Richard III is the villain character from the war of the roses. Even Shakespeare took this thesis and made it a play. But what if he was the good guy? What if the usurper has actually been Henry VII? Let me tell you an alternative story about this particular time of British history. And bear in mind that no thesis can be proven as the history was written to please the one who ruled at the time.
We will begin the story few decades back when Richard's eldest brother was born - Edward. Richard's mother Cecily Neville gave birth to Edward. What is the twist in this so normal fact? The twist of the story is that during the time when Cecily was being impregnated her husband Richard, Duke of York, was away in France. Therefore he cannot be the biological father of Edward. Of course there is a possibility she gave birth at the beginning of the 9th month of her pregnancy but it is highly unlikely because at these times premature births almost always resulted in death. Another fact to prove our thesis is that the christening of Edward was overlooked while for his second brother - George there was a huge crowd on the christening.
So this is the unfortunate beginning of the three brothers that will result in deaths, plots and cruelty. And of course in the Tudor dynasty.
Let's scroll few years as the childhood of the boys is not so interesting although for some logical reasons the one who will be king - Edward was most likely separately educated from his younger (alleged half) brothers. So George and Richard most likely grew fonder of each other than of their older brother who they hardly ever spent time with. From historical records George and Richard were sent away and placed into the custody of the Duchess of Buckingham.
It is now 1478 and George is being executed because of plotting against the king - his elder brother. Now some historians believe that George crossed the Woodvilles (the family in law of the king) and they achieved to get him executed. Following the fact that most likely Edward was not blood related to Richard of York but rather a chamber attendant, it is very possible George was discussing this behind closed doors. Anyway, the execution that took place most likely alienated Richard (the future Richard III) from this brother - the king.
In April 1483 king Edward dies and is succeeded by his son Edward V. Edward V is 12 years old boy and his uncle does indeed sees an opportunity to get what by all facts listed in this story is his by right. Now what does he do? First he has to get rid of some of the Woodvilles who let's not forget had his elder brother executed and his nephews removed from the succession line. And so he does, here comes the first murdering and executions of Woodvilles.
What happens to the two sons of Edward IV? First of all, let be clear that every mother is a saint at the eyes of her children. So this is most likely the reason why her infidelity was not commented by Richard III. Instead, he proclaimed his nephews Edward and Richard as bastards by proving the late king has been in pre-marriage contract when he married Elizabeth Woodville. In the time when the action unfolded the pre-marriage contract is with the same validation of marriage so it was fairly easy to remove the illegitimate late king and his children off the record.
All is good when it ends good some say but here it's not the case. Now we have two boys who were put inside the tower of London. Nope, it's not a prison, it's an actual royal residence at that time. All the records for the princes are coming from enemies of Richard III and supporters of Henry VII. In my personal opinion Richard kept the two boys on close watch just to make sure when he dies the sons of his elder brother George inherit the throne. Why? Because he could have put them back on the line of succession and in fact he himself had no surviving legitimate children.
So the two princes are alive. They are hidden from public and Richard leaves the crowd to believe they are dead. This way they cannot claim the throne one day. Let's not forget someone said he is the younger Richard few decades later and he was killed by the usurpers - the Tudors. But then Richard did not know that the Tudors will exist.
Hm, am I forgetting something? Oh yes! It is now the reign of Henry VII. Richard III is long gone and humiliatingly buried. At some point of the reign of Henry VII his mother-in-law goes away and is never seen again by public. What do you think this happened? Is it possible Henry VII to have killed the two boys in the tower? We cannot say. But it seems highly reasonable and possible.
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