British scientists studying the DNA of the remains of king Richard III Plantagenet, discovered in 2012 on the site of friary of Grey Friars friary in Leicester, known as the last resting place of Richard III.
Richard III, brother of the previous king Edward IV ruled England in the years 1483-1485, coinciding with the end of the wars of the Roses. With his death 32 years old and the accession of Henry VII, practically ended the war for the English crown between the houses of York (white rose on the family emblem) and Lancaster (red rose). The king lost to the Welsh in the battle of Basware and fell in battle. Richard III also marked the end of the dynasty of Plantagenets without an heir.
King, who became the hero of the eponymous play by William Shakespeare, left a bad name, he is remembered in literature and history as a treacherous hunchback, on whose conscience death of his nephews, brother, wife and other relatives. Shakespeare led him also lustful and cynical.
According to a report published in the journal Nature communications, recreated the portrait of Richard really had disorders of the musculoskeletal apparatus – one-shoulder of the king was higher than the other, scoliosis it was pronounced, while walking he was limping. The king’s hair was blond and his eyes blue.
Richard took the throne after the removal from it of Edward V, the infant son of his brother, after the recognition of his mother’s marriage with the king null and void (entered into prior to the dissolution). The irony lies in the fact that the above-mentioned study of DNA Richard says it is unlikely the paternity of Richard II (or “stutter” direct male line of the dynasty), whereas motherhood Cecilia Neville and genetics in the female line are not in dispute.
// London// 03/12/2014, Source: Nature Communication
