“Why?” The man responded by saying that Richard killed his brothers and parents. Hearing this Richard the Lionheart… for the first and last time in his life… forgave the man and soon died. Richard the Lionheart was born in 1157 and was the king of England who reigned between 1189 and 1999. His name originated from his involvement in military conquest, because he was so brave and a great leader that people started calling him
. Richard, according to Gransden (1996) began commanding his army at 16 years of age. Because of this, the Muslims called him the King of England long before he took the position. He spent most of his life in Aquitaine where he made the most of kingdom resources in support of his military agreement. Although, Richard the Lionheart could be intelligent in matters of politics and was famously skilled on the battlefield, he was also highly cultured and well-educated, while also writing poems and songs. Through most of his life he enjoyed the support and affection of his people.
But Richard was far more interested in his holdings in France and in his Crusading endeavors than he was in governing England, where he spent about six months of his ten-year reign. But I guess you can also say that Henry and Richard the Lionheart had one thing in common… they both care more about their kingdom than life itself.
Henry even meditated on Richard’s behalf, fearing the breaking of the empire he had built. King Henry got together his continental armies together then the younger Henry “unexpectedly” died, and the rebellion fell apart.
Richard the Lionheart had become King of England, but his heart wasn’t in the Sceptered Isle. Ever since Saladin had captured Jerusalem in 1187, Richard’s greatest intention was to take back the Holy Land. This all started when his father had agreed to get involved in Crusade along with Philip, and a “Saladin Tithe” had been charged in England and France to raise funds for the endeavor. Now Richard took full advantage of the Saladin Tithe and the military system that had been formed; he drew heavily from the royal treasury and sold anything that might bring him funds – offices, castles, lands, towns, lordships, etc. He even said “I would have sold London herself if I could have found a buyer”. During his reign Richard had merely used up the entire treasury left by his father in order to fund his Crusade. But all this money paid off because in less than a year after his addition to the throne, Richard the Lionheart raised an impressive army to take on the Crusade.
Although Richard could be brave and admirable at times some of his deeds and acts of anger show him to be the man who he really is. Richard and his brothers constantly fought with their father King Henry II who had incarcerated their mother, Eleanor of Aquitaine. Richard’s father had been unfaithful to his wife and often had affairs, leading
Richard to rebel against Henry II before he became King of England in 1189, but based himself in his Duchy in Aquitaine inherited from his mother Eleanor. But despite the fact that King Henry II was a bad father and husband when he died Richard was very sad of his father’s death. He visited Fontevraud Abbey Church, and everything was all too surreal. Richard saw his father’s dead body and cried out “Alas! It was I who killed him!” I think that the harshness of his childhood made him to become an even better leader. But the fact that he grew up with such hate and revenge, made him a poor ruler as well. Richard a great leader but his hot temper did get the best of him at times and often led to stupid mistakes. For instance the flag incident, Richard himself threw the flag off the battlements, as he said that “the flag of a mere duke is not worthy to fly with that of kings”. This is just one result of his hot temper. In 1189 Richard refused medical services while wounded at his last battle, Siege of Acre. This was just one example of the hot temper he had that affected his decisions and led to stupid mistakes. Other than the fact that Richard had a hot temper, he was highly known for his courage and skill on the battlefield, and his outstanding displays of politeness to his fellow knights and enemies. Richard also had a straightforward character, which was based on the judgment of the enemies he had made. The number of enemies he has made throughout his life was at its peak during the Third Crusades. One man he had fallen out with was Philip of France, a close boyhood friend, by insulting Duke Leopold of Austria, the leader of the German chance of the crusaders. Richard was often feared and admired by many allies and enemies, including duke Leopold and Saladin. Saladin was an unusual enemy who tried to win the “hearts and minds” of people he conquered. When he occupied Jerusalem, he ordered his men NOT to kill and plunder and when he occupied Cairo, Egypt, he built hospitals and universities for the city, even though he had to take harsh measures against the leaders of his former enemies. In Saladin’s dealings with the Crusaders, he allowed them to “save face” by allowing Christian pilgrimages to Jerusalem, even though he controlled the city. In an era when chivalry was just developing in Europe, Saladin won the reputation of being exceptionally “chivalrous”. He and Richard I soon became each other’s “favorite” opponent during the Third Crusades. Richard the Lionheart was an influential and brave leader of the Third Crusade. Even though he wasn’t the king in the world, King Richard set a target and went for it. And, with all of his weapons, soldiers, and supplies you would have been grateful to have him on your side. The march south to Jerusalem was very difficult. The Crusaders kept as near to the coast as possible to allow ships to supply them. It was also slightly cooler with a coastal breeze. Regardless of this, the Christians suffered badly from the heat and lack of fresh water. At night when the Crusaders tried to rest, they were plagued by tarantulas. Their bites were poisonous and very painful. Both armies fought at the Battle of Arsur in September 1191. Richard won but he delayed his attack on Jerusalem as he knew that his army needed to rest. He spent the winter of 1191 to 1192 in Jaffa where his army regained its strength. Richard then marched on Jerusalem in June 1192. But little did everyone know Richard was suffering. He had a fever, but appealed to his enemy Saladin to send him fresh water and fresh fruit. Saladin did just this –sending frozen snow to the Crusaders to be used as water and fresh fruit. Saladin was a strict Muslim and one of the main beliefs of Islam is that Muslims should help those in need. Saladin was able to send his men into Richard’s camp with the supplies and spy on what he had in terms of soldiers, equipment etc. What they found was that Richard only had 2,000 fit soldiers and 50 fit knights to use in battle. With such a small force, Richard could not hope to take Jerusalem even though he got near enough to see the Holy City. So Richard was forced to organize a truce with Saladin – pilgrims from the west would once again be allowed to visit Jerusalem without being troubled by the Muslims. Neither Richard nor Saladin particularly liked the truce but both sides were worn out and in October 1192, Richard sailed for Western Europe never to return to the Holy Land. Upon returning to England he had a second coronation to show his people that he still had control of the country, and then he promptly went to Normandy and never returned.
Richard the Lionheart was a man who gained his remembrance as a great leader. His reputation shows him as a cruel and bad king with the ability of trading anything, no matter how precious, just to accomplish victory. However, the relationship he had with Saladin projects a wonderful defeat that was given to the public support he made for Escalon’s defense. During the Third Crusade, Richard made fun of the hatred he had of Leopold V, Duke of Austria. In 1192, while Richard was on his journey home, Leopold seized him. Leopold kept Richard in a castle as a prisoner of the Holy Roman Emperor Henry VI. Richard was later taken to Henry who released him in 1194 after a ransom was paid. Set free in March 1194, he landed in England in the same month and was crowned a second time, John was forced to give in, and Richard, collecting what money he could find for a war with Philip Augustus, sailed for Normandy in May to save his land there. The happiness, which dragged on for five years was dull and in January 1199 peace, was made. While besieging the Castle of the Challis, held by a vassal with who Richard debated the possession of a newly found treasure, the King was wounded by an arrow and died in his tent on April 6, 1199. He was then buried in the abbey of Fontevrault in Anjou.