Dominic Mancini

About the Author

Dominic Mancini was a 15th-century Italian scholar and diplomat whose keen observations of English politics during the turbulent reign of Edward IV and the rise of Richard III provide invaluable insights into one of history's most debated periods. Serving as an envoy in the court of Louis XI of France, Mancini traveled to England in 1482-1483, where he gathered firsthand accounts from courtiers and eyewitnesses to the dramatic events following Edward's death, including the mysterious disappearance of the Princes in the Tower. His seminal work, 'The Usurpation of Richard the Third,' written shortly after his return to the continent, remains a cornerstone of Tudor historiography, offering a continental perspective on the Wars of the Roses and the foundations of the Tudor dynasty. Though Mancini's life details are sparse, his narrative blends diplomatic acumen with historical analysis, influencing later chroniclers like Thomas More and shaping modern understandings of medieval power struggles.