WHAT was Richard III really like?
Was he a tyrannical murderer, as some have suggested? Or was the last Yorkist King, in fact, the polar opposite?
The answers to these questions, myths and distorted truths will be explored in a new exhibition at the Yorkshire Museum.
Richard III: Man and Myth will use the museum’s nationally significant collections and loans from across Yorkshire to consider the life, times and legacy of the Plantagenet ruler.
Interest in Richard has never been stronger following his re-internment in Leicester Cathedral and commemorations at York Minster last Thursday.
Natalie McCaul, curator of archaeology, said: "King Richard III’s reign only lasted three years but he has probably received more attention than any other British monarch.
"A number of accounts written after Richard’s death portrayed him as a tyrannical murderer.
"Yet for many, especially in Yorkshire, the image of a fair, benevolent figure, much maligned, endures.
"In this new exhibition we will look at the perception of him today and whether much of this is based on facts or myth. Using treasures from our own collections and loans from across the county, we hope people will come and form their own opinions on Richard, his relationship with York and his short reign as king."
Visitors to the exhibition will be able to cast their eye over a number of artefacts, including a skeleton from the Battle of Towton in 1461, an event which led to the crowning of Richard III’s brother, Edward IV, as the first Yorkist King, and Shakespeare's first folio which includes his play named after the King.
Natalie McCaul with a “feast” of sparrows, a delicacy in the 1500s
Loaned documents from City of York Council Archives will reveal more about Richard’s relationship with the city, such as the first gift York gave to him aged 16, a list of his friends and allies, how the city prepared for his visit and how they reacted to his death.
The Yorkshire Museum objects on show include the Middleham Jewel, a gilded spur, the Ryther Hoard (817 medieval coins, many of which were struck in York), and a number of boar badges worn by supporters of the king.
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