Richard I (1157 – 1199)

Richard the Lionheart was the great crusader king of England of the 12th Century who, during the third crusade, defeated the Turks at the Battle of Acre and gained access to the Holy City.

Richard I was born at Beamount Palace in Oxford, England, but at an early age was moved to France. Indeed the French translation of his name Richard ‘Coeur de lion’ is perhaps more appropriate as Richard was born of French parents, lived most of his young life in France and spoke French not English and even as the King of England only spent six months of his life in England.

Still, Richard the Lionheart is remembered proudly as a man of courage and chivalry and as one of England’s finest monarchs from the tales of the Crusades to the legends of Robin Hood, whereas his brother King John, who ruled England in his absence is widely regarded as a scoundrel.

After Jerusalem fell to Saladin, Richard who was now crowned King of England, set about raising funds from his new kingdom to launch a campaign along with King Philip of France. Richard set out for the Holy Land on 1190 and distinguished himself during the Siege of Acre, the most important event of the Third Crusade.

However following political infighting within the Crusaders, Richard was forced to halt his march to Jerusalem and instead negotiated a peace with Saladin in 1192 which established a three year truce and allowed Christian access to the Holy City of Jerusalem.

On Richard’s return to England his ship met with bad weather and he was forced to take a dangerous land route home through central Europe disguised as a Knight Templar. But Richard was captured near Vienna by his arch enemy Leopold of Austria and held to ransom.

Following his release Richard was killed in France where he is buried. In England Richard I is commemorated with a bronze statue of the crusader king upon his horse brandishing his sword, situated outside the Palace of Westminster in London.