Founded by William the Conqueror in 1066, the Tower of London has served as a royal palace, a fortress, and a notorious prison. The 'White Tower' at its center was built to strike fear into the local population and protect the newly crowned King. One of the most famous legends involves the 'Ravens of the Tower'; a decree by King Charles II states that if the ravens ever leave the Tower, the Kingdom and the Tower will fall. To this day, seven ravens are kept on-site with their wings clipped. The Tower is also the home of the Crown Jewels, which are guarded by the Yeoman Warders, popularly known as 'Beefeaters.' While it became synonymous with execution, only 22 people were actually executed inside the Tower walls over its 1,000-year history, most occurring on the nearby Tower Hill.