The King in the Car Park: The 2012 Discovery of Richard III

Based on the article provided, here are key concepts and historical facts identified for further context, accompanied by brief backgrounders:

Richard III (1452–1485) The last king of the House of York and the Plantagenet dynasty, Richard reigned for only two years before his death marked the end of the Middle Ages in England. His defeat at Bosworth Field ushered in the Tudor dynasty, ending the decades-long civil war known as the Wars of the Roses.

Greyfriars Priory This was a medieval Franciscan religious house in Leicester where Richard III was hastily buried following his death in battle. The priory was dissolved and demolished by King Henry VIII in 1538, causing the exact location of the church—and the King's grave—to be lost to history until modern archaeological efforts rediscovered it.

Battle of Bosworth Field Fought on August 22, 1485, this was the decisive battle between Richard III and Henry Tudor (later Henry VII). It is historically significant as the last time a reigning English monarch was killed in combat, leading to the unification of the warring houses of Lancaster and York.

Scoliosis A medical condition characterized by a sideways curvature of the spine, often causing one shoulder to sit higher than the other. Contrary to the exaggerated "hunchback" depictions in folklore, the skeletal evidence suggests Richard’s condition developed in adolescence and, while painful, would not have completely incapacitated him on the battlefield.

Halberd A versatile two-handed pole weapon popular in the 14th and 15th centuries, consisting of an axe blade, a spike, and a hook mounted on a long shaft. This weapon was capable of inflicting the severe, crushing trauma observed on the base of the skeleton's skull, consistent with accounts of the King being surrounded by foot soldiers.

Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) This is genetic material inherited exclusively from the mother that remains virtually unchanged through the female line over generations. Because Richard III left no direct legitimate descendants, scientists used mtDNA to prove his identity by matching his DNA with that of a living descendant of his eldest sister, Anne of York.

Tudor Propaganda Following Richard's death, writers and historians under the new Tudor regime—including William Shakespeare decades later—depicted Richard as a physically deformed and morally bankrupt monster to legitimize Henry VII’s seizure of the throne. This political campaign successfully distorted the historical record of Richard’s physical appearance and character for over five centuries.