The exhumation of Richard III of England in September 2012 and his
reburial in Leicester Cathedral on 26 March 2015 took place over 500
years after his death at the Battle of Bosworth Field. Richard was
originally buried in Leicester's Greyfriars Friary, but the site of his
grave was forgotten after the friary was demolished and it was generally
believed that his bones had been thrown into the nearby River Soar. In
September 2012, an archaeological excavation took place at the site of
the friary and a skeleton was discovered of a man with a spinal
deformity and severe head injuries. He appeared to have been hastily
buried without a coffin in a crudely cut grave. Analysis of the bones
showed that he had been killed by edged weapons cutting open his skull
and piercing his brain. DNA tests and radiocarbon dating confirmed that
the skeleton was that of Richard III. Leicester Cathedral was chosen as
the site of Richard's reburial, though some argued that York Minster or
Westminster Abbey would be more suitable locations. The reinterment in
an ecumenical Christian service at the cathedral, and the unveiling of
his tomb, were scheduled for the end of a week's commemorations.
Read more: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exhumation_of_Richard_III_of_England>
_______________________________
Today's selected anniversaries:
1351:
War of the Breton Succession: Thirty knights each from France
and England fought to determine who would rule the Duchy of Brittany,
which later was celebrated as a noble display of the ideals of chivalry.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Combat_of_the_Thirty>
1812:
The Boston Gazette printed a political cartoon coining the term
"gerrymander", named after Governor Elbridge Gerry's approval of
legislation that created oddly shaped electoral districts designed to
help incumbents win reelection.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elbridge_Gerry>
1885:
Feeling that Canada had failed to address the protection of
their rights, the Métis people, led by Louis Riel, began the North-West
Rebellion.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North-West_Rebellion>
1953:
Jonas Salk announced the successful test of his polio vaccine
on a small group of adults and children.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polio_vaccine>
1979:
By signing the Egypt–Israel Peace Treaty, Egypt became the
first Arab country to officially recognize Israel.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egypt%E2%80%93Israel_Peace_Treaty>
_____________________________
Wiktionary's word of the day:
immolate:
1. To kill as a sacrifice.
2. To destroy, especially by fire.
<https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/immolate>
___________________________
Wikiquote quote of the day:
It is not enough to be in the right place at the right time.
You should also have an open mind at the right time.
--Paul Erdős
<https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Paul_Erd%C5%91s>