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Secondary sourceSculpture

Tomb of Richard III

The 2015 tomb of Richard III in Leicester Cathedral, built after his remains were rediscovered and formally reburied.

This is the modern tomb built for Richard III after the rediscovery of his remains and his formal reburial.

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A rectangular pale stone tomb with a dark stone base engraved 'RICHARD III' and 'Loyaulte me lie' in a cathedral. A red and white banner with a white boar and a Latin motto hangs behind it.
Tomb of Richard III, Leicester Cathedral.

About this source

What it is

This is the tomb of Richard III in Leicester Cathedral. It is a rectangular pale stone monument with a dark stone base engraved with his name and his motto, 'Loyaulte me lie' ('Loyalty binds me'), with a banner bearing his white boar emblem displayed nearby.

Why it matters

Richard III died at the Battle of Bosworth in 1485, and his remains were lost for centuries until their rediscovery led to a formal reburial in 2015. The tomb reflects modern efforts to give the king, long remembered through hostile Tudor accounts and Shakespeare's play, a dignified historical burial.

Look closer

  • Why do you think it took so long to formally bury Richard III after his remains were found?
  • What does the choice of motto and emblem on the tomb say about how Richard wanted to be remembered?
  • How does a modern monument like this shape the way we think about a medieval king today?

This sculpture is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Richard III on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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Dark green cloth book cover with a white rectangular library label in the upper left reading 'UC-NRLF' above a barcode and the number 'B 4 009 742'.Book

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History of King Richard III

Thomas More

Page 173 of an old printed book showing the title 'The Tragedy of Richard the Third' with a decorative border, the subtitle about the landing of Earle Richmond and the battle at Bosworth Field, and the opening 'Actus Primus. Scena Prima' in two columns of dense black-letter-style text.Book

Primary source

Richard III

William Shakespeare · c. 1592-1594; printed 1632

Black ink signature drawn on white background, with a long sweeping stroke rising from the left, a large looped letter in the middle, and a cursive word ending in a loop at the lower right.Document

Primary source

Signature of Richard III of England

Richard III of England · 1484

Painted portrait of a man with shoulder-length brown hair and a black velvet cap with a gold badge, wearing a gold brocade robe with a jeweled collar over red. He faces left against a blue-green background within a gilded arched frame. Inscription at the bottom reads 'RICHARD REX TERCI' in black letters.Painting

Secondary source

Richard III (1452–1485)

British (English) School (possibly) · c. 1510

Painted illustration from a medieval roll showing a crowned woman in a red robe with an ermine-trimmed cape on the left, a standing crowned king in red crown with a sceptre in the centre wearing blue and red armour with gold fleurs-de-lis and lions, and a young boy in blue and red armour on the right. Around them are heraldic crests on helmets with labels, including a crowned lion, a harp, a dragon, and a white boar at the feet of the figures, with two hands holding crowns above the woman.Painting

Primary source

Rous Roll

John Rous · c. 1483–1485

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