Remains confirmed as King Richard III

Battle over Richard III's remains
The remains of Richard III were found in a car park in Leicester in 2013

Archaelogists have revealed that an age-old skeleton found buried beneath a social services car park in Leicester is that of Richard III who was killed in battle in 1485

Richard III remains in car park leicesterIn a monumental discovery which rewrites the history books, the skeleton of the last of the Plantagenet kings was identified by DNA analysis after researchers traced his living descendants. The team from Leicester University set out to trace the site of the old church and its precincts, including the site where Richard was finally laid to rest.

Richard III was a royal prince until the death of his brother Edward IV in 1483. Appointed as protector of his nephew, Edward V, Richard instead assumed the reins of power. Edward and his brother Richard, known as the Princes in the Tower, disappeared soon after. Rumours circulated they had been murdered on the orders of their uncle.

Richard III reigned as King of England for two years from 1483 to 1485, and was famously immortalised by Shakespeare as a hunchbacked-tyrant. The King died in 1485 during the Battle of Bosworth, where he was challenged and defeated by  Henry Tudor.

According to historical records, his body was taken 15 miles to Leicester where it was displayed as proof of his death before being given a hurried burial in the Franciscan friary.

However, thousands are now calling for the remains of Richard III to be reinterred at York Minster, with 8,000 people signing an e-petition in support of the campaign.

The terms of the exhumation licence mean the king’s remains will be reinterred at Leicester Cathedral unless a legal challenge against it is mounted.

What do you think? Should the remains be buried in York Minster? Have your say in the comments box below!

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