Dominic Mancini
Encyclopedia
Dominic Mancini was an Italian
who visited England
in 1482, left in 1483 and left behind an account of the events he witnessed. He called it: De Occupatione Regni Anglie per Riccardum Tercium (The Occupation of the Throne of England by Richard III
).
and also his doctor and astrologer
. Although some historians think Mancini arrived in England at the end of 1482, others believe he got there just before Edward IV
died (9 April 1483). He returned to France
in July some time between the coronation of Richard III
on (6 July 1483), before the princes
disappeared, and the delivery of his report in December. It is not clear how much English Mancini understood, and much of what was happening in England while he was there had to be translated to him. A possible source was Dr John Argentine
, an opponent of Richard who became a member of Henry Tudor's court once he became Henry VII
and who spoke Italian. Argentine was the doctor who was treating the elder prince, Edward V
, while he was in the Tower and is one of the last persons known to have seen the two princes alive.
Mancini's report was lost for centuries but was discovered in the Municipal Library in Lille
, France, in 1934. Mancini never met King Richard, but he did not hesitate to repeat the gossip
that was current about the activities of the royal family. He did not say that Richard had murdered his nephews, merely that there was a "suspicion" they had been done away with. Guillaume de Rochefort, Lord Chancellor of France, who repeated the rumour in the Estates-General
in Tours
in January 1484, adding that Richard III had "massacred" the princes and then been given the crown "by the will of the people", may have obtained his information from Mancini's report. This intelligence was used as an excuse by the French for assisting Henry Tudor
's invasion.
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
who visited England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
in 1482, left in 1483 and left behind an account of the events he witnessed. He called it: De Occupatione Regni Anglie per Riccardum Tercium (The Occupation of the Throne of England by Richard III
Richard III of England
Richard III was King of England for two years, from 1483 until his death in 1485 during the Battle of Bosworth Field. He was the last king of the House of York and the last of the Plantagenet dynasty...
).
Purpose of work
Mancini's purpose was probably to spy on behalf of Angelo Cato, Archbishop of Vienne, one of the counselors of King Louis XI of FranceLouis XI of France
Louis XI , called the Prudent , was the King of France from 1461 to 1483. He was the son of Charles VII of France and Mary of Anjou, a member of the House of Valois....
and also his doctor and astrologer
Astrologer
An astrologer practices one or more forms of astrology. Typically an astrologer draws a horoscope for the time of an event, such as a person's birth, and interprets celestial points and their placements at the time of the event to better understand someone, determine the auspiciousness of an...
. Although some historians think Mancini arrived in England at the end of 1482, others believe he got there just before Edward IV
Edward IV of England
Edward IV was King of England from 4 March 1461 until 3 October 1470, and again from 11 April 1471 until his death. He was the first Yorkist King of England...
died (9 April 1483). He returned to France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
in July some time between the coronation of Richard III
Richard III of England
Richard III was King of England for two years, from 1483 until his death in 1485 during the Battle of Bosworth Field. He was the last king of the House of York and the last of the Plantagenet dynasty...
on (6 July 1483), before the princes
Princes in the Tower
The Princes in the Tower is a term which refers to Edward V of England and Richard of Shrewsbury, 1st Duke of York. The two brothers were the only sons of Edward IV of England and Elizabeth Woodville alive at the time of their father's death...
disappeared, and the delivery of his report in December. It is not clear how much English Mancini understood, and much of what was happening in England while he was there had to be translated to him. A possible source was Dr John Argentine
John Argentine
John Argentine was an English physician who attended Edward V of England and later Arthur, Prince of Wales and was Provost of King's College, Cambridge .-Life:...
, an opponent of Richard who became a member of Henry Tudor's court once he became Henry VII
Henry VII of England
Henry VII was King of England and Lord of Ireland from his seizing the crown on 22 August 1485 until his death on 21 April 1509, as the first monarch of the House of Tudor....
and who spoke Italian. Argentine was the doctor who was treating the elder prince, Edward V
Edward V of England
Edward V was King of England from 9 April 1483 until his deposition two months later. His reign was dominated by the influence of his uncle Richard, Duke of Gloucester, who succeeded him as Richard III...
, while he was in the Tower and is one of the last persons known to have seen the two princes alive.
Mancini's report was lost for centuries but was discovered in the Municipal Library in Lille
Lille
Lille is a city in northern France . It is the principal city of the Lille Métropole, the fourth-largest metropolitan area in the country behind those of Paris, Lyon and Marseille. Lille is situated on the Deûle River, near France's border with Belgium...
, France, in 1934. Mancini never met King Richard, but he did not hesitate to repeat the gossip
Gossip
Gossip is idle talk or rumour, especially about the personal or private affairs of others, It is one of the oldest and most common means of sharing facts and views, but also has a reputation for the introduction of errors and variations into the information transmitted...
that was current about the activities of the royal family. He did not say that Richard had murdered his nephews, merely that there was a "suspicion" they had been done away with. Guillaume de Rochefort, Lord Chancellor of France, who repeated the rumour in the Estates-General
French States-General
In France under the Old Regime, the States-General or Estates-General , was a legislative assembly of the different classes of French subjects. It had a separate assembly for each of the three estates, which were called and dismissed by the king...
in Tours
Tours
Tours is a city in central France, the capital of the Indre-et-Loire department.It is located on the lower reaches of the river Loire, between Orléans and the Atlantic coast. Touraine, the region around Tours, is known for its wines, the alleged perfection of its local spoken French, and for the...
in January 1484, adding that Richard III had "massacred" the princes and then been given the crown "by the will of the people", may have obtained his information from Mancini's report. This intelligence was used as an excuse by the French for assisting Henry Tudor
Henry VII of England
Henry VII was King of England and Lord of Ireland from his seizing the crown on 22 August 1485 until his death on 21 April 1509, as the first monarch of the House of Tudor....
's invasion.
Works
- Mancini, Dominic, The Usurpation of Richard the Third, (C.A.J. Armstrong, translator), Sutton Publishing (1984) ISBN 0862991358