legendary in its obscurity King Richard III was not a hunchback, researchers found
descendants of the last king of the dynasty of the British Yorks (a branch of the Plantagenets) – Richard III – significantly distorted his appearance. Scientists from the University of Cambridge and Leicester, examining found two years ago the remains of the monarch, refuted the conventional version, according to which he had a hump and other severe physical flaws. The results of the будут published in the Lancet on May 31.
remains of a man whose death in 1485 put an end to the war of the Roses, archaeologists found only in the autumn of 2012. According to legend, who died in battle, Richard III supporters prevailed the Lancaster was buried without honors at the Franciscan monastery. According to one version, in the XVI century the body was thrown into the river, on the other – the monks saved it.
Following the second version, in August 2012 a group of British archaeologists began excavations on the site of the municipal car park in Leicester and soon found the ruins monastery, and then the deceased monarch. That the body belongs to Richard III, confirmed the genetic examination. Tomb King opened scientists previously unknown details of his death.
As it turned out, the monarch was buried in a hurry and very unceremoniously: his body was buried without a coffin and shroud even in a narrow shallow grave, not suitable for the growth of the king. Hands of the deceased were related. It was also found that Richard III received several wounds in his last battle of Bosworth, and after the death of his detractors mocked corpse (historical chronicles knew that naked body of the dead were taken to the streets of Leicester).
That The study also confirmed that Richard III was suffering from scoliosis. Later, in September 2013, scientists from the universities of Cambridge and Leicester сообщили, that the life of the monarch was infected roundworm Ascaris. The latter was rather a compliment royal chefs: getting to know the time of a full range of meat parasites, including tapeworms. That King “caught” only roundworms, says quality thermal processing of food.
« Portrait of Richard III », by an unknown artist. Source: National Portrait Gallery
Appearance monarch, however, remained an enigma: the earliest portrait of him extant, was written 35 years after his death. By the time the new Tudor dynasty (founded by King Henry VII of the House of Lancaster) already being engaged in “debunking the cult of personality.” Loser Richard III court historians have described as a bloody tyrant, disfigured many ailments. The image of “lopsided toad” and “hunchback” entrenched him after William Shakespeare’s play “Richard III».
To confirm or disprove this legend, researchers from the Universities of Cambridge and Leicester held 3D-reconstruction of the spine of the monarch. The diagnosis of “scoliosis” confirmed: scientists have documented a deviation to the right of the ridge at 65-85 degrees and twisting spiral. However, as noted in the work, it was a “balanced bend”: Richard III would not be difficult to conceal under clothing ailment or armor.
No hump, no lameness, which attributed to the King descendants, the researchers found. The head and neck of the monarch were oriented vertically. Judging by the participation of Richard III in many battles, not flaws hampered his movements. The only thing that could be seen outside observer, this small difference in shoulder height and length of the housing relative to small hands and feet.
Richard III rules just three years – from 1483 to 1485 minutes. During this time he managed to survive two major uprisings, but lost to Henry Tudor at the Battle of Bosworth – technically, the penultimate in the War of the Roses, but the outcome has already been decided. Henry VII had not formally rights to claim the throne, so the formation of special importance attached “correct” version of his victory over Richard. Even chroniclers of life in praising him as a just ruler and the author conceived laws later radically changed its position.
Discovered in 2012, the body of Richard III is захоронено in the Cathedral of Leicester, despite requesting descendants move to the grave “family nest Dynasty” – York.
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