesacoustic]

What a fantastic summary of the events. Great video. Personally I love the idea that Richard could be innocent. Either way though it's fun to speculate.

[@thehistorysquad]

Isn't it just 😉 thanks for watching 👍🏻

[@franortegaguardia8361]

Remains of two young children, one of 13 years of age and another one of 7 years of age (estimated). There is certainly no confirmation as no DNA exam has been done so far, however, as we say in Spanish "blanco y en botella" (meaning, it seems obvious)

[@misterid1075]

I’d call Thomas Moore more credible than most. Obviously we couldn’t make a conclusion just on his word but the guy accepted execution rather than breach his principles as a catholic. So I’m at least apt to give his word more consideration.

[@oliviermosimann6931]

They should keep Prince Andrew in a tower...

[@thehistorysquad]

🤣

[@oliviermosimann6931]

@@thehistorysquad The worst is he'd probabily ennoy it ! 😂

[@Ionabrodie69]

Another Royal that has been castigated WITHOUT proof.. 😡

[@DRUM2Xs]

That last play sounds like it could be a possibility! Women had influence in ways that weren’t always seen even if they lacked visible power 💯💯

[@thehistorysquad]

👍🏻

[@yoinkhaha]

The lesson here is maybe it's just best not to have a gangland protection racket as your fundamental form of government.

[@eileenlocke7877]

Poor lil boys rip

[@janetbowersox83]

Wow! All the theories are certainly confusing . I would like to think the boys were spirited away.

[@jongcook8288]

Dna testing will solve this Case. But the the Current Monarch won’t allow this.

[@jetplane10]

Hello Kevin, You look like my former father-in-law, Norman. He was from Londen, a lovely man.

[@thehistorysquad]

Hi, he must have been a handsome fellow 😉

[@jetplane10]

@@thehistorysquad yes indeed he is. I took the whole family to Perth, Western Australia, in marrying his son. They are very fine people indeed and you are a very hansome man.

[@thehistorysquad]

@@jetplane10 My sister in law is in Sydney, NSW. Australia, like Canada where I live now is a huge country, so much to explore, but they lack that depth of history the UK has. 👍🏻

[@jetplane10]

@@thehistorysquad Hello Kevin. Such a small world. I used to live in Canada for a couple of years as a small child in Ontario. I had to leave Australia, I was in Perth, Western Australia - after 30 years. I am in Costa Rica now. It amuses me to say I came from the desert to live in the jungle. I had a vivid dream that I went to a place to live that had a beautiful huge, long cave, full of blue ice. I went ice-skating in it for miles. Canada was a lovely place indeed. I went skiing and tobogganing. I used to love going to see curtains of icicles at waterfalls. Yes the history of Britain has a richness to it. Probably French or other European history can compare, but the other countries do not have some depth or long duration, more like. Perhaps that is because we recorded so much history in writing. What do you think Kevin? Cheers

[@jetplane10]

@@thehistorysquad I did a longer answer it it seems to have gone somewhere...lol I lived in Canada for 2 years. It is a lovely country. I am in Costa Rica now 🙂

[@cts3md]

Thank you for always stressing that these were real people. I think it’s easy to lose sight of that when looking at events that we’re so far removed from, but you always preserve their dignity and remind us that their experiences were real.

[@thehistorysquad]

Absolutely!!

[@seraphik]

i love how every time he says he's non biased a new Richard III emblem shows up on his attire 😆 i love this channel so much.

[@thehistorysquad]

oooh, you noticed 😜

[@seraphik]

@@thehistorysquad i didn't at first but when that boar showed up on your head i was like oookay just what is going on here 😆

[@thehistorysquad]

@@seraphik 😉 Gotta have some fun

[@zaker721]

Oh yes! Seeing the boars gave me life!

[@donaldcarpenter5328]

you noticed that too?

[@CoolHandKotaOG]

I’ve heard that Richard III loved his nephews and that before Henry VII took power he had his nephews moved to keep them safe from him. This theory says he had two other killed (still tragic I know) and buried under the stairs so that Henry VII wouldn’t go looking for his nephews who were living with their half brother for the rest of their days. It kinda combines these theories you go over. This mystery has always fascinated me though!

[@robynwalker3742]

thats exactly what the king r did and kept it secret for ther safety

[@kartos.]

and then take the throne? this makes zero logical sense.

