The Tower of London has played a prominent role in English history. It was besieged several times, and controlling it has been important to controlling the country. The Tower has served variously as an armoury, a treasury, a menagerie, the home of the Royal Mint, a public record office, and the home of the Crown Jewels of England. From the early 14th century until the reign of Charles II in the 17th century, the monarch would traditionally prepare for several nights at the Tower, and lead a procession from there to Westminster Abbey for their coronation. In the absence of the monarch, the Constable of the Tower was in charge of the castle. This was a powerful and trusted position in the medieval period. In the late 15th century, the Princes in the Tower were housed at the castle when they mysteriously disappeared, presumed murdered. Under the Tudors, the Tower became used less as a royal residence, and despite attempts to refortify and repair the castle, its defences lagged behind developments to deal with artillery.
The Tower of London has played a prominent role in English history It was besieged several times and controlling it has been important to controlling the country The Tower has served variously as an armoury a treasury a menagerie the home of the Royal Mint a public record office and the home of the Crown Jewels of England From the early 14th century until the reign of Charles II in the 17th century the monarch would traditionally prepare for several nights at the Tower and lead a procession from there to Westminster Abbey for their coronation In the absence of the monarch the Constable of the Tower was in charge of the castle This was a powerful and trusted position in the medieval period In the late 15th century the Princes in the Tower were housed at the castle when they mysteriously disappeared presumed murdered Under the Tudors the Tower became used less as a royal residence and despite attempts to refortify and repair the castle its defences lagged behind developments to deal with artillery