Richard III has been a figure of controversy since his death in 1485. Henry Tudor who had no claim to the throne, and ignored a law that barred the Beaufort line from the throne tried to hide his deficiency by vilifying his murdered predecessor. Lies that Richard never faced in person were spread about him.
Now after over 500 years his skeleton has been found and a new controversy has started. The American Richard III Society has created a tomb at great expense which has been rejected by Leicester University which opted for a slab.
Computer generated image of tomb proposed by Richard III Society
The American Society thinks a slab is not good enough for the king we have all supported. Leicester Cathedral votes for a slab. Thus Richard, a man of justice and mercy, continues to be the center of controversy.
York wanted his skeleton. He was of the House of York and spent much time there.
Nottingham put in a claim. Richard spent more time in Nottingham during his reign there than in Westminster. He made the castle more comfortable and elegant. But the time he was in Nottingham was spent waiting for Henry Tudor’s invasion.
Wherever Tudor landed, Richard could meet him faster from Nottingham. It was there that he and Anne Neville, his wife, learned of the death of their beloved only son. He called it his “castle of care,” meaning pain.
King Richard III Memorial at Leicester Cathedral/ Credit: Huffington Post
The slab now in Leicester Cathedral is fit for a king. It is a large slab of black marble with Richard’s name and dates in deeply cut gold lettering. It is beautiful, elegant and people unfamiliar with his story believe he is buried there.
Let’s put Richard to rest at last with both the American and the English Richard III Societies agreeing to put his bones not under a slab but under THE slab which is already in Leicester Cathedral and already a monument to him.
- Dale
Dale Summers has traveled extensively in England. She holds a Master’s Degree in British history, has taught British history on the college level and writes book reviews on British-related topics.
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
I think you ought to get your facts straight. It is the UK side of the R3 Society who helped with the design of the tomb, and the other Ricardian organization also donated funds as well.
Nottingham did NOT put in a claim for him. And you’re suppose to hold a degree in history? No wonder our history is such a mess. Please get your facts straight.
We agree with Dale about the slab but feel it should be placed over the car park in Leicester, where his bones were found?? (Don’t quote me on that, but it’s what we heard) We think that if he was found in a certain geographic location he should be commemorated there also, where he may be more accessible to curious children (from both sides of the Atlantic) of the future. As for the magnificent tomb, whoever designed/made/paid for it, surely it could be used to contain his bones, wherever they are going to be kept?
Incidentally, Dale Summers taught me more about Ricardian history than I ever learned at English Grammar School, where I did at least learn to appreciate that power, control and finance do not necessarily belong to one esoteric minority. There is usually a balanced view to contemplate and this seems to have been well presented in this case, by Dale Summers. It is a shame that the only comment posted so far appears to be rude and derogatory to her, for absolutely no good reason.