[@lawrencejames8011]

Codswallop: So [ 1 ] he loved his nephews whm he rareky saw and for whch there is no contemporary evidence [ 2 ] and what evidence is there that they were alive in spring and summer of 1485 when Richard was expecting Henry Tudor's landing

[@tonymeads4693]

As a lover of English history ever since my childhood I have to say what a WONDERFUL channel this is. My grateful thanks for keeping history alive.

[@thehistorysquad]

It's our pleasure Tom, thank you!

[@nataliapanfichi9933]

@@thehistorysquad can you do a video on the lost dauphin?

[@tonywoollcombe1799]

Some historians think that the bones discovered under the stairs in the Tower were too big for the ages of the Princes’ in the Tower!

[@MZeki-gw2xg]

Very intriguing, I wonder if they did any forensics on the two skeletons found at the bottom of the stairs. As always these videos are very well presented🙏👍

[@williammoore9794]

I believe they need permission from the Royal Family to exhume them from the royal vault at Windsor Castle (where the bodies were moved after they were found in the 17th century). I suspect such permission is unlikely...

[@MZeki-gw2xg]

@@williammoore9794 yes I see, then there’s also that body in the sanctuary chapel…such enduring mysteries should be solved

[@williammoore9794]

@@MZeki-gw2xg I agree! 😃

[@thehistorysquad]

Good question! Half of me would love to see the results of DNA, but the other half feels we should leave the dead alone. 👍🏻

[@Bonkers4Hex]

I heard recently that the Queen had said them boys had gone through enough pain already without forensics etc, allow them to rest and she denied it or something along them lines anyway.

[@kenreeve6549]

So very enjoyable thank you , No stupid loud music or silly gimmicks as is so often imposed on viewers these days, 10/10 Subscribed Merci

[@thehistorysquad]

De rein 👍🏻. Thanks for watching and your sub.

[@Aramis419]

This is brilliantly done! Who would've known that a foam brick and some toothpicks would make such excellent teaching tools! If I were any of those guys, I'd just petition, "Yeah, alright. You take the throne. It's all yours. Can I just have a small manor somewhere in the Midlands, then? Just call me Herzog von Nicht." "But that sounds German!" "German hasn't been invented yet! Just go with it!"

[@thehistorysquad]

😜 love it!

[@krissymarklewis1793]

I always thought Richard was a bit of a scapegoat. Obviously, some one killed them but it's lost in time.

[@hemaccabe4292]

However you cut this, R3 doesn't get out smelling like a rose. Even if he had nothing to do with it, even if the boys were illegitimate, they were his brother's sons and he had an obligation to protect them at which he failed. Further, cui bono, R3 wanted those boys out of the way the most and had the best opportunity, he controlled the Tower. Motive, method, opportunity police man. Lastly, one of the tortured hit man's kids fessed up for him despite that they weren't under the rack if I heard your story correctly and that's damning. Great video. Made me think.

[@thehistorysquad]

Cheers!

[@callarose9432]

I agree with this. Even if he didn't kill the boys (which he probably did), he is liable for putting them in the tower at all. He put them in danger, to begin with. They were sitting ducks up there. It's safe to say that Richard is the culprit but the mystery remains because Henry VII had a lot to gain from the boys' death too. If he killed the boys, that's so foul because their sister married him. A very intriguing mystery. Cheers, everyone!

[@Ionabrodie69]

@@callarose9432 No “ not safe to say” at all.. no proof and at lest two other protagonists.. the easy option perhaps.. And one would suppose it was a fair assumption that a guarded tower would be a safe a place as any.. 🤷‍♀️ wherever they had put them they would be found ,because other people would know of their destination… !! 🇬🇧

[@YorkistRaven]

"hit men" under the reign of execution-happy tydders...aye. Anyone tortured would say literally anything to make it stop; anyone threatened with death by a tyrant would say whatever he thought was wanted. Others had access to the Tower--buckingham for instance...

[@deandeann1541]

The killing of young people with a claim to a throne has a very long history, unfortunately -eg the killing of Cleopatra VII's son Caesareon (and the very many killings among the Ptolemies, Cleopatra's ancestors). How absolute power corrupts the human soul.

[@bonniemagpie9960]

Remnants still in Prince Charles blood except these days different tactics, "my husband is planning to have me killed in a car accident!" Nothing like the old blinding light trick hidden in plain paparazzi sight.

