Richard III is number 1
Our University's discovery of King Richard III and his subsequent reburial at Leicester Cathedral has retained the top spot in the History 100 poll for the second year running.
BBC History Magazine’s History Hot 100 says the discovery of his remains was the biggest history story for a decade.
He surpasses Elizabeth I and Shakespeare I on the list.
Robert Attar, BBC History Magazine’s editor, said the discovery of Richard’s remains had been the biggest history story for a decade and was still fresh in people’s memories.
“He is someone who fascinates people and is the only king that I know of who has several societies dedicated to him. Richard also divides people like few others,” Attar said. “He has a lot of supporters, a lot of people think very highly of him, think the Tudors have maligned him. There’s also a large number of academic historians who have a very low opinion of Richard.”