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King Richard the Lionheart (Richard Coeur de Lion) was the son of King Henry II of England and Eleanor of Aquitaine. He ruled England from 1189 until his death in 1199. Richard never learnt to speak English and only ever spent a few months in England at any one time. He died in his prime, in France at the castle of Châlus at the age of 41. |
What Kind of Man was the Lionheart?
King Richard II was over six feet four inches tall, auburn haired and handsome. He spoke the Langue d'Oc, had a wicked temper and was his mother's favourite son.
Although he had a rapacious reputation among the ladies in his teens, there seems little doubt he was bi-sexual. He was introduced to homosexuality by the brother of Salah el Din while on Crusade. Although this is mentioned in Arabic sources, not a whisper of it came back to Europe. Many years later, when he fell ill, Richard confessed his sexual preferences, did penance for them and even lived with his wife Berengaria for a while (in France!) He was persuaded that his illness was a punishment from God for his sins.
He became Duke of Aquitaine in his teens and learned the arts of war on the battlefield. The rebellious lords of Aquitaine gave him plenty of practice in the art of siege warfare, which he used to great effect during his later campaigns.
His undoubted ability to reduce their strongholds to rubble earned him the strong loyalty of his liegemen. On a personal level, he was trusted by his fellow men – in total contrast to his brother John – and was generous to those who showed loyalty.
Although he had a rapacious reputation among the ladies in his teens, there seems little doubt he was bi-sexual. He was introduced to homosexuality by the brother of Salah el Din while on Crusade. Although this is mentioned in Arabic sources, not a whisper of it came back to Europe. Many years later, when he fell ill, Richard confessed his sexual preferences, did penance for them and even lived with his wife Berengaria for a while (in France!) He was persuaded that his illness was a punishment from God for his sins.
He became Duke of Aquitaine in his teens and learned the arts of war on the battlefield. The rebellious lords of Aquitaine gave him plenty of practice in the art of siege warfare, which he used to great effect during his later campaigns.
His undoubted ability to reduce their strongholds to rubble earned him the strong loyalty of his liegemen. On a personal level, he was trusted by his fellow men – in total contrast to his brother John – and was generous to those who showed loyalty.
Richard was not only King of England, but Duke of Normandy, Aquitaine, Anjou and Poitou. One might imagine that governing this area was worth his undivided attention, however Richard had promised the Pope to join his crusade to "free Jerusalem" and, despite the almost inevitable outcome that his empire would crumble in his absence, he went on crusade in 1190. His father was wiser, and although he had promised to go on crusade, he never did.
Richard only ever spent about six months of his ten-year reign in England. He depleted the treasury left by his father in order to fund his crusade, taxed the country heavily before he left, then again for his ransom and then again on his return. The heaviest tax was for his ransom at 25%. This may not sound bad to us, but we are taxed on income; this was 25% of everything one possessed. Ouch!
Richard only ever spent about six months of his ten-year reign in England. He depleted the treasury left by his father in order to fund his crusade, taxed the country heavily before he left, then again for his ransom and then again on his return. The heaviest tax was for his ransom at 25%. This may not sound bad to us, but we are taxed on income; this was 25% of everything one possessed. Ouch!
IMPORTANT DATES
 Village of La Popie
Born: Sept. 8, 1157
Crowned: Sept. 3, 1189 Captured: Christmas, 1192 Freed: Feb. 4, 1194 Died: April 6, 1199. Here at La Popie Richard heard of the finding of a treasure trove and sped to Chalus to claim it. Instead he took an arrow in his shoulder and died ten days later from blood poisoning. |
La Popie in the Dordogne.
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The Third Crusade
On landing in the Holy Land in 1191, Richard joined the siege of Acre which had already been going on for two years. His expertise in siege warfare took the town in a month. This did not endear him to anyone. Leopold of Austria and Philippe of France left the crusade. Leopold, because Richard insulted him and Philippe, because he could see that, with Richard absent from home, there was a golden opportunity for asserting his own dominance in Europe.
With his remaining allies, Richard made huge inroads into enemy territory, but had the disadvantage of operating at a distance from any safe base. Richard could have taken Jerusalem in 1191, but recognised he was unlikely to hold it and retreated to the coast for the winter. He was just outside Jerusalem again when it became apparent that his empire in Europe would be lost if he did not return. His brother John had all but usurped the English throne and Philippe of France was invading Normandy and encouraging revolt in Aquitaine.
Richard's Capture
On his way home, Richard was shipwrecked, captured by Leopold of Austria, and handed over (sold) to Emperor Henry VI. The 150,000-mark ransom was raised through heavy taxes and Richard was freed in February of 1194, despite the connivance of Prince John and Philippe. I untangle the politics of this in my book, The King's Ransom.
Richard's Return
Prince John had caused anarchy in Richard's absence, and only the intervention of Queen Eleanor prevented his seizing the English crown. This is the background to my book, The Queen's Knight. On his release, Richard quickly re-established himself in England and had a second coronation to celebrate, demonstrating that he still had control of the country. He then left to reassert his sovereignty in Normandy and Aquitaine and never returned.
The next five years were spent in periodic warfare with King Philip II of France. Richard died from a wound inflicted when besieging the castle of Châlus. His marriage to Berengaria of Navarre had produced no children, and the English crown passed to his brother John.
On landing in the Holy Land in 1191, Richard joined the siege of Acre which had already been going on for two years. His expertise in siege warfare took the town in a month. This did not endear him to anyone. Leopold of Austria and Philippe of France left the crusade. Leopold, because Richard insulted him and Philippe, because he could see that, with Richard absent from home, there was a golden opportunity for asserting his own dominance in Europe.
With his remaining allies, Richard made huge inroads into enemy territory, but had the disadvantage of operating at a distance from any safe base. Richard could have taken Jerusalem in 1191, but recognised he was unlikely to hold it and retreated to the coast for the winter. He was just outside Jerusalem again when it became apparent that his empire in Europe would be lost if he did not return. His brother John had all but usurped the English throne and Philippe of France was invading Normandy and encouraging revolt in Aquitaine.
Richard's Capture
On his way home, Richard was shipwrecked, captured by Leopold of Austria, and handed over (sold) to Emperor Henry VI. The 150,000-mark ransom was raised through heavy taxes and Richard was freed in February of 1194, despite the connivance of Prince John and Philippe. I untangle the politics of this in my book, The King's Ransom.
Richard's Return
Prince John had caused anarchy in Richard's absence, and only the intervention of Queen Eleanor prevented his seizing the English crown. This is the background to my book, The Queen's Knight. On his release, Richard quickly re-established himself in England and had a second coronation to celebrate, demonstrating that he still had control of the country. He then left to reassert his sovereignty in Normandy and Aquitaine and never returned.
The next five years were spent in periodic warfare with King Philip II of France. Richard died from a wound inflicted when besieging the castle of Châlus. His marriage to Berengaria of Navarre had produced no children, and the English crown passed to his brother John.