Press Coverage 2014

♕ Press Coverage 2014 ♕

Selection of articles published about the search and discoveries about King Richard III and the search for the king in Leicester 2014:
(Articles of the year 2012 can be found here.)
(Articles of 2013 are collected here.)

(As most articles mix topics, no further sub-groups are built, but the articles are listed in chronological order. Newest articles at the top.)

Sunnes & Roses (Blog): Joan Beaufort & Her Many Descendants , by DG (March 29, 2014) –
The article has interesting counter-arguments against Prof. Michael Hicks’ accusations against the results of the University of Leicester.
Though I very much like the argument and the historical knowledge in listing all the descendants of Joan Beaufort, in my view the argumentation falls a bit short to contradict Prof. Michael Hicks, as not only Joan Beaufort’s descendants are of interest in regard of an alternative identity for the skeleton in Leicester, but all female descendants from any ancestor of the female line leading to Joan Beaufort. As a consequence all her mother’s sisters, grandmother’s sisters, great-grandmother’s sisters, etc. would have to be researched if there was an un-interrupted female line up to a last male descendant, who died at the age of around 30 at Leicester in the relevant timeframe. You see, the number of potential relatives, eventually buried in Leicester, becomes quite uncountable.
But in my opinion that is not necessary, because, as the University of Leicester quite brilliantly has shown, the accumulation of different research results, all leading up to the same resolution, prove, what the one mtDNA research can’t prove on its own.

The Independent: Richard III expert: The skeleton in the car park may not be missing monarch after all, by Cahal Milmo (March 28, 2014) –
What a media rumble over an argument better fought in historic research papers. Prof. Michael Hicks and Prof. Martin Biddle are both not among the consulted specialists for the research done by the University of Leicester. Might that be the reason for the rumble?

BioNews Texas: Contemporary “War Of The Roses” Among Academics Over Claimed Richard III Remains Discovery, by Charles Moore (March 28, 2014) –
Overview of positions in the current conflict in the ‘new Battle in the Wars of the Roses’.

Royal Central (Blog): Questions arise as to the validity of Richard III remains, by Cindy Stockman (March 28, 2014) –
Argument overview in the new conflict about King Richard III. Is he or is he not… ?
Conflict somehow must have been in Richard III’s drinking water and now spreads like a contagious disease…

Leicester Mercury: Richard III: University defends claims skeleton dug up in Leicester car park may not be king, by Peter Warzynski (March 28, 2014) –
The closest look so far into the counter-argument made by Prof. Michael Hicks. I even in points follow his argument, though in the multitude of research the University of Leicester did, the arguments no longer hold value in my point of view. Please comment with what you think about this whole new skirmish in the “Wars of the Roses”.

University of Leicester: Is it Richard III? , by ap507 (March 28, 2014) –
Answer of the University of Leicester to the new accusations against their research results by Prof. Michael Hicks and Prof. Martin Biddle.

BBC History Extra: Was the skeleton in the Leicester car park really Richard III?, by Emma McFarnon (March 28, 2014) –
I don’t need to read the article, but only compare the pictures used to illustrate the article, to see a certain partiality of the author. The article still is of interest as it gives some argumentative detail of the concerns raised by Prof. Michael Hicks and Prof. Biddle.

The Guardian: ‘Richard III remains’ found in Leicester car park have doubt cast upon them, by Maev Kennedy (March 27, 2014) –
A new skirmish in the new “Wars of the Roses”. Envy or reasonable doubt – who can tell? As the University of Leicester always carefully approached their research results and did not claim to have found more than they indeed have, I see no real reason for the current upheaval. But rather advise to take a closer look at the research publications by the University of Leicester and the Looking for Richard team.

BBC History Extra: Do you think the Leicester skeleton is Richard III?, by Emma McFarnon (March 27, 2014) –
Poll about the current discussion. Is the found skeleton of King Richard III or not? Is the research done by the University of Leicester and connected researchers worldwide conclusive or not? – The result so far is very in favour of one position, but I won’t reveal it here. Try for yourself and take part in the poll.

Yorkshire Post: Hunt set to begin for Richard III’s favourite York haunt (March 24, 2014) –
New archaeological project around King Richard III in York!

The York Press: Tributes paid to Richard III Museum founder Mike Bennett, by Mike Laycock (March 21, 2014) –
In memoriam of an outstanding person: Mike Bennett, founder of the Richard III Museum in York.

Leicester Mercury: Richard III: Documentary on car park dig wins prestigious Royal TV Society award (March 21, 2014) –
The Channel 4 production about the search for King Richard III, “The King in the Car Park” by Darlow Smithson Productions, received the prestigious history award at the Royal Television Society’s Programme Awards.

Leicester Mercury: Stage: Richard III at Leicester University (March 20, 2014) –
Was King Richard III a good chess player? Who knows…, but the new Shakespeare production in Leicester certainly connects him to the game. See more details about the stage performances in the article and tickets for the play are available here: www.embracearts.co.uk.

Leicester Mercury: Leicester’s Richard III visitor centre to be £4m boom for economy, by Dan Martin (March 20, 2014) –
King Richard III is a boost for economy.

University of Leicester (Blog): A Crusading Richard III ?, by Norman Housley (March 20, 2014) –
Interesting post about King Richard III’s meeting with Nicholas von Poppelau, a Silesian ambassador of the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick III., in the year 1484. Originally posted by Norman Housley in Cross and the Crescent: Crusading and the Contemporary World Blog on March 20, 2014

BBC News: Richard III ‘could lure American tourists to Leicester’ (March 19, 2014) –
The U.S. investigate Leiceser for the anticipated American tourists interested in history and King Richard III. – U.S. ambassador to the U.K., Matthew Barzun, visits the King Richard III exhibition in Leicester and Leicester Cathedral.

Leicester Mercury: Richard III: Visiting US ambassador Matthew Barzun won’t be drawn into burial row (March 19, 2014) –
Diplomatic answer about the last resting place for King Richard III by American diplomat, the U.S. ambassador to the U.K., Matthew W Barzun.

History Press (Blog): John Ashdown-Hill at Gloucester Museum on 22/03/14, by The History Press (March 19, 2014) –
The publisher of Dr. John Ashdown-Hill’s new book “The Third Plantagenet” announces a author’s event taking place at the Gloucester Museum on Saturday 22nd March, 2014.

Gloucester Citizen: Discontent and a Dukedom: Richard III festival set to take place in Gloucester, by Jonathan Whiley (March 18, 2014) –
Dr. John Ashdown-Hill will present his new book “The Third Plantagenet” about the brother of King Richard III, the Duke of Clarence, in Gloucester.