The+Tower

“The Tower of London”

The Tower of London has and had many uses. Even though the  tower has had a history of suffering, there remains a less violent and more  refined fraction of history behind it. As most people know, the tower began  construction as a fortress. Reputation mostly surrounds it being a prison, royal residence, armory, zoo and protector of the Crown Jewels. In addition, it serves as the treasury.

__Construction and Conflicts__

William the Conqueror ([|clipartmonsterclub.com] )

 The tower’s beginning usage began as a fortress and victory trophy.  After William I, William the Conqueror , won the Battle of Hastings in 1066,  he decided to build a trophy and landmark. This became known as the White Tower or “Keep” (Dorothy 12). This structure got chosen to be the center of the London Tower and stands 1000 years old (John 369).

 Later, Richard the Lionhearted came and took over the tower. He got  ready to set off on a journey and appointed William Longchamp to be the  leader. Later Prince John lay siege to the tower in 1191 and Longchamp  surrenders (Dorothy 18).

__<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Prison Days and Suffering __

<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 12pt;"> Hume's Guillotine (rationallyspeaking.blogspot.com)

<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 12pt;"> Eventually as the tower progressed, it became a famous prison from <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 12pt;"> 1100-1700’s. London tower used to also be known as a slaughter house. One of the many victims that suffered would be Edward V and his brother, the Duke of York (John 369). The young princes’ vanished during the reign of Richard III. <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 12pt;"> Following the disappearance of the princes, the bloodshed continued. <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 12pt;">One pretender to the throne, Lady Jane Grey, who reigned as queen for nine days met her beheading fate at the tower. <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 12pt;"> (John 369).

<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 12pt;"> __Terrific Treasures and Colorful Costumes__

British Crown Jewels (mastoloni.com) Yeomen Warders ( [|bbc.co.uk] )

<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 12pt;"> Aside from all conflict, the treasuries of royalty can be quite stunning. <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 12pt;"> These treasuries include the crowns, ceptors, and other regalia (John 369). <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 12pt;"> As it being so priceless, it must be protected at all times. The people who <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 12pt;"> protect these artifacts preside as part of the Guards Division. This division consists of small landowners and petty officials (John 369). These also can be called Yeomen Warders (John 369). These warders wear very colorful outfits for respect to those who owned the regalia.

__ Historical Recap __

<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 12pt;"> Overall here, the Tower of London has much history. It starts from the <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 12pt;"> construction to the attacks on the White Tower. The entrapment of Edward <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 12pt;"> V to the beheading of Lady Jane Grey started the realization of how evil <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 12pt;"> bloodshed can be. Besides the gore, light became revealed as the regalia <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 12pt;"> remained in refined condition. Much has rested in the Tower, much has been discovered, but much should have been left alone.

<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 12pt;"> Information sites: <span style="color: blue; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 12pt;"> [] <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 12pt;"> Gillingham, John. "Tower of London." __World Book 2001 encyclopedia.__ Chicago: World Book Inc, 2001. <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 12pt;"> Shuttlesworth, Dorothy E. __The Tower of London.__ New York: Hastings House, 1970. **<span style="color: blue; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13.5pt;">Back to the Encyclopedia of the Middle Ages **