Dominic Mancini facts for kids

Dominic Mancini was an Italian monk who visited England a long time ago, in 1482 and 1483. He saw important events happening that led to Richard III becoming King of England. After he left, he wrote a special report about everything he witnessed. This report is a very important source of information about that time in history. For many years, it was lost and unread in a library in France, but it was found again in 1934.

Dominic Mancini's Journey and Report

Dominic Mancini was an Italian monk. He came to England in either late 1482 or early 1483. This was just before King Edward IV died on April 9, 1483. Mancini wrote his report for Angelo Cato, who was an important advisor to the King of France.

Mancini left England sometime between July 6, 1483, and December of the same year. He left after Richard III's coronation but before the young princes disappeared. His report was called De Occupatione Regni Anglie per Riccardum Tercium. This means 'The Occupation of the Throne of England by Richard III'.

What Mancini Saw in England

Mancini witnessed the events that led to Richard III being offered the English crown. He wrote about the changes in power after King Edward IV died. He also mentioned the rumors about what happened to the young princes. These princes were King Edward IV's sons. They were known as the Princes in the Tower.

How Mancini Got His Information

It is not clear how well Mancini understood English. Much of what he learned in England had to be translated for him. One person who might have helped him was Dr. John Argentine. Dr. Argentine spoke Italian and was a doctor for the elder prince, Edward V, while he was in the Tower of London. Dr. Argentine is one of the last people known to have seen the two princes alive.

Mancini's report included the stories and rumors that were common at the time. These included the idea that Richard's nephews had been harmed.

Why Mancini's Report Matters

Mancini's report was lost for hundreds of years. It was finally found in a library in Lille, France, in 1934. Even though Mancini probably never met King Richard, his report shared the gossip and suspicions of the time.

For example, Guillaume de Rochefort, an important French official, repeated these rumors in January 1484. He said that Richard III had caused the princes to disappear and then taken the crown. He might have learned this from Mancini's report. The French government later used this information as a reason to help Henry Tudor invade England. This shows how important Mancini's lost report became once it was rediscovered.