On June 25, an assembly of lords and commoners endorsed these claims. The following day, Richard III officially began his reign. He was crowned in July. The two young princes disappeared in August and were widely rumored to have been murdered by Richard. Richard’s claim to the throne was based on his assertion that the princes were illegitimate, because Edward had been betrothed before his marriage to Elizabeth Woodville, the prince’s mother. Given the customs of time, a prior betrothal could have invalidated Edward’s subsequent marriage, so any children of that union would be illegitimate. Richard would have found it easy to gather support against the queen, for she was very unpopular. Richard III served as king of England for only two years, but his reign was one of the most historic and turbulent. He is credited with the responsibility for several murders, including those of his nephews Edward and Richard, and of Henry VI. Shakespeare portrayed him as a tyrannical ruler in his play, King Richard III, but modern scholars have pointed to evidence that Richard III was a successful
On June 25, an assembly of lords and commoners endorsed these claims. The following day, Richard III officially began his reign. He was crowned in July. The two young princes disappeared in August and were widely rumored to have been murdered by Richard. Richard’s claim to the throne was based on his assertion that the princes were illegitimate, because Edward had been betrothed before his marriage to Elizabeth Woodville, the prince’s mother. Given the customs of time, a prior betrothal could have invalidated Edward’s subsequent marriage, so any children of that union would be illegitimate. Richard would have found it easy to gather support against the queen, for she was very unpopular. Richard III served as king of England for only two years, but his reign was one of the most historic and turbulent. He is credited with the responsibility for several murders, including those of his nephews Edward and Richard, and of Henry VI. Shakespeare portrayed him as a tyrannical ruler in his play, King Richard III, but modern scholars have pointed to evidence that Richard III was a successful