How Many Of These Facts About England's "Good King" Do You Know?

Richard the Lionheart, one of England's most iconic monarchs, is a figure shrouded in both history and legend. He was renowned for his valor on the battlefield and his leadership during the Third Crusade, but also for his arrogance and difficult personality. He famously feuded with his father, his brother, and fellow crusaders. From his daring campaigns to his dramatic capture and ransom, his reign is characterized by a blend of medieval adventure and royal intrigue: truly the stuff of legends! Here are 20 fascinating facts about Richard the Lionheart.

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1. He Earned His Nickname "Lionheart" For His Courage

From a young age, Richard was known for his military prowess and fearlessness on the battlefield. This is where he got his nickname "Lionheart." He's one of only a handful of English kings that are more commonly known by their nickname than their regnal number. 

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2. He Was A Skilled Poet & Musician

In addition to his martial abilities, Richard was a skilled poet and composer who wrote in the troubadour tradition popular in medieval southern France. He wrote songs and poems in both French and Occitan and was greatly admired for his skill. 

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3. He Was Betrothed To A French Princess

He was betrothed to French princess Alys when he was only 11 and she was about eight. Their engagement was part of a peace agreement between his father Henry II and King Louis VII of France. However, Richard refused to marry her citing rumors that she had had an affair with his father. 

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4. He Almost Bankrupted His Kingdom Twice

King Richard's reign was one of lavish spending and costly warfare. He spent heavily on his coronation and court life, and all that crusading didn't come cheap either. He almost bankrupted England twice. 

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5. He Only Spent A Few Months In England

Despite being born in Oxford and being King of England, Richard likely spent a total of less than six months of his life in England. Most of his time was spent abroad on military campaigns.

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6. He Probably Never Learned To Speak English

Despite being king of England, it's likely that King Richard didn't even speak English. He definitely spoke French and Occitan, the language spoken in Southern France at the time. 

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7. He Was Only 14 When He Became A Duke 

Richard's mother was the Duchess of Aquitaine, a vast and wealthy region of France. She passed the duchy to Richard when he was only 14 to strengthen his position. He faced rebellions from powerful local lords early on, forcing him to fight for his authority and helping shape him into the military leader he would become.

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8. He Was Captured In Austria

Richard was captured in Austria by the forces of Duke Leopold V because he publicly insulted the Duke. He was handed over to the Holy Roman Emperor Henry VI who held him captive for over a year.

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9. His Brother Betrayed Him

While Richard was being held captive, his brother John tried to seize the throne. Allying with King Philip II of France (Richard's enemy), John negotiated for Richard to be imprisoned longer and tried to take control of lands in England, claiming that Richard would never return. 

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10. He Died From A Crossbow Wound

Richard died of a crossbow wound during a minor siege in France at the hands of a young defender called Pierre Basile. His death during such a small skirmish after valiantly fighting in so many grand battles, unscathed, can only be described as ironic. 

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11. He Didn't Have Children

Richards left behind no legitimate heirs, despite being married for over a decade, and he reportedly had practically no interest in women. When he died, his unpopular brother, John, inherited the throne.

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12. He's Featured In Robin Hood Tales

Richard became a symbol of knightly virtue and is featured in Robin Hood as the good and rightful king who is away on a crusade while the greedy, tyrannical John rules in his absence. In the story, Robin Hood remains loyal to King Richard and justice is restored when the good king returns. 

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13. His Body Was Separated Into Three Different Burial Sites

Richard's body was divided and buried in three different places: his heart in Normandy, his entrails in Châlus, and his body in Anjou, France. Divided burials were relatively common in medieval Europe for important figures and were meant to honor multiple regions where loyalties lay. 

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14. England Had To Pay A Ransom For His Release

When Richard was captured, Emperor Henry VI demanded an enormous ransom of 150,000 marks for his release. Richard's mother led a massive effort to collect the funds, melting down silver plates and royal jewels, but even so, it took over a year to raise the sum and it left England financially crippled for years.

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15. He Led The Third Crusade

After Muslim general Saladin captured Jerusalem, the pope called for a new crusade to reclaim it. Richard answered the call, forming an uneasy alliance with Philip II of France who he co-led the Third Crusade with. 

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16. He Never Captured Jerusalem

Despite his military victories elsewhere and marching within 12 miles of it, Richards never managed to capture Jerusalem. He did however sign a treaty with Saladin that allowed Christian pilgrims safe access to the holy sites. 

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17. He Rebelled Against His Father

Richard joined with his mother and brothers in a series of rebellions against his father, King Henry II, in an effort to secure more power. The three brothers joined with King Louis VII of France and battles broke out in Normandy, Anjou, and England. The initial rebellion was crushed by Henry, but in the end, Richard finally succeeded in overthrowing him. 

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18. He Was His Mother's Favorite

His mother Eleanor gave Richard her vast and prosperous land of Aquitaine when he was just 14 as a gesture of trust and favor. She also sided with him against her husband and she traveled across Europe on his behalf when he was in captivity.  

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19. He Had Rivalries With Other Crusaders

Richard was known for his strong will and sometimes arrogant demeanor that often got him into trouble. He had intense rivalries, even with people who were supposedly on his side, most notably King Philip II of France and Duke Leopold V of Austria.

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20. He Conquered Cyprus

Richard conquered Cyprus on the way to Jerusalem in a series of swift battles after Isaac Komnenos, the unofficial emperor of the island, refused Richard's fleet to replenish their supplies. Richard set up a new Crusader kingdom on Cyprus which ended up being an important base in the Mediterranean. 

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