Searching for the Skeletons in the Closet: Did Richard III Have his Nep

Did Richard III Have His Nephews Killed? The reign of Richard III is something of a paradox. His rule was brief and he lost his crown to a usurper, allowing the House of York to die with him. Yet few English kings have been the subject of such continuous debate, and none have spawned such fervent denigration, or such enthusiastic support. Much of the debate fuelling pro- and anti-Richardians has been whether or not Richard had his two young nephews, Edward V and Richard of York, murdered. Unfortunately to date it has been a debate mired in speculation. Writes V. B. Lamb: 'No conclusive proof has ever come to light which could provide a solution that did not rest solely in speculation. The possibilities are endless, but all remain at best quite unsupported theories' (89). Indeed, the possibilities have seemed endless. There have been myriad theories, ranging from the plausible to the completely inane. People commenting on the matter range from Sir Thomas More to William Shakespeare to the current Duke of Gloucester. Some of these theories will be discussed in this paper. I will draw on ideas both contemporaneous and current, pro and con, along with my own insights, in an attempt to engage the sources in conversation and hopefully provide the reader with a more clear and accurate idea of Richard III and his actions (or lack thereof). Some questions are important to keep in mind when assessing the culpability of Richard. Does he seem a man capable of such a heinous act as infanticide, and his own nephews at that? Assuming he does, did the political situation make it prudent for him to do so? Or were there others who stood to gain more by their deaths? Before these questions can be answered, some context is needed. The Engl... ...ot exist; he is therefore an innocent man. Bibliography Gillingham, John. "Introduction: Interpreting Richard III." Richard III: A Medieval Kingship. Ed. John Gillingham. London: Collins and Brown Ltd, 1993. Hammond, P.W. "The Reputation of Richard III." Richard III: A Medieval Kingship. Ed. John Gillingham. London: Collins and Brown Ltd, 1993. Hammond, P.W. and Sutton, Anne F. Richard III: The Road to Bosworth Field. London: Constable and Company Ltd, 1985. Horrox, Rosemary. Richard III: A Study of Service. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1989. Lamb, V.B. The Betrayal of Richard III: An Introduction to the Controversy. Revised Ed. Stroud: Alan Sutton Publishing Ltd, 1990. Richmond, Colin. "1483: The Year of Decision (or Taking the Throne)." Richard III: A Medieval Kingship. Ed. John Gillingham. London: Collins and Brown Ltd, 1993.