Death and Humility: Richard III and the Historical Desecration of Corpses

Ancient and Early Medieval historian Sarah Bond shares her thoughts on the recent discovery of the skeletal remains of Richard III

The story of the English King found underneath a car park has captured the world, it seems. Following his death at the hands of Henry Tudor’s troops at the Battle of Bosworth Field in 1485, it was widely reported that Richard III’s bones were interred at Greyfriars church in Leicester. It would be half a millennium later, with the careful excavation and examination of bones exhumed by the University of Leicester in September 2012, that the king’s body would be found. The discovery of the king’s remains confirmed that he had died after “one of two significant wounds to the back of the skull — possibly caused by a sword and a halberd.” This fact is consistent with the accounts of his death; however, the skeleton also reveals a number of other injuries given to the ribs, pelvis, and head. Accounts of the battle do hint at degradation of his body, noting that he was stripped naked, then placed on the back of a horse after his death. The injury to the pelvis shows an even greater degree assault, since it likely came from a posthumous thrust through his right buttock. These injuries, scientists suggest, are “humiliation injuries.”

Admittedly, folks, I am an ancient and early medieval historian. Yet, when I heard about these injuries, I was not altogether surprised. The desecration of corpses is not a new or even remotely innovative assault, I am afraid.