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Oct 22, 2024 · Richard I, duke of Aquitaine (from 1168) and of Poitiers (from 1172) and king of England, duke of Normandy, and count of Anjou (1189–99). His knightly manner and his prowess in the Third Crusade (1189–92) made him a popular king in his own time as well as the hero of countless romantic legends.
Discover facts about the life of King Richard I, also known as 'Richard the Lionheart'. Find out more about his crusades and eventual truce with Saladin.
He earned the title ‘Coeur-de-Lion’ or ‘Lion Heart’ as he was a brave soldier, a great crusader, and won many battles against Saladin, the leader of the Muslims who were occupying Jerusalem at that time. But was he really one of the greatest kings of England – or one of the worst?
- Rachel Dinning
- Despite being born in England, Richard may not have spoken English. Richard was born in September 1157 in what was then known as ‘the King’s Houses’, a palace built by his great-grandfather Henry I outside the north gate of Oxford city because it was a comfortable ride from there to his hunting tower at Woodstock.
- There was a notable social divide in England. At that time, half of England was owned by a network of 200 related Anglo-Norman families (and the rest by the crown and the church).
- Richard was betrothed at nine years old. At the age of nine, Prince Richard was betrothed to 9-year-old Princess Alais, daughter of the French King Louis VII.
- Richard was unwilling to get married and produce an heir. When Richard succeeded his father to the throne at the age of 31 in 1189, he had an obligation to father an heir for the kingdom in order to avoid the kind of chaos that did ensue when he died childless and his brother John succeeded to the throne ten years later.
King Richard I of England, known as Richard the Lionheart, is one of the most iconic figures of the medieval era, celebrated for his role in the Third Crusade. His reign, though brief, was a period of intense military campaigns, political intrigue, and a relentless quest for glory.
Richard I. Richard, the 'Lionheart', was born on 8th September 1157 at Oxford, son of Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine. He joined the Third Crusade to the Holy Land but returned to England when he heard of his father's death in 1189.
Richard was an important Christian commander during the Third Crusade, leading the campaign after the departure of Philip II of France and achieving considerable victories against his Muslim counterpart, Saladin, although he finalised a peace treaty and ended the campaign without retaking Jerusalem. Richard probably spoke both French and Occitan.
