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Richard III Cause Of Death: Two Blows To The Head

Richard III Cause Of Death Revealed
Reuters
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By Kate Kelland

LONDON (Reuters) - Scientists in Britain have given blow-by-blow details of King Richard III's death at the Battle of Bosworth more than 500 years ago and say two of many blows to his bare head could have killed him very swiftly.

Their analysis of the remains of the last English monarch to die in battle suggest he was attacked by one or more people, and that nine of 11 blows, clearly inflicted in battle, were to his skull and another possibly fatal blow was to his pelvis. The findings also support previous opinion that he had no helmet on.

The head injuries are consistent with some near-contemporary accounts of the battle, the researchers said in findings published in The Lancet medical journal on Wednesday.

"The wounds to the skull suggest that he was not wearing a helmet, and the absence of defensive wounds on his arms and hands indicate that he was otherwise still armored at the time of his death," said Sarah Hainsworth, a professor of materials engineering at Leicester University, who co-led the study.

The remains of King Richard III were found by archaeologists under a municipal car park in the central English city of Leicester in 2012 and subsequently identified by experts from the city's university.

A court ruled in May this year that the king should be reburied near to where he was slain in battle, dashing the hopes of descendants who had wanted his remains to be taken back to his northern English stronghold of York.

According to historical record, the monarch was killed in battle on Bosworth Field, near Leicester, on Aug. 22, 1485, and those accounts suggest Richard was forced to abandon his horse after it became stuck in a mire and was then killed fighting.

His death was the culmination of the Wars of the Roses, a bloody 30-year power struggle between Richard's House of York and the rival House of Lancaster.

Hainsworth's team used whole body computerized tomography (CT) scans and micro-CT imaging to analyze trauma to the bones and determine which of Richard's wounds might have proved fatal.

They also analyzed tool marks on bone to identify the medieval weapons potentially responsible for his injuries.

According to Guy Rutty, a pathologist on the research team, "the most likely injuries to have caused the king's death are the two to the inferior aspect of the skull -- a large sharp force trauma possibly from a sword or staff weapon, such as a halberd or bill, and a penetrating injury from the tip of an edged weapon."

(Editing by Louise Ireland)

