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From: Martin Reboul <>
Subject: Re: Was Richard III Inbred?
Date: Thu, 23 Aug 2001 03:40:11 +0100
References: <slFg7.193$vg6.6405@eagle.america.net>, <8ed1b63.0108221513.4a91c9f@posting.google.com>




Brad Verity wrote:.

> The one I've always suspected of suffering physical consequences of
> inbreeding is Edward, Earl of Warwick. His parents were first
> cousins, and each were the product of so much cross-breeding
> themselves. Edward was reputed to have been mentally handicapped.

I wondered about him too. The few pictures that exist show a rather odd
looking fellow, 'stupid looking' it could be said. His Dad showed definite
signs of instability, and although Isobel his mother looked and appeared to be
allright, there were far too many cross connections between the 'top families'
at that time to be 'healthy' in my view.

I still tend to think that descriptions of him as 'a simpleton' were probably
more due to the fact that he was incarcerated for most of his life, never
properly tutored to my knowledge, and probably rather poorly fed and treated
too.

Henry VI's 'insanity' was often blamed on his Valois blood - I doubt that. It
was the result of a sensitive boy being brought up in an unstable atmosphere
of paranoia, fear and mistrust. And bloodshed! He was just a nervous wreck.

> It's possible Edward, Prince of Wales, son of Richard III, also
> suffered physical consequences of inbreeding. Richard III married his
> first cousin, sister to Edward of Warwick's mother. If I remember
> correctly, Richard III's son died as a youth of some illness.

He did. It was sudden and unexpected too - he's buried in Sherrif Hutton
church, and a very careful Post Mortem is called for in my opinion, together
with a facial reconstruction if possible! But then I'm a curious, somewhat
morbid fellow, with little respect for the dead - though more than the people
who have defaced his effigy over the centuries!

> Lucky for her descendants, Margaret, Countess of Salisbury, took the
> extremely obscure Richard Pole as her husband and brought some "fresh
> blood" in.

And the Plantagenets vanished forever shortly after that! Perhaps it brought
some sense along with it?
Cheers
Martin

>

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