[@elizabethrusson7495]

I was always of the opinion that Henry knew the princes were "dead". Why did he marry Elizabeth of York and make her legitimate? That would also make the boys legitimate and nullify Henry's claim to the throne. So either he did it or he was told it had been done, even if it hadn't.

[@thehistorysquad]

Interesting 👍🏻

[@saralynfosnight5139]

I recently heard a version of this story wherein Edward IV was not previously married but previously engaged to a person of royal class and broke the engagement to marry Elizabeth Woodville. Of course, in those days, being betrothed meant about as much as marriage and breaking an engagement this way was considered scandalous. At the time of the boys' deaths they had been declared illegimate because of the problem with Edward IV's marriage, so what would Richard III's motivation have been?

[@lawrencejames8011]

This was rumour/propoganda. Richard claimed that Edward IV's marriage was illegal, but he didn't bother to challenge it in the church courts which alone decided such cases. Rather, he mounted a coup, slew potential opponents and murdered his nephews, handing out their lands and titles to his accomplices. He was a tyrant who overode the laws and customs of his country. Just dressing up as a medieval bowman and saying white was black does not make it so.

[@Lorenzogino]

the evidence needs to be stretched pretty thin for it to be anyone other than Richard who killed those boys. He had means, opportunity and motive. There's no reason or evidence to believe its anyone else other than a desire not to believe an uncle would kill his nephews. Ricardians have put a lot of time and effort to 'prove' it was anyone else, and they've contorted a body of evidence together to try to make it make sense. also Edward was never 'previously married', he was supposedly 'pre-contracted to marry' a woman (Eleanor Talbot), but this makes zero credible sense as the Kingmaker was blindsided by the Woodville marriage and personally humiliated by it since he was in the process of arranging a French betrothal for Edward that was scuttled by the surprise nuptials. If the Kingmaker could have voided the unpopular marriage by an act of canon law he would have brought it up at the time, but didn't, add to the fact Elizabeth Talbot was MARRIED TO ANOTHER MAN. If she had the opportunity to make herself queen of England why didn't she or her powerful family push this forward in the face of the unpopular Woodvilles? Either way if Edward was a bigmaist (he wasn't) the matter had been resolved by the time of Edward V's birth, as Eleanor Talbot had died by that point. and all the 'evidence' of this illegitemecy all comes from a single priest (Robert Stillington) who was personally loyal to Richard, who had schemed in the past against Edward IV, and who Richard rewarded with high office shortly after. even at the time people thought it smelled of bullshit, but since Richard had flooded London with his cronies by that time no one was going to risk their head by saying it publically. add to the fact Richard 's summiary executions of Edward loyalists under dubious charges of treason (that were never argued in a court of law) and it all becomes self-evident. Richard killed a lot of people to secure the crown, more than just two nephews, including Edward's most trusted friend William Hastings, who hated the Woodvilles and should have been a natural ally (and had in fact helped Richard secire his position as Lord Protector). the murder of Hastings is one murder Ricardians studiously avoid talking about or going into, because its the clear cut action of a tyrant willing to murder anyone who could possibly threaten his claim to the throne. and Henry Tudor did declare Richard guilty 'of the shedding of the blood of innocent children' after his victory at Bosworth Field, as did other people before him, such as during the Buckingham revolt when it switched from rescuing the (now dead) boys to supporting the Tudor claim against an usurper. It sounds like an innuendo now, but by the standard of the time its as direct an accusation as it gets. Ricardians have spent a lot of time and energy fabricating a mystery out of a clear cut palace coup rather than admit the fact that a man who had the chance to grasp supreme power in front of him, who believed himself to be the best man for the job, did an ugly brutal thing to get it.

[@lawrencejames8011]

Thank you for real history rather than partisan, amateur guesswork.

[@Steve-ys1ig]

I have always thought it had to be Richard III and he had them murdered. They were a clear threat to him remaining King as the legitimate heirs and would have been used by his enemies as symbols while they were young, and when they grew old enough direct threats themselves. He had the power and a clear and, what would have been to him, pressing motive to dispose of them. Just making them disappear would never have been enough to a medieval monarch because of the almost certain chance that when they grew up that they would have come back to reclaim the throne.

