King Richard III - remains found under car park

The medieval King Richard III "may" have been found 527 years after his death. Archaeologists have announced they have unearthed what appear to be the remains of Richard III under a social services department car park in Leicester.  It was thought he was buried in a local friary after being killed during the Battle of Bosworth Field in 1485.

"There has been a lot of debate on almost every aspect of Richard III's life, appearance, personality and death" said historian John Ashdown Hill, whose book "The Last Days of Richard III" explores the final 150 days of the king's life before he was killed in battle. "The remains won't clarify everything, but they will be part of the process of getting back to original, authentic, documentary evidence rather than being misled by the propaganda that spread after his death" he said.

The propaganda he refers to was propagated by Shakespeare in his 16th century play "Richard III". He portrayed the monarch as a power-hungry scoundrel, who murdered anyone (including his two nephews) who stood in the way of his thirst for power.  Richard, who ruled for two years until his death, is cast as Shakespeare's anti-hero, "deformed and unfinished," with a hunchback and withered arm -- attributes synonymous with witchery in medieval England. He described Richard as small and dark, taking inspiration from Sir Thomas More's damning 1513 account "The History of King Richard III." That image may be shattered by these new found remains...

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/archaeology/news/richard-iiis-remains-found-under-car-park-in-leicester-8126149.html

More info. on Richard III @ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_III_of_England