# What do you think the Brits will do if they find Richard III's remains? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 13, 2012, 12:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-the-brits-will-do-if-they-find-richard-iiis-remains/634591 "2012-09-13T12:10:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2013, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-the-brits-will-do-if-they-find-richard-iiis-remains/634591/61 "2013-02-04T15:59:30Z")
> [@GIGObuster](#): > > Update: it was confirmed that it was Richard III: > > [http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/05/world/europe/richard-the-third-bones.html?\_r=0](http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/05/world/europe/richard-the-third-bones.html?_r=0) > > What they plan to do now is: Interesting that one of his descendants wishes to remain anonymous. Dude had a bad rep. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2013, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-the-brits-will-do-if-they-find-richard-iiis-remains/634591/62 "2013-02-04T16:36:22Z")
keep the bones where they were and make tons of money for the fees charged for parking on the king. either spread the bones out (one per parking space with a differential fee for the bone parked on) or leave him whole and unknown within the lot so that people would need to try every space to be sure they parked on him. sell bumper stickers; “i ran over the king”. ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2013, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-the-brits-will-do-if-they-find-richard-iiis-remains/634591/63 "2013-02-04T16:59:16Z")
I understand that the plan is to re-bury him in Leicester Cathedral – presumably where there already is a [memorial for him](http://www.flickr.com/photos/75905404@N00/293450152/), which would need to be reworded. ---
**Author:** ![ZenBeam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/3ab097/32.png) [@ZenBeam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZenBeam)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2013, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-the-brits-will-do-if-they-find-richard-iiis-remains/634591/64 "2013-02-04T17:13:23Z")
> [@GIGObuster](#): > > Update: it was confirmed that it was Richard III: > > [http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/05/world/europe/richard-the-third-bones.html?\_r=0](http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/05/world/europe/richard-the-third-bones.html?_r=0) The vertebrae in the [accompanying picture](http://www.nytimes.com/imagepages/2013/02/04/world/04Richard_cnd.html) are arranged in a very serpentine curve. Can they tell they would have been that curved when he was alive, or are they exaggerating the curvature for the image? ---
**Author:** ![APB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8e8cbc/32.png) [@APB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/APB)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2013, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-the-brits-will-do-if-they-find-richard-iiis-remains/634591/65 "2013-02-04T17:44:55Z")
> [@Giles](#): > > I understand that the plan is to re-bury him in Leicester Cathedral – presumably where there already is a [memorial for him](http://www.flickr.com/photos/75905404@N00/293450152/), which would need to be reworded. The current memorial is in the middle of the chancel, which - as was the case at Greyfriars - is a more than suitable location for a royal burial. But not exactly convenient if the Richard III Society want to erect a large monument over it. And I rather suspect that the Ricardians’ instincts won’t be for any tastefully restrained option. ---
**Author:** ![ZenBeam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/3ab097/32.png) [@ZenBeam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZenBeam)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2013, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-the-brits-will-do-if-they-find-richard-iiis-remains/634591/66 "2013-02-04T17:54:22Z")
> [@ZenBeam](#): > > The vertebrae in the [accompanying picture](http://www.nytimes.com/imagepages/2013/02/04/world/04Richard_cnd.html) are arranged in a very serpentine curve. Can they tell they would have been that curved when he was alive, or are they exaggerating the curvature for the image? From an [article at ScienceDaily](http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130204094610.htm): > [@](#): > > The individual had a slender physique and **severe scoliosis** – a curvature of the spine – possibly with one shoulder visibly higher than the other. From an [article at NewScientist](http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn23132-leicesters-winter-made-glorious-by-richard-iii.html): > [@](#): > > Was Richard blackened by Tudor propaganda as an evil, deformed king (in the days when the royal personage had to be physically perfect), or did he, as the archaeological evidence apparently shows, suffer from a **mild spinal sclerosis**? …sigh… ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2013, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-the-brits-will-do-if-they-find-richard-iiis-remains/634591/67 "2013-02-04T17:57:02Z")
What’s the deal with his body getting lost in the first place? Cause he was killed during battle and they didn’t have the opportunity to get it back? ---
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2013, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-the-brits-will-do-if-they-find-richard-iiis-remains/634591/68 "2013-02-04T18:01:32Z")
> [@YogSosoth](#): > > What’s the deal with his body getting lost in the first place? Cause he was killed during battle and they didn’t have the opportunity to get it back? He was buried at a church after the battle. The church was destroyed during the Dissolution of the Monastaries, and apparently whatever marker had been set up was destroyed at the same time. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2013, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-the-brits-will-do-if-they-find-richard-iiis-remains/634591/69 "2013-02-04T18:01:54Z")
He should probably be buried on a horse. ---
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2013, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-the-brits-will-do-if-they-find-richard-iiis-remains/634591/70 "2013-02-04T18:04:18Z")
> [@Chimera](#): > > He should probably be buried on a horse. Meh, we’ve already got the Kingdom ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2013, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-the-brits-will-do-if-they-find-richard-iiis-remains/634591/71 "2013-02-04T18:08:38Z")