[@brianknezevich9894]

Excellent presentation as always. Somehow, my first visit to the tower of London, first wife, we got the most excellent beefeater tour guide, he somehow made the story and theories humorous. The whole thing being blown out of proportion as Tudor propaganda makes sense to me - although it's a definite historical mystery to this day. My daughter is about the age of the princes in the tower, and I'd trust her to run a nation more than many of the people who get elected, anyhow. If nothing else, she could conduct herself properly on a field of battle.

[@brianknezevich9894]

A humorous aside... Until I visited England the first time, I thought they were bee feeders, not beef eaters... I'd only heard it spoken, and my interests were mainly early medieval. I still get an occasional chuckle out of that, decades later. Hopefully someone reads this and gets a laugh, too!

[@thehistorysquad]

Haha, I read it and you got a laugh for sure. Thanks for the visit 👍🏻

[@johntowner1893]

Buzzz Munch Ouch!

[@Ionabrodie69]

Well they are neither… they are Yeoman Warders… 🇬🇧

[@johnlewis9745]

Brian, Are you suggesting that Richard’s troops behaved properly on Bosworth Field, whilst Henry’s did not ?

[@MichaelWilliams-tv1bm]

If they were murdered at all, the person to benefit most would be Henry VII. As a usurper who was surrounded by a number of people with a better dynastic claim to the throne, he was beset by a number of actual rebellions and a fear of others. In fact the last Yorkist claimant to the throne Richard de la Pole did not die until 1525, at the Battle of Pavia.

[@thehistorysquad]

Absolutely, in my non-biased opinion 😉

[@AbuLaith1963]

@@thehistorysquad Not that I disagree with you sir but are you not wearing the badge of the White Boar? For myself, I lament the passing of the Catholic Yorkists given what Richard III's great nephew was to do to the medieval culture of England.

[@thehistorysquad]

@@AbuLaith1963 Busted! I am indeed a Richard supporter. My impartial references were meant to be tongue in cheek 😉

[@AbuLaith1963]

@@thehistorysquad Odd isn't it that Sir James Tyrell was executed for the murders of the Princes in the Tower in 1502 - seventeen years after their 'murder' at the behest of Richard III. Surely, Henry Tudor would have swiftly executed the killer of his wife's brothers as soon as he was able to do so. This would have been in 1486 when Tyrell returned from France. Why did Henry Tudor pardon Tyrell twice - on June 16th and July 16th?

[@thehistorysquad]

@@AbuLaith1963 🤔 the plot thickens

[@patscott6365]

At school I hated history as the very elderly teacher did not make it alive and interesting as you do. She droned on monotonously, making us memorise dates of battles. So boring. Now, I absolutely devour historical novels and documentaries of that very interesting period, the Wars of the Roses and the rise of The Tudors. Thank you for your theories and engaging effects with a block of foam, toothpicks and portraits! Great!

[@thehistorysquad]

My pleasure, thanks for watching 👍🏻

[@dorothywillis1]

Both Richard III and Henry VII were very intelligent men. If they decided the princes had to be liquidated it would have been done by arranging for them to die of fever or sweating sickness or plague or something like that. Their illness would have been announced, bulletins on their health issued, and when they died there would have been a big public funeral so everyone knew they were definitely gone. But that didn't happen. I have no idea what happened, but I am certain it would be VERY interesting to know!

[@thehistorysquad]

A very good point Dorothy! 👍🏻

[@michaelwhite8031]

The last theory about the Evans tomb has been blown out of the water by Starkey

[@thedevilinthecircuit1414]

What a fascinating story. It's refreshing--in this age of spoonfeeding opinions--to have the presenter leave it to the viewer to determine the 'truth' behind all the allegations. It stirs curiosity and motivates one to dig even farther into the tale. Bravo, sir!

[@thehistorysquad]

Wow, thank you! Glad you enjoyed it, it's fascinating isn't it.

[@cherylthommo1]

Hi Kevin. What a wonderful series. The finger will always be pointed at Richard III but Buckingham, Bishop Morton and Margaret Beaufort had more of a reason for those boys to disappear. Margaret Beaufort was an amazing woman for her time. A survivor and politically savvy. Lucky to survive childbirth at the age of 13! Henry VII would not have come to the throne without her. Also Margaret's first cousin was Buckingham's mother. Thank you!

[@Ionabrodie69]

Margaret Beaufort was a scheming witch .. but hey you beatify her if you must.. 🤷‍♀️🇬🇧

[@YorkistRaven]

m.b betrayed the man who had spared her sorry life for treason. Then she had him done to death. She must be the most hated woman in British history...and deservedly so.

