Tower of London

The Tower of London is one of the main symbols of Great Britain, which occupies a special place in the history of the English nation.

The Tower, a fortress on the north bank of the Thames, is the historic center of London and one of the oldest buildings in England. As the Duke of Edinburgh wrote in his book dedicated to the 900th anniversary of the Tower, “during its history, the Tower of London was a fortress, palace, repository of royal jewels, an arsenal, a mint, a prison, an observatory, a zoo, a place that attracts tourists.” The foundation of the Tower is attributed to William I. After the Norman conquest of England, William I began to build defensive castles to intimidate the conquered Anglo-Saxons. The Tower became one of the largest in 1078. The Tower acquired its reputation as a sinister place of torture during the Reformation. Henry VIII, obsessed with the desire to have an heir son, broke off all relations with the Roman Catholic Church and began to persecute all who refused to recognize him as the head of the Church of England. After Henry's second wife, Anne Boleyn, was unable to give birth to his son, the king accused her of treason and adultery. As a result, Anna, her brother and four other persons were beheaded in the Tower. The same fate befell Catherine Howard, Henry's fifth wife. Many royalty who posed a threat to the English throne were escorted to the Tower and then executed. The Tower acquired its reputation as a sinister place of torture during the Reformation. Henry VIII, obsessed with the desire to have an heir son, broke off all relations with the Roman Catholic Church and began to persecute all who refused to recognize him as the head of the Church of England. After Henry's second wife, Anne Boleyn, was unable to give birth to his son, the king accused her of treason and adultery. As a result, Anna, her brother and four other persons were beheaded in the Tower. The same fate befell Catherine Howard, Henry's fifth wife. Many royalty who posed a threat to the English throne were escorted to the Tower and then executed. Today, the Tower of London is one of the main attractions of Great Britain. It hasn't changed much since the past. A symbol of the Tower's sinister past is the site of the former Tower Hill scaffold. Now there is a small memorial plaque in memory of the "tragic fate and sometimes martyrdom of those who risked their lives and died in the name of faith, homeland and ideals." Currently, the main buildings of the Tower are the museum and the Armory, where the treasures of the British crown are kept; officially continues to be considered one of the royal residences. The Tower also has a number of private apartments, which are mainly occupied by service staff and distinguished guests.