> [@YogSosoth](#): > > What’s the deal with his body getting lost in the first place? Cause he was killed during battle and they didn’t have the opportunity to get it back? Well, Richard lost the Battle of Bosworth Field, and any surviving supporters would have scattered, trying to save themselves. The supporters of Henry Tudor, Earl of Richmond, who had won the battle, would have had no love for the former king, and no interest in giving him a decent Christian burial. ---
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2013, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-the-brits-will-do-if-they-find-richard-iiis-remains/634591/72 "2013-02-04T18:11:24Z")
> [@Giles](#): > > Well, Richard lost the Battle of Bosworth Field, and any surviving supporters would have scattered, trying to save themselves. The supporters of Henry Tudor, Earl of Richmond, who had won the battle, would have had no love for the former king, and no interest in giving him a decent Christian burial. He was buried in a Church. ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2013, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-the-brits-will-do-if-they-find-richard-iiis-remains/634591/73 "2013-02-04T18:21:35Z")
> [@Simplicio](#): > > He was buried in a Church. Right. but it’s not clear that he was buried shortly after the battle. The traditional story is that he was thrown into the River Soar: it may be that the Grey Friars retrieved the body some time later and buried it in their church. ---
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2013, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-the-brits-will-do-if-they-find-richard-iiis-remains/634591/74 "2013-02-04T18:34:12Z")
> [@Giles](#): > > Right. but it’s not clear that he was buried shortly after the battle. The traditional story is that he was thrown into the River Soar: it may be that the Grey Friars retrieved the body some time later and buried it in their church. The tradition was that his body was thrown into the river _during the Dissolution_, some 50 years after he was buried. It’s always been known he was originally buried at Greyfriars by Henry, and Henry VII even apparently built him a marker of some sort that was attested by multiple sources. ---
**Author:** ![SanVito](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sanvito/32/2805_2.png) [@SanVito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanVito)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2013, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-the-brits-will-do-if-they-find-richard-iiis-remains/634591/75 "2013-02-04T19:35:53Z")
> [@Simplicio](#): > > The tradition was that his body was thrown into the river _during the Dissolution_, some 50 years after he was buried. It’s always been known he was originally buried at Greyfriars by Henry, and Henry VII even apparently built him a marker of some sort that was attested by multiple sources. Quite. And the ‘tossing his body in the river’ rumor is shown to be a lie by this discovery. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2013, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-the-brits-will-do-if-they-find-richard-iiis-remains/634591/76 "2013-02-04T19:59:02Z")
With regards to the reburial, I do hope they go the full monty. I love watching pomp and pageantry. If nothing else, they could do with a rehearsal for the funerals of Prince Philip and Mrs Thatcher. As for him being an evil child-murderer of a King, well yes, but he was **our** evil child-murderer of a King IYSWIM. ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2013, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-the-brits-will-do-if-they-find-richard-iiis-remains/634591/77 "2013-02-04T22:39:14Z")
> [@SanVito](#): > > Quite. And the ‘tossing his body in the river’ rumor is shown to be a lie by this discovery. Doesn’t mean that the smash and burn crew didn’t toss _someones_ body into the river. I don’t think literacy was high on the list of required skills for them. The monks could have pulled up and switched the stone flagging under which bodies tended to be buried [if there were enough loyalists there.] ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2013, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-the-brits-will-do-if-they-find-richard-iiis-remains/634591/78 "2013-02-04T23:43:09Z")
What sort of genetic analysis can match someone living today with a 15th century ancestor? It doesn’t sound like they had y-chromosome data, and I don’t think mt-DNA analysis would be anywhere near “conclusive”. The y-chromosome analysis that was used on Sally Hemings descendants only worked because Jefferson had a very unusual y-chromosome. ---
**Author:** ![Koxinga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4af34b/32.png) [@Koxinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Koxinga)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2013, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-the-brits-will-do-if-they-find-richard-iiis-remains/634591/79 "2013-02-05T00:03:29Z")
Maybe they’ll toss them in a river, and do it _right_ this time! ---
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2013, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-the-brits-will-do-if-they-find-richard-iiis-remains/634591/80 "2013-02-05T02:04:10Z")
> [@ZenBeam](#): > > The vertebrae in the [accompanying picture](http://www.nytimes.com/imagepages/2013/02/04/world/04Richard_cnd.html) are arranged in a very serpentine curve. Can they tell they would have been that curved when he was alive, or are they exaggerating the curvature for the image? More naked pictures of the royals? Will the Paparazzi ever leave the royal family alone!? > [@John Mace](#): > > What sort of genetic analysis can match someone living today with a 15th century ancestor? It doesn’t sound like they had y-chromosome data, and I don’t think mt-DNA analysis would be anywhere near “conclusive”. Not conclusive on its own, but the combination of a mtDNA match and the fact that its a 15th century male in his thirties with scoliosis who lived off an aristocratic diet, died of head wounds and was found in the same location Richard was buried in seems pretty hard to argue against. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-the-brits-will-do-if-they-find-richard-iiis-remains/634591.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-the-brits-will-do-if-they-find-richard-iiis-remains/634591.md?page=5)