How Richard the Lionheart died. Richard I the Lionheart

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Richard I Lion Heart(English Richard the Lionheart, French Cœur de Lion, 1157-1199) - English king from the Plantagenet dynasty. Son of King Henry II Plantagenet of England and his wife, Duchess Eleanor of Aquitaine.

Titles: Duke of Aquitaine (1189-1199), Count of Poitiers (1169-1189), King of England (1189-1199), Duke of Normandy (1189-1199), Count of Anjou, Tours and Maine (1189-1199)

early years

Richard was born on September 8, 1157 in Oxford. Being the third legitimate son of Henry II, Richard formally had little chance of receiving the English crown. As a child, he went to France, where he inherited from his mother the Duchy of Aquitaine and Poitiers. At the same time (in 1170), Richard's elder brother, Henry, was crowned Henry III (in historical literature he is usually called "The Young King" so as not to be confused with Henry III, nephew of "young" Henry and Richard, son of John), but never actually gained real power.

Richard was well educated (he wrote poetry in French and Occitan) and very attractive - estimated to be 1 meter 93 centimeters tall, blue-eyed and fair-haired. Most of all, he loved to fight - from childhood he showed remarkable political and military abilities, was known for his courage and successfully prevailed over his vassals.

Just like his brothers, Richard idolized his mother and did not dislike his father for neglecting Eleanor. In the film "The Lion in Winter", where the role of the queen was brilliantly played by Katharine Hepburn ( elder sister more popular among us - Audrey), shows the contradictory and largely unhealthy relationships in the family of Heinrich-Eleanor. What was the manifestation of ill health? If you've heard of old Freud's theories, you'll know what I mean. And if you have no idea about them, then it’s too early for you to watch adult films.)))

In 1173, Richard, along with Henry's other sons, rebelled against him, but his father prevailed in this confrontation. Richard took part in the rebellion at the instigation of his mother, as well as due to a personal grudge against his father - Richard was supposed to marry Alice, the daughter of Louis VII, but she, raised at the English court, was Henry's mistress for seventeen years.

Richard received his chance at the English crown in 1183, after the death of the "Young King". Although after this he turned out to be the eldest living son of Henry, he decided to give Aquitaine to John. Having concluded an alliance with the French king Philip II, Richard defeated Henry as a result of a successful expedition in 1189. The king died that same year. Richard was crowned at Westminster on September 3, 1189.

Governing body

Of the ten years of his reign, Richard spent only six months in England. His reign, which began with the Jewish pogroms in London and York (the perpetrators of which were punished by Richard), differed sharply from the reign of his father.

The new king became famous for his military exploits, but his consumerist attitude towards England reduced the government of the country mainly to levying huge taxes to finance the army and navy. He even freed King William I of Scotland from his vassal oath for the sum of 10,000 marks, and also began to trade state lands and posts. All funds were used to prepare for the crusade.

Crusade

In 1190, the king set out on the third crusade, leaving the upstart William Longchamp as regent and chancellor. First, in September 1190, Richard and Philip II stopped in Sicily, where William II died in 1189, ex-husband Joanna, Richard's sister. William's nephew, Tancred I, had Joanna imprisoned and disinherited her.

On October 4, 1190, Richard captured Messina and sacked it, and in March 1191, Richard and Tancred signed a peace treaty, according to which Joanna was released, and Richard proclaimed as his heir to the throne of England his nephew Arthur of Brittany, son of Godfrey II, for whom Tancred had promised to give away one of his daughters in the future. As a result of this treaty, England's relations with the Holy Roman Empire worsened, and Richard's brother John, who himself wanted to become the heir, rebelled.

In May 1191, Richard defeated the ruler of Cyprus, Isaac Comnenus, and began to rule the island himself, using it as a transit base for the crusaders, which was not threatened by raids. There he married Berengaria of Navarre. (He was betrothed to Alice, the sister of Philip II, but her relationship with Henry II prevented her marriage to Richard for religious reasons, and Eleanor, Richard's mother, believed that the possession of Navarre, south of Aquitaine, would secure her lands).

The marriage of Richard and Berengaria was childless - they spent very little time together, since Richard (as a typical representative of his generation) was much more interested in military victories than love ones. Which again and again confirms the fact that all these knightly courtships and the medieval beauty of carnal love are fiction. Rude louts dominated the women. And talk about a reverent attitude towards loved ones is lies.

In June 1191, Richard finally arrived with his army in Palestine, where the fortress-port of Acre was under siege by the Crusaders, who almost took the city, but were themselves surrounded by Saladin's troops. Richard disrupted negotiations between Conrad of Montferrat and Saladin, and after numerous attacks by the Crusaders, Acre surrendered on 12 July. Having not received, in violation of the agreements, on time the promised ransom for the garrison of Acre, as well as the True Tree of the Cross, captured by Saladdin at Hattin, Richard ordered the execution of 2,600 captives.

