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On This Day in May

A selection of events either directly or indirectly connected with the Tower which have happened during the month of May

King Henry VI

Today, 21st May in 1471 - King Henry VI was killed in the tower of London whilst at prayer.

King Henry VI founded Eton College and King's College Cambridge Both Colleges remember Henry to this day, laying flowers in the Tower of London every year on the anniversary of his death.

http://www.royal.gov.uk/historyofthemonarchy/kingsandqueensofengland/thelancastrians/henryvideposed.aspx

King Henry V

Today, 21st May, 1420, King Charles VI of France cedes France to King Henry V of England in the Treaty of Troyes, after Henry's victory at Agincourt.

http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/606922/Treaty-of-Troyes

Queen Victoria

24th May 1819 Queen Victoria was born. It was during the Victorian era that the Chapel Royal of St Peter ad Vincula was renovated and the bodies of Three Queens of England were found and re-buried under the Alter - Queen Anne Boleyn, Lady Jane Grey and Queen Katherine Howard

http://www.royal.gov.uk/historyofthemonarchy/kingsandqueensoftheunitedkingdom/thehanoverians/victoria.aspx

Sir Francis Bacon

31 May 1621 Sir Francis Bacon was imprisoned in the Tower for four days on charges of accepting bribes and impeachment whilst he held political office.

http://www.biography.com/people/francis-bacon-9194632?page=2

Thomas Cranmer

May 28th 1533 Thomas Cranmer, Arch Bishop of Canterbury, declared the marriage between King Henry VIII and Queen Anne Boleyn to be valid.

http://www.greatsite.com/timeline-english-bible-history/thomas-cranmer.html

Richard Cromwell

25th May 1660, Richard Cromwell resigns as Lord Protector of England allowing King Charles II to return and take his throne.

http://www.british-civil-wars.co.uk/biog/richard-cromwell.htm

War of the Roses

22nd May 1455, The Wars of the Roses begin with Richard of York's (Father of Richard III) victory at the Battle of St Albans.

http://www.warsoftheroses.com/

Margaret Pole

27 May 1541 - Margaret Pole, 8th Countess of Salisbury (b. 1473) and Aunt to King Henry VIII was beheaded for treason in Tower of London by Henry VIII

http://www.theanneboleynfiles.com/the-execution-of-margaret-pole-countess-of-salisbury/

King George III

24 May 1738 - George III, King of Great Britain (1760-1820) was born in 1760

http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/PRgeorgeIII.htm

King George I

28 May 1660, King George I was boron in Osnabruek, Germany. He was the first of the House of Hannover to rule Britain; they changed their name to Windsor during the first world war.

Colonel Blood

This week in (07-14 May) 1671 Colonel Blood attempted to steal the Crown Jewels from the Tower of London.

George Boleyn Viscount Rochford

This week (08-15 May) 1536 Anne Boleyn and George Boleyn are accused of adultery and incest and sent to the Tower.

Edward Stafford

This week in (15-22 May) 1521 Edward Stafford, 3rd Duke of Buckingham, is executed for treason.

Queen Anne Boleyn

19th May 1536 Anne Boleyn is beheaded at the Tower

Queen Jane Seymour

20th May 1536, one day after the beheading of Anne Boleyn, Henry VIII is betrothed to Jane Seymour

King Henry VIII and Queen Jane Seymour

30th May 1536 Henry VIII marries Jane Seymour

Queen Catherine of Aragon

23 May 1533 - King Henry VIII & Catherine of Aragon's marriage declared null & void by authority English clergy not the Pope

King Charles II

23 May 1660 - King Charles II returns from exile sails from Scheveningen to England

The Marriage of King Charles II to Princess Catherina

25 May1661 - King Charles II marries Portuguese princess Catherina the Braganca

Lady Margaret Beaufort

31st May 1443 - Lady Margaret Beaufort, mother of Henry VII of England and Grandmother of Henry VIII is born.

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