Richard III of England - Accession To The Throne

Accession To The Throne

On the death of Edward IV, on 9 April 1483, the late king's twelve-year-old son, Edward V, succeeded him. Richard was named Lord Protector of the young king and quickly moved to keep the family of the Queen mother from exercising power. Elizabeth's brother Anthony Woodville, 2nd Earl Rivers, and others were arrested and taken to Pontefract Castle, where they were later executed under the accusation of having planned to assassinate Richard. He then took Edward and his younger brother, nine-year-old Richard, Duke of York, to the Tower of London, in accordance with advice given by Baron Hastings.

Shortly afterwards, during a council meeting held on 13 June at the Tower of London, Richard accused Hastings and others of having conspired against him with the Woodvilles, with Jane Shore, lover to both Hastings and Thomas Grey, 1st Marquess of Dorset, acting as a go-between. Hastings was summarily executed, while others were arrested. Hastings was not attainted, however, and Richard sealed an indenture that placed his widow Katherine directly under his protection.

Around that time, a clergyman is said to have informed Richard that Edward IV's marriage to Elizabeth Woodville had been invalid due to an earlier union by the King with Eleanor Butler, making Edward V and his siblings illegitimate. The identity of the informant is known only through the Mémoires of French diplomat Philippe de Commines as Robert Stillington, the bishop of Bath and Wells. On 22 June 1483, a sermon was preached outside St. Paul's Cathedral declaring Edward's children bastards and Richard the rightful king. After the citizens of London, nobles and commons convened, a petition was drawn up asking Richard to assume the throne. He accepted on 26 June and was crowned at Westminster Abbey on 6 July 1483. His title to the throne was later confirmed by Parliament in January 1484 by the document Titulus Regius.

The princes, presumably still lodged at the Tower of London (the Royal Residence), disappeared from sight. Although Richard III is generally accused of having Edward and his brother killed, there is considerable debate about their actual fate.

Richard and his wife Anne endowed King's College and Queens' College, Cambridge, and made grants to the church. He planned the establishment of a large chantry chapel in York Minster, with over one hundred priests. Richard also founded the College of Arms.