The Buckingham

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British scientists have confirmed through DNA results that the human remains found under a parking lot in Leicester five months are those of King Richard III.

“We’re certain now, as certain as you can be of anything in life,” said Richard Taylor, the University of Leicester registrar who coordinated the team of archaeologists, historians, genealogists and geneticists who set out to identify the remains.

King Richard III is one of the most reviled monarchs in history.  He’s infamous for his scheming, murders, and physical deformity.  Most people know of his two year reign through Shakespeare’s play.  Richard was killed at the Battle of Bosworth Field in 1485 by two severe blows to the head.  He was 33.

Richard, who suffered curvature of the spine, was also buried with his hands tied.

The DNA tests that were conducted on the skeleton mostly came from Michael Ibsen, a Canadian who is a direct descendent of Richard’s sister Anne of York.

Next for Richard will be a reburial, this time at Leicester Cathedral, early in 2014.