The ravens of the Tower of London are a group of captive Common Ravens which live in the Tower of London. The group of ravens at the Tower comprises at least seven individuals (six required, with a seventh in reserve). The presence of the ravens is traditionally believed to protect the Crown and the Tower; a superstition holds that "If the Tower of London ravens are lost or fly away, the Crown will fall and Britain with it."
Historically, wild ravens were common throughout Britain, even in towns, the Tower being within their natural range. When they were exterminated from much of their traditional range, including London, they could only persist at the Tower in captivity, and with official support. Local legend puts the origin of the captive raven population at the time of King Charles II (reigned 1660–1685); however, historians believe that the "Tower's raven mythology is likely to be a Victorian flight of fantasy
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