Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Richard III found?

Archaeologists from the University of Leicester believe they may have found the remains of King Richard III (1452-1485), the last English king to die in battle.  I am unsure whether Richard III has been unfairly maligned regarding the mysterious fate of his unfortunate nephews, but this looks like a remarkable archaeological achievement nonetheless. Visiting the Bosworth Battlefield site this summer, including the well from which Richard allegedly took his last drink, was a moving experience.  In retrospect it was there, with Richard, that the English Middle Ages ended and the early modern era began (whether for good or ill) with the accession of the Tudors and all that their reigns would mean for English identity, culture, politics and religion.  It's perhaps with that in mind that Ed West suggests a state burial in London if the remains are indeed his.  (Update 19 Sept: Chris Skidmore MP elaborates; Gareth Russell demurs.)





1 comment:

Flambeaux said...

Rather Providentially, Elena Maria Vidal had this link about the possible fates of the two princes over at Tea at Trianon this week.

http://teaattrianon.blogspot.com/2012/09/what-happened-to-princes-in-tower.html