Experts find remains of British King Richard III

LEICESTER, England - The Associated Press

The remains of British King Richard III were found under a parking lot. AP photo

Scientists say they have found the 500-year-old remains of England’s King Richard III under a parking lot in the city of Leicester.

University of Leicester researchers say tests on a battle-scarred skeleton unearthed last year prove “beyond reasonable doubt” that it is the king, who died at the Battle of Bosworth Field in 1485, and whose remains have been missing for centuries.

“Richard III, the last Plantaganet King of England,” has been found,” said the university’s deputy registrar, Richard Taylor.

Osteologist Jo Appleby said yesterday that the study of the bones provided “a highly convincing case for identification of Richard III.” And DNA from the skeleton matches a sample taken from a distant living relative of Richard’s sister. The last English monarch to die in battle, Richard was depicted in a play by William Shakespeare as a hunchbacked usurper who left a trail of bodies, including those of his two princely nephews, murdered in the Tower of London - on his way to the throne.

Many historians say that image is unfair, and argue Richard’s reputation was smeared by his Tudor successors. That’s an argument taken up by the Richard III Society, set up to re-evaluate the reputation of a reviled monarch.

“It will be a whole new era for Richard III,” the society’s Lynda Pidgeon said. “Hopefully people will have a more open mind toward Richard.”

Richard III ruled England between 1483 and 1485. His rule was challenged, and he was defeated and killed at the Battle of Bosworth Field by the army of Henry Tudor, who took the throne as King Henry VII.