Richard of Shrewsbury, Duke of York
Who was he?
This Richard, Duke of York was the second son of Edward IV. He was born in Shrewsbury – it is believed in August of 1473. Hence his full title of Richard of Shrewsbury, Duke of York.
At the time of his father’s death in 1483, Richard was with his mother, Elizabeth Woodville. She fled to the sanctuary of Westminster Abbey with her household once Richard, Duke of Gloucester had secured the person of Edward V and had imprisoned various members of her extended family. Ultimately, Elizabeth allowed Richard to join his brother in the Tower of London. Her motivation for allowing this has been the source of much speculation ever since. Many cannot conceive how she would have allowed her youngest son into the hands of the enemy of her family. However, others have argued that her perspective on Gloucester, and his motivations, has been provided by later generations and that she did indeed trust his care and concern for the two boys. Or, it may be that she felt she had no choice.
These questions will never likely be answered satisfactorily. Suffice to say that Richard joined his brother and eventually disappeared from public view. No absolute answer as to his fate has ever been forthcoming.
What happened to him?
One thread of speculation is that his uncle, Richard III, intended Richard and his brother Edward to retire in anonymity within his many estates. This would have been more humane than killing the boys which is the crime for which he has been accused. The need for complete secrecy is obvious: had their existence been well known, they would have become the focal point for rebellion. This possibility arose with the Perkin Warbeck conspiracy of 1497. Warbeck claimed to be Richard of Shrewsbury and nearly succeeded in defeating Henry VII. He failed, and he was later executed for his troubles. Henry took good care to ensure that his claim to be the younger Prince in the Tower was dismissed as fantasy, and that Warbeck was a tool of malcontents.
While there are considerable doubts about Warbeck, there are sufficient grounds supporting his claims to take them seriously. The possible survival of the princes suggests a more humane Richard III than the reputation commonly attributed to him.
IWF