Ever since reading the novel by Sharon Penman "The Sunne in Splendour", I have been geekily obsessed with the story of Richard III and was even in the 'Richard III society' for a time.
Whilst the novel was a somewhat romanticised take on a particularly brutal, bloody and corrupt period in the Middle Ages, I have always been of the opinion that ole Rich was treated pretty harshly by history, particularly thanks to Shakespeare who jumped upon the slanderous stories created by the Tudors after Richard's defeat and death at the hands of Henry VII at the battle of Bosworth field in 1485 and painted him in a particularly black light. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying he was innocence personified, but this was a dangerous and tumultuous period in history where nothing was as it seemed and today's rules didn't always apply, due to a lack of the laws and regulations that govern today's society and the rules of right and wrong somewhat open to interpretation.
The news this week that the bones found under a Leicester car park are most likely those of Richard III is just amazing and if i'm completely honest, gives me a warm and happy feeling, that at last this tormented King can be laid to rest and that one mystery surrounding the life and death of Richard III has been solved.
To find out more about this fascinating story and period of British history, check out this page and follow the various links:
Z. x
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