[@thehilligan]

Never been a policeman myself, but my questions would be: where is the evidence that they went into the Tower in the first place? And what was the source? Does it hoild up? If they were in there, who had access to them? This would rule out some candidates, I would have thought. Also if Edward was indeed "John Evans" it`s interesting that" he chose" a Welsh name-the Tudors being essentially Welsh.

[@thehistorysquad]

All great questions!!

[@AbuLaith1963]

If anything, through his paternal grandmother, Henry VII was Valois and had a better claim to the French crown than the English.

[@Ionabrodie69]

@@AbuLaith1963 Yes but he identified more with the Welsh side.. he spent much time with his Uncle Jasper and with the Herbert’s in Pembroke before going to France to the Duke of Brittany .. 😊

[@Kevinb1821]

That painting of the boys is incredible. The lifelike detail is amazing.

[@melanieashman1066]

wow amazing but as much as people may look at corruption as common, whatever year we are referring too, it's not that common, some people do terrible things, this is true but a lot of people do not. i have always believed the young boys were taken to a safe place and may have survived, I believe the intention was to protect them and when the time was right bring them back to play their roles, as it was the time was clearly never right and they lived a different life.

[@nancytestani1470]

I have read everything about the princes…and Medieval English and European history so fascinating..I sometimes believe that Buckingham, ..was behind the princes murder… and then Richard was the murderer…I go back and forth…still a mystery…love this stuff..

[@jeffreyrobinson3555]

Fun I do believe they were still alive after Bosworth. And I believe Henry killed them. He was the only one who needed them dead

[@thehistorysquad]

Of course I have to remain impartial however .................. 👍🏻

[@YorkistRaven]

@@thehistorysquad 🤣🤣🤣

[@Ryan-jz4fe]

This has really wrecked my brain lol. I was bought on a theory until you said the next one and then I changed my mine. All are possible and it's gotten me very interested in who could have been behind it. Gonna have to read into this now. But I can't lie, that last theory is very interesting and in my opinion maybe one of the less likely ones but it's very intriguing. Such a shame we may never know the truth. Great video

[@thehistorysquad]

Haha, cheers Ryan, it really is puzzling isn't it with all those possible players 👍🏻

[@jamesault7832]

Mr. Hicks, In my opinion you are the best storyteller on the internet. You never cease to amaze me with your knowledge. and personal experiences. In fact, your films are so interesting I find myself watching them several times and they never get boring. Please keep up the good work.

[@thehistorysquad]

Thanks very much James, I'll do my best 👍🏻

[@TheLoyalOfficer]

It was Richard III. He had the motive, the access, and the power to do it and get away with it. Plus, the boys were a liability. Wouldn't their accession probably cause another civil war? And also there was the possibility that they would go to war with each other eventually. I'm not saying they deserved to die of course, but Richard III was under a great deal of pressure. As long as either one lived, they were a threat to King Richard.

[@Moose.-vy5ye]

No. Richard is unlikely to have murder them. It's far more likely that he had them secretly transported to his sister's estate in Burgundy. Margaret's accounting rolls would indicate as much.

[@mrcaptain9333]

That last theory is intriguing…..would love to hear more on that one

[@michaelnewton319]

Another excellent video, Mr Hicks! More questions than answers - which is great. Thank you for keeping our history alive. Who knows what really happened, but Richard the Third has a resemblance to Gríma Wormtongue and that's enough for me to be a little wary of him.

[@thehistorysquad]

😜 It really does get you thinking eh?

[@deepred6041]

It's interesting that their mother Elizabeth Woodvile never said they were dead and neither did their older sister and also neither did Henry Tudor. The men who have been named as the actual murderers were never arrested or even questioned. And why did Elizabeth Woodvile stay as Tyrells manor immediately after the prince's disappeared if Tyrell murdered her son's? A maid in Tyrells employ was later found to be pregnant and was sent to London under house arrest until she gave birth, who was the father? Why was she sent to London? And why under house arrest? Could a 13 year old Edward have been having some fun with a maid?

[@thehistorysquad]

OMG 😜 All great theories 👍🏻

[@Ionabrodie69]

Also.. it’s been said that Elizabeth, Henry’s wife was totally smitten with Richard, how could she love a man that had summarily killed her brothers.. ?

