The Duke of Buckingham, who was always referred to as Buckingham’s cousin by Richard, Duke of Gloucester, undoubtedly played a major role in Shakespeare’s play of the same name, Richard III. Buckingham was a devoted and loyal confidante to Richard. His mission was to bring Richard to the throne as king. Both conspired to that end. He complied with Richard’s orders and requests. If not, he would find someone else to complete the job. Richard, Duke of Gloucester, was eventually crowned King Richard III.

One must then ask: “Why was Buckingham executed by Richard III?” One possible answer is that Richard seemed to be the type of person who would leave no stone unturned. He also left no witnesses. He removed any possible trace or link that would lead to him as the person who ordered someone’s murder or death. He did not want such actions to affect him when he was crowned king.

Another potential answer is this, when Richard was crowned king, he once again ordered Buckingham to remove a prince. Buckingham was apparently depressed and did not carry out the order. To add insult to injury, he skipped Richard III and joined the rebel forces against him fighting in the fields. He was hunted down, captured, imprisoned, and executed by order of Richard III.

Why was there a turning point for Buckingham? Why would a man so loyal to his cousin Richard, before he was crowned king, now turn against him once Richard III was crowned king? He was tired of being a tool for Richard to use to eliminate people? Did he feel that his time had come and that he would be next because he knew Richard’s mode of operation?

Also, why was Richard so loyally dependent on his cousin, Buckingham, before he was crowned king, give him all the praise, give him authority to act on his behalf, and now, after being crowned king, turn against him? Did Richard want it out of his way, too? Was Buckingham now seen as a threat to Richard III as his cousin, now that Richard is king? One must wonder!

With Richard III eliminating everyone close to the throne, he ensured that no one would get the throne except himself. By securing his position, was she now afraid of his cousin Buckingham who may be too close to the throne? Note that a cousin could also become next in line to the throne by virtue of the death of others, as in this case. Buckingham had the opportunity and motivation to be king; however, he never made it to the top. His last words to the jailer before his beheading were: “Now you can take me to shame block!”