HISTORICAL FUN: HISTORY FUN FACTS for NOVEMBER 23rd
On This Day In History in 1499, Perkin Warbeck was hanged after attempting to escape from the Tower of London.
Perkin Warbeck was a pretender to the English throne. He invaded England with an army, more like a couple of friends on a Stag weekend, claiming to be the long lost son of King Edward IV of England.
Perkin Warbeck claimed he was Richard of Shrewsbury, Duke of York.
You might not even recognise that name right away.
Richard, Duke of York, was the younger son of King Edward IV of England. And also the younger brother of King Edward V of England.
Together, King Edward V of England and Richard, Duke of York, made up the duo known as The Princes in the Tower.
The Princes in the Tower were later murdered by King Richard III of England. their evil uncle.
Warbeck was captured in 1497 and interrogated under close scrutiny of King Henry VII, of the Tudor clan, who did not want another claimant to the English throne that could undermine his reign as King.
He wasn't the first or last to claim he was one of the Prince's in the Tower.
After the initial torture, which was quite severe, and involved pokey things that were red hot, and holes that were not made for hot pokey things, Warbeck withdrew his claim.
After that, King Henry treated him well. Even gave him some cream, and a bucket of ice water for bottom dipping.
Warbeck was released from the Tower of London and given a room at Henry's court. Henry even allowed him to attend royal banquets.
However, he was kept under guard for the entire time, and wasn't even allowed to sleep with his wife. Hookers, yes. Wife no. Not that his wife complained. She hated him.
Not content with the banquets and hookers, and the lavish lifestyle the king allowed him, Warbeck attempted to escape.
The moron was captured and placed in solitary confinement. No more hookers for him.
Inside the solitary confinement, which was not entirely solitary, he met Edward, Earl of Warwick, also in solitary confinement. Not sure they understood what the word "solitary" meant back in the day.
The two cell mates tried to escape, again.
And again, Warbeck was captured.
If only he'd read the Shawshank Redemption.
Perkin Warbeck was then drawn on a hurdle from the Tower of London to Tyburn Gallows and forced to read out a confession before he was hanged. TO DEATH.
Also in the news
On This Day In History in 1890, King William III of the Netherlands died without a male heir. This led to a special law which passed allowing his daughter, Princess Wilhelmina to succeed to the throne.
On This Day In History in 1910, Johan Alfred Ander became the last person to be executed in Sweden.
On This Day in History in 1963, An Unearthly Child was broadcast by the BBC.
An Unearthly Child was the first ever episode of the world's longest running Sci-Fi show, Doctor Who, starring William Hartnell.
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