The sad tale of James IV’s body.

Lately there has been much speculation about where Alexander the Great is buried. History says his body was taken to Egypt, but many now hope that a tomb now under excavation in Greece will turn out to be the final resting place for the famous general.

Caryatid Maidens Found At Alexander the Great Era Tomb

In 2013, the discovery of Richard III’s missing remains sparked a battle over where he would be buried, with Leceister Cathedral winning the honors.

Discoveries like these often renew hope of solving other historical mysteries.  Now Dr. Tony Pollard, Director of the Centre for Battlefield Archaeology at the University of Glasgow, has opened up the possibility of finding another famous missing king: James IV of Scotland.

The obvious implication, that finding long lost kings was a piece of cake, has led to me being repeatedly asked if I am going to look for the body of James IV.

His corpse, disfigured by arrow and bill, was identified after the battle and taken to Berwick, where it was embalmed and placed in a lead coffin before being transported to London.

The recipient of this gory package was Catherine of Aragon, wife of Henry VIII, and in charge of the family business while the English king fought in France.

She, in turn, sent the dead king’s surcoat, blood-stained and slashed, to her husband with the recommendation that he use it as a war banner.

Read the full story: The sad tale of James IV’s body