: You're completley correct, it's an unfortunate fact that
: many writers/palywrights have had to work in
: propaganda when dealing with old enemies, such as
: Richard, into their writings.
: And also, if battleaxes caused such deformities then I'd
: be surprised that they were so popular.
They were so popular because, being drafted into the military, having a usually unbeatable weapon like a battleaxe would have the advantage of giving the wielder a longer life. I'm sure at least slight deformities did occur, which later writers exagerated upon. No person is actually symmetrical, being either stronger on the left or right side.
