King Richard III of England Remains
Scientists at the University of Leicester announced on Feb. 4 that a skeleton unearthed in September of 2012 had, after extensive testing, been determined to be that of King Richard III of England.
The remains had been buried under a council parking lot in the British city of Leicester, under the former site of the Greyfriars Friary. The body had been buried without a coffin in a hole too small for it, in a position suggesting the hands had been tied. This corresponds with records of Richard’s death in 1485, where he was slain by Tudor forces at the Battle of Bosworth.
The skeleton’s condition supports this as well. In addition to having suffered at least 10 injuries before death (eight being head wounds; two of which would have been fatal), there is evidence of numerous additional “humiliation injuries” inflicted after death. Records state the body was mutilated and presented for public viewing, before being “irreverently buried” beneath a church in Leicester.
The Richard III Society has expressed enthusiasm over the find, having commissioned a reconstruction of Richard’s head from the University of Dundee.
The society is hoping that the discovery will cause people to become more interested in Richard III and reject his popularly held negative image, which they allege to be the product of Tudor propaganda. The group has also expressed dismay at the British government’s decision to inter Richard’s body in Leicester, as opposed to his native York.
About The Author
Always a great achievement when a piece of history is rediscovered. I am captivated by the past and think it would be thrilling to be a part of findings such as this.