[@deepred6041]

@@Ionabrodie69 another excellent point! There are so many holes in the murder theory that it sounds more and more like a mad conspiracy theory.

[@alancoe1002]

Kevin, you have accepted the pre-contract theory, which was put forward by Bishop Stillington. One man. No other corroboration. Very convenient for Richard. There is no serious competitor to Richard being the murderer, considering that he has already murdered, without trial, Anthony Woodville, Grey, Hastings, and others. To bring up Margaret Beaufort as a possible killer of the boys... well at least you said she didn't have access to the Tower, which was entirely peopled by Richard's henchmen. Henry was by nature merciful: his giving Richard's heir, Lincoln, a place on his inner council, is significant. Also, he didn't kill Surrey, who had dragged out Hastings to his death at Richard's command. And, as we know, Surrey would become a great Tudor captain at Flodden. That's because of the original cold judgement of Henry Tudor that Surrey had value for England. My bias is that I regard Henry Tudor's story as truly heroic.. I know that you are trying to be unbiased. Kudos. However. As you said, they were people. And so are we. I enjoy your work very much. Ave.

[@susanmccormick6022]

Henry was merciful?Really!He had Perkin Warbeck disfigured to hide his Plantagenet looks,then killed him along with the poor lad,Clarence's son,Edward,who had been locked in the Tower since a child,because of who he was.Mercy wasn't in the Tudor dictionary.Ask Anne,Catherine,Jane,Mark,Francis,Tom Culpeper etc etc.

[@msvaleriah]

My husband and I had the honor of meeting John Dyke through friends and were given a tour of St. Matthews by Mr. Dyke himself. I think his theory is fascinating, entirely plausible and far more likely, given Richard III's history and reputation as a staunchly loyal supporter of his brother Edward IV and in his time as Duke of Gloucester as having ruled with justice and concern for the common man's rights and welfare. The pox on Thomas More and shame on William Shakespeare too, immortal bard though he is! -From a devoted Ricardian - Loyaulte Me Lie!

[@thehistorysquad]

Absolutely - me too!!

[@FelixstoweFoamForge]

Loved it. If we apply the legal principle of who benefits, Dickey boy is the prime suspect. Mind you, that isn't' proof. We'll never know, one way or the other. Even if Richard did it, that don't make him a monster. I mean, just remember, Richard was a contemporary of Vlad II of Wallachia, (aka, Vlad the Impaler).

[@lkgreenwell]

They call Vlad Dracula an impaler! He was not an impaler! He was pussy-footing playing at it! *Chandragupta Maurya*, *he* was an impaler. 10 cities before lunch!

[@time-out-tuti-fruti5142]

Buckingham has always been my thought if they did indeed die. But then Elizabeth would have absolutely done a deal with Richard if it was to her benefit. I love the mystery and history! 🤍

[@richhughes7450]

If Richard 3 had em done away with whilst under his protection, the fingers would be pointing directly at him. So, why would he? If he had them sent away, then people would find that fishy also and assume they had been killed anyway. We will never know.

[@PartiyaLenina1]

Now is the winter of our discontent made glorious summer by this son of York :P

[@rhys1264]

I really wish you could have been my history teacher -- the way you speak and tell stories is captivating and amazing.

[@thehistorysquad]

Haha, thanks Rhys 👍🏻

[@undampedmule]

Great costumes, great props, great setting, and great oratory. I really enjoy this channel, if my father were still around he'd enjoy the heck out of it too.

[@thehistorysquad]

Much appreciated!

[@michaelhowell2326]

I don't have any real opinion on Richard III. He lived in the manner the times required. He did apparently go a little crazy after Edward IV died but for some reason I think Henry VII had something to do with it.

[@behramcooper3691]

Didn't they recently find the remains of Richard III under a parking lot?

[@thehistorysquad]

They did, although before it was a parking lot, it was a priory 👍🏻

[@Hrodn]

I believe you, Kevin, when you say you are unbiased in this matter. Another mystery in this video, which you didn't mention, is how those white boar badges appeared on you clothing. I have a theory about that, but I'll keep it to myself.

[@thehistorysquad]

😜

[@YorkistRaven]

🤣🤣🤣

[@teresat.6386]

I wish my history teachers were more animated, energetic, enthusiastic and told history in a story format. I might have taken a better intetest in history in the U.S.A. and other countries. As always, job well done! 🙂❤

[@thehistorysquad]

LOL, cheers Teresa 👍🏻