Beyond Death

It was February 4, 2013. 11:00 was fast approaching, and there was a palpable buzz at the University of Leicester. In that room, there were journalists, historians, enthusiasts, scientists… everyone, absolutely everyone, ready to bear witness.

Let’s go back six months.

On August 25, 2012, beneath the cold concrete of a private parking lot in Leicester, a skeleton was discovered.

Almost intact (only the feet were missing, likely destroyed during construction work over the centuries), the skeleton showed severe cranial wounds, an unmistakable sign of a violent and immediate death. But that’s not all: there were also post-mortem wounds, inflicted to further defame him.

The skeleton also had a “particular” back, a scoliosis that developed during his youth. A scoliosis that did not prevent him from moving, that did not prevent him from fighting. A scoliosis that didn’t make him a cripple, as some have dared to claim and continue to insinuate even today, despite the evidence.

That skeleton had been hastily buried, in a grave too small for him, with his hands stretched forward. I wonder if they were still tied… (I hope not. I hope that, even though they buried a person in a cramped grave without a coffin, they had the sensitivity to remove the restraints, as a sign of respect. I truly hope they did).

That skeleton was removed, taken from its grave where it had rested for over 500 years. It was studied, and six months later, it was brought back to life.

On February 4, 2013, Richard III revealed himself to the world, once again, beyond any reasonable doubt.

He had returned. He had returned to thank us, to urge us to keep fighting, for him… with him.

That February 4, 2013, at 11:00, in Leicester, where he had died, Richard came back to life, and he did so in the most beautiful way imaginable.

He had been underground for over 500 years, hidden from the eyes of the world and his enemies, allowing the mouths to speak, allowing the souls to speak… then he led Philippa Langley there, to the place where he rested, and probably told her: “It’s time to return, help me do it.”

And she did.

She listened to that voice, insisted, fought, and brought us a man who had remained silent for too long in the face of slander.

On February 4, 2013, the world discovered that the skeleton belonged to Richard III “beyond any reasonable doubt,” and at that moment, the world saw the most maligned king in history for what he truly was: a man, a king, a hero, murdered on the battlefield while trying to defend his country, his honor, against the usurper, against the traitors.

Today, February 4, 2025, Richard is still here, with us. He speaks and acts through every one of his soldiers, with strength, with fervor, as he has always lived.

Today, history has one more piece to teach in schools, the right piece, the truth. But how many still tell it?

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