Despite this, the unusually respectful relationship between Richard and Saladin became one of the most famous medieval romantic plots. Saladin sent Richard fresh fruits and ice, and once, when Richard's horse was killed, he gave him two stallions. Richard also responded with gifts. They even raised the issue of a wedding between Richard's sister Joanna and Saladin's brother Al-Adil.

Due to discord over the division of Cyprus and leadership in Richard's campaign, his allies Duke of Austria Leopold V and Philip II soon abandoned him (Philip also planned to take advantage of Richard's absence to annex his lands in France). As a result, Richard, although he came very close to Muslim-occupied Jerusalem, did not attack it and was forced to make peace with Saladin on September 2, 1192, demanding, in particular, for Christians freedom of access and residence in Jerusalem. Richard recognized Conrad of Montferrat as the king of Jerusalem, who was soon killed by the Assassins, and his place was taken by Richard's nephew, Henry II of Champagne, which cast suspicion on Richard of Conrad's murder.

Captivity

On the way back, Richard's ship was forced to land on the island of Corfu, owned by Byzantium. Richard fled through central Europe and was captured in December 1192 near Vienna by Leopold V, who blamed Richard for the death of Conrad, his cousin. Richard was handed over to Henry VI, Holy Roman Emperor, who imprisoned him in Durnstein Castle.

The Emperor demanded a ransom of 150,000 marks - two years' income of the English crown, of which 100,000 marks were to be paid in advance. John and Philip II offered 80,000 marks to keep Richard as a prisoner, but the emperor rejected their offer. Eleanor of Aquitaine collected the required amount by levying exorbitant taxes, and on February 4, 1194, Richard was released. Philip II sent John a letter saying “Be careful. The devil is on the loose."

End of reign

Upon returning to England, Richard made peace with John and appointed him heir, despite all the machinations of his younger brother. But Richard did not intend to remain in peace and harmony for long. And he started a conflict with another brother - with Philip.

In 1197-1198 Richard built the castle of Gaillard in Normandy near Rouen, although according to the agreement with Philip he was not supposed to build castles.

On March 26, 1199, during the siege of the Chalus-Chabrol castle in Limousin, he was wounded in the arm by a crossbow arrow. On April 6, Richard died due to blood poisoning in the arms of his 77-year-old loving mother Eleanor and wife Berengaria.

Richard the Lionheart is buried at Fontevraud Abbey in France next to his father.

Heritage

Since Richard was childless, the throne passed to his brother John. The French possessions of the Plantagenets initially wanted to see Richard's nephew Arthur of Brittany as king, and with these disputes about succession, the collapse of the "Empire of Anjou" began.

Other most important merits and simply consequences of Richard's reign:

Cyprus, captured by Richard, supported the Frankish possessions in Palestine for a whole century.

Richard's inattention to government led to the fact that the effective administration introduced by his father had time to become obsolete.

Richard's military exploits made him one of the most prominent figures in medieval history and literature. Richard is the hero of numerous legends. Especially the tales of Robin Hood (although the heroes lived at different times), books (the most famous is “Ivanhoe” by Walter Scott), films (the highest grossing is “The Lion in Winter”) and computer games.

Marriages and children

The marriage was fruitless.

Extramarital affair NN – illegitimate son– Philippe de Falconbridge (1175-1204), lord of Cognac; Amelia de Cognac (1164-1206).

Was he gay?

Some biased authors of pseudo-historical literature transparently hint at Richard's homosexual inclinations. We owe such bold (brave, because there is no damning evidence in favor of either version or another) guesses to Harviz’s book “The Plantagenets”, 1948.

On 18 pages, the author fluently, without claims to scientific or authenticity, describes the character, behavior and life's vicissitudes Richard. And these 18 pages, oddly enough, very seriously influenced the perception of the image of the English king.

But let's focus our attention on the facts. At the beginning of 1195, Richard was visited by a hermit who read him instructions, to which he did not pay attention. Soon after this episode, Lionheart began to act out, which, in turn, forced Richard to repent - he was not joking about his health, albeit heroic. As in 1190 in Messina, he ordered the priests to appear for confession and punishment.

Repentance through the wife's bedroom

Moreover, he committed an act that proved the sincerity of his repentance - he called his wife to him, who for a long time neglected, “and they became one flesh”! What morals reigned - sex with your wife = sincere repentance and a step towards a healthy and spiritual lifestyle. Govden (one of those same