5. It Was Almost Certainly Not Richard III Who Had King Henry VI Executed... But Actually His Brother Edward IV
Alongside the murder of the "Princes In The Tower", Shakespeare would also like the world to believe that Richard III also holds sole responsibility for the murder of King Henry VI. Yet, when Richard III's brother King Edward IV claimed victory at the Battle of Tewkesbury in May 1471, it was the then-monarch who ordered that Henry VI be taken to the Tower of London. Here it is unclear exactly what unfolded - but evidence suggests that, after speaking with his political advisers, Edward IV sent a number of noblemen and Richard to see the Constable of the Tower, Lord Dudley. With instructions to end the bitter civil war that had enveloped England for more than three decades, Richard and the others told Lord Dudley to execute King Henry VI. So Richard may have been involved in Henry VI's death to a certain degree, but only as messenger and not as chief orchestrator.
NUFC editor for WhatCulture.com/NUFC. History graduate (University of Edinburgh) and NCTJ-trained journalist. I love sports, hopelessly following Newcastle United and Newcastle Falcons. My pastimes include watching and attending sports matches religiously, reading spy books and sampling ales.
