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Showing posts with the label Tower of London

The Monarchy in 1483

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Edward IV It is England in 1483 and the people of the country are witnessing three reigns of three different kings, the first recorded execution at the Tower of London and a suspected murder has occurred when the Princes in the Tower mysteriously disappear!  Edward V Richard III For the monarchy in England in this year, it would experience a dramatic change. On 9th April, King Edward IV passed away aged only forty- two years. This could have been a result of falling ill from a disease such as pneumonia or typhoid but it could equally be a result of his unhealthy lifestyle. Before his death he had become inactive and stouter as a pose to his young active and healthy self that he was when he first won the throne from Henry VI. After his premature death, Edward was succeeded by his twelve year old son- also called Edward. The late Edward's will (which has not survived) stated that his brother, Richard, would be made Lord Protecter for his nephew, the new king Edward....

The Death of Lady Jane Grey

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Aged only seventeen, Lady Jane Grey meet her end at the executioner's axe with courage and dignity. The young girl had been placed on the throne by manipulative relatives and powerful men, who's soul desire was to ensure that the rightful heir to the throne of England- the eldest daughter of Henry VIII and his first wife Catherine of Aragon: Mary Tudor (aka ' Bloody Mary '). After reigning for just thirteen days, Mary's army stormed London and many of Lady Jane's supporters switched sides. Next Mary had herself crowned and arrested her cousin Jane, Jane's husband Guildford Dudley, Guildford's father the Duke of Northumberland and many more people. They were tried for treason and many, if not all, of them were found guilty and sentenced to death. Guildford and Jane were sentenced to be beheaded by the axe whereas Northumberland was executed by hanging- drawing- and- quartering. They were imprisoned in the Tower of London. Because Jane was a Prot...

Anne Boleyn: Did she deserve to die?

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On 15th May 1536, Anne Boleyn was found guilty of treason and adultery. Treason was the most severe crime anyone could commit because it was a crime committed against the king or queen and in history, it has been a common belief that the ruler is appointed by God, therefore anyone who commits treason is committing a crime against God. Treason was punishable by death. Anne Boleyn was given the choice, she could either be burnt alive or beheaded. She choose beheading as it was cleaner and was quicker than burning. On 19th May 1536, Anne met her end bravely. She was beheaded by an expert swordsman, brought over especially, to avoid having a blunt axe attempt to sever her head. It is said, that the swordsman decapitated her without her knowing, thankfully it was quick and smooth. The witnesses claimed that it was so quick that her lips were still moving in prayer when her head was removed by a graceful swing of a special sword. We know Anne found guilty of adultery and treason, but the ...

Josef Jakobs

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Josef Jakobs was the final person to be executed in the Tower of London. He was a German spy found guilty of spying on the British in 1941 and was shot by a firing squad in August of that same year. Jakobs was a German citizen born in Luxembourg on 30th June 1898 to Kasper Jakobs and Emma Lück. He had two sisters called Maria and Therese. In 1905 the Jakobs moved to Berlin. When the First World War began, Jakobs enlisted but, due to health issues, was discharged. However he rejoined in 1916 and was wounded in France in 1918. After the war he studied dentistry in Berlin. In 1924 he opened a practise. Josef Jakobs married a fellow dentist- Margarete Knöffler-  in May, 1924. They had four children; the first was sadly a stillborn, the second was a son called Norbert who passed away in 1963, they had a daughter named Regine who died in 1946 aged just 15 years old and finally a son called Raymond who is currently still alive. Margarete died in 1971. Jakobs and his wife were forced to...