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The Richard III Society Reveal A Facial Reconstruction Of Richard III
The Richard III Society Reveal A Facial Reconstruction Of Richard III(01 of26)
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LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 05: Richard III Society member Philippa Langley stands besides a facial reconstruction of King Richard III before it is unveiled by the Richard III Society on February 5, 2013 in London, England. After carrying out a series scientific investigations on remains found in a car park in Leicester, the University of Leicester announced yesterday that they were those of King Richard III. King's Richard III's remains are to be re-interred at Leicester Catherdral. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
The Richard III Society Reveal A Facial Reconstruction Of Richard III(02 of26)
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LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 05: Richard III Society member Philippa Langley stands besides a facial reconstruction of King Richard III before it is unveiled by the Richard III Society on February 5, 2013 in London, England. After carrying out a series scientific investigations on remains found in a car park in Leicester, the University of Leicester announced yesterday that they were those of King Richard III. King's Richard III's remains are to be re-interred at Leicester Catherdral. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
The Richard III Society Reveal A Facial Reconstruction Of Richard III(03 of26)
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LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 05: A facial reconstruction of King Richard III is unveiled by the Richard III Society on February 5, 2013 in London, England. After carrying out a series scientific investigations on remains found in a car park in Leicester, the University of Leicester announced yesterday that they were those of King Richard III. King's Richard III's remains are to be re-interred at Leicester Catherdral. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
The Richard III Society Reveal A Facial Reconstruction Of Richard III(04 of26)
Open Image Modal
LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 05: A facial reconstruction of King Richard III is unveiled by the Richard III Society on February 5, 2013 in London, England. After carrying out a series scientific investigations on remains found in a car park in Leicester, the University of Leicester announced yesterday that they were those of King Richard III. King's Richard III's remains are to be re-interred at Leicester Catherdral. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
The Richard III Society Reveal A Facial Reconstruction Of Richard III(05 of26)
Open Image Modal
LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 05: A facial reconstruction of King Richard III is unveiled by the Richard III Society on February 5, 2013 in London, England. After carrying out a series scientific investigations on remains found in a car park in Leicester, the University of Leicester announced yesterday that they were those of King Richard III. King's Richard III's remains are to be re-interred at Leicester Catherdral. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
The Richard III Society Reveal A Facial Reconstruction Of Richard III(06 of26)
Open Image Modal
LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 05: A facial reconstruction of King Richard III is unveiled by the Richard III Society on February 5, 2013 in London, England. After carrying out a series scientific investigations on remains found in a car park in Leicester, the University of Leicester announced yesterday that they were those of King Richard III. King's Richard III's remains are to be re-interred at Leicester Catherdral. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
The Richard III Society Reveal A Facial Reconstruction Of Richard III(07 of26)
Open Image Modal
LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 05: A facial reconstruction of King Richard III is unveiled by the Richard III Society on February 5, 2013 in London, England. After carrying out a series scientific investigations on remains found in a car park in Leicester, the University of Leicester announced yesterday that they were those of King Richard III. King's Richard III's remains are to be re-interred at Leicester Catherdral. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
The Richard III Society Reveal A Facial Reconstruction Of Richard III(08 of26)
Open Image Modal
LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 05: A facial reconstruction of King Richard III is unveiled by the Richard III Society on February 5, 2013 in London, England. After carrying out a series scientific investigations on remains found in a car park in Leicester, the University of Leicester announced yesterday that they were those of King Richard III. King's Richard III's remains are to be re-interred at Leicester Catherdral. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
The Richard III Society Reveal A Facial Reconstruction Of Richard III(09 of26)
Open Image Modal
LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 05: A facial reconstruction of King Richard III is unveiled by the Richard III Society on February 5, 2013 in London, England. After carrying out a series scientific investigations on remains found in a car park in Leicester, the University of Leicester announced yesterday that they were those of King Richard III. King's Richard III's remains are to be re-interred at Leicester Catherdral. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
The Richard III Society Reveal A Facial Reconstruction Of Richard III(10 of26)
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LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 05: Richard III Society member Philippa Langley and society Chairman Dr Phil Stone stand besides a facial reconstruction of King Richard III before it is unveiled by the Richard III Society on February 5, 2013 in London, England. After carrying out a series scientific investigations on remains found in a car park in Leicester, the University of Leicester announced yesterday that they were those of King Richard III. King's Richard III's remains are to be re-interred at Leicester Catherdral. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
The Richard III Society Reveal A Facial Reconstruction Of Richard III(11 of26)
Open Image Modal
LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 05: A facial reconstruction of King Richard III is unveiled by the Richard III Society on February 5, 2013 in London, England. After carrying out a series scientific investigations on remains found in a car park in Leicester, the University of Leicester announced yesterday that they were those of King Richard III. King's Richard III's remains are to be re-interred at Leicester Catherdral. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
King Richard III(12 of26)
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The face of King Richard III is unveiled to the media at the Society of Antiquaries, London, after tests established that a skeleton found under Greyfriars car park in Leicester was that of King Richard III. (credit:PA)
King Richard III(13 of26)
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Philippa Langley, originator of the 'Looking for Richard III' project poses for photographers as the face ofKing Richard III is unveiled to the media at the Society of Antiquaries, London, after tests established that a skeleton found under Greyfriars car park in Leicester was that of King Richard III. (credit:PA)
King Richard III(14 of26)
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The face of King Richard III is unveiled to the media at the Society of Antiquaries, London. (credit:PA)
King Richard III(15 of26)
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The face of King Richard III is unveiled to the media at the Society of Antiquaries, London, after tests established that a skeleton found under Greyfriars car park in Leicester was that of King Richard III. (credit:PA)
King Richard III(16 of26)
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Janice Aitkin of Dundee University explains how she was involved in the reconstruction of the face of King Richard III, unveiled to the media at the Society of Antiquaries, London, after tests established that a skeleton found under Greyfriars car park in Leicester was that of King Richard III. (credit:PA)
Archaeologists in Richard III dig(17 of26)
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Jo Appleby, a lecturer in Human Bioarchaeology, at University of Leicester, School of Archaeology and Ancient History, who led the exhumation of the remains during a dig at Leicester's Greyfriars car park, points to an image of a skull whilst speaking at the university, as tests have established that a skeleton found under the car park, is that of King Richard III. (credit:PA)
Archaeologists in Richard III dig(18 of26)
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A view of the skeleton of Richard III during a press conference at the University of Leicester Council Chamber building, as tests have established that the skeleton found under Greyfriars car park in Leicester is that of King Richard III (credit:PA)
Archaeologists in Richard III dig(19 of26)
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Boards at press conference at the University of Leicester , where lead archaeologist Richard Buckley, spoke to confirm that tests have established that a skeleton found under Greyfriars car park in Leicester is that of King Richard III. (credit:PA)
Archaeologists in Richard III dig(20 of26)
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Boards at press conference at the University of Leicester , where lead archaeologist Richard Buckley, spoke to confirm that tests have established that a skeleton found under Greyfriars car park in Leicester is that of King Richard III. (credit:PA)
Archaeologists in Richard III dig(21 of26)
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University of Leicester lead archaeologist Richard Buckley, speaking at the University of Leicester Council Chamber building, as tests have established that a skeleton found under Greyfriars car park in Leicester is that of King Richard III. (credit:PA)
Archaeologists in Richard III dig(22 of26)
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A poster (right) next to a screen image at press conference at the University of Leicester, where lead archaeologist Richard Buckley, spoke to confirm that tests have established that a skeleton found under Greyfriars car park in Leicester is that of King Richard III. (credit:PA)
Archaeologists in Richard III dig(23 of26)
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University of Leicester lead archaeologist Richard Buckley (right), speaking at the University of Leicester Council Chamber building, as tests have established that a skeleton found under Greyfriars car park in Leicester is that of King Richard III. (credit:PA)
Archaeologists in Richard III dig(24 of26)
Open Image Modal
Jo Appleby, a lecturer in Human Bioarchaeology, at University of Leicester, School of Archaeology and Ancient History, who led the exhumation of the remains, during a dig at Leicester's Greyfriars car park, speaking at the university, as tests have established that a skeleton found under the car park, is that of King Richard III. (credit:PA)
Archaeologists in Richard III dig(25 of26)
Open Image Modal
Jo Appleby, a lecturer in Human Bioarchaeology, at University of Leicester, School of Archaeology and Ancient History, who led the exhumation of the remains, during a dig at Leicester's Greyfriars car park, speaking at the university, as tests have established that a skeleton found under the car park, is that of King Richard III. (credit:PA)
Archaeologists in Richard III dig(26 of26)
Open Image Modal
Jo Appleby, a lecturer in Human Bioarchaeology, at University of Leicester, School of Archaeology and Ancient History, who led the exhumation of the remains, during a dig at Leicester's Greyfriars car park, speaking at the university, as tests have established that a skeleton found under the car park, is that of King Richard III. (credit:PA)
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