Scientists dispute Shakespeare's famous depiction of Richard III

Analysis of the skeleton of the former monarch were conducted after his body was found buried beneath a parking lot in 2012.

Scientific examination of Richard III have yielded some unfair inconsistencies with depictions of him, such as those found in Shakespeare’s play which focuses on his life and death.

Through Shakespeare’s work, as well as historians from reign of the Tudors and writers throughout history, Richard III was immortalized as a villain with a hunched back and withered limbs. However, after his body was unearthed in the ruins of an ancient church that had been paved over with a parking lot in 2012, scientists were able to analyze his body and reconstruct his spine using 3D printing technology. What they found was that his physical form did not match his literary descriptions.

Richard III was found to have had scoliosis, though not to a degree that would cause him deformities that were readily noticeable. According to the team of scientist involved in the analysis, he had a marked curve in his spine that would have been apparent had he undressed, but not if he was fully clothed and especially not if he were wearing armor customized for his frame. There was no evidence of underdeveloped or deformed limbs.

Shakespeare’s play about Richard III was written more than 100 years after the king had died and was likely informed by the slanted records kept by historians from the Tudor era. Richard III was the last king that reigned under the Plantagenet dynasty and his death paved the way for Henry VII to begin the Tudor reign. His crimes are often thought to include arranged murders for the two princes who stood before him in the line of succession for the crown. Some historians believe that the sensationalized skew of his physical description could reflect similar intentions in the records of his behavior.

The skeletal remains were identified as Richard III’s through DNA testing of descendents from his mother’s side of the family. Examination of the body was conducted using CT scans to construct a 3D model of his spine. Other injuries found were consistent with death in battle and subsequent injuries meant to humiliate the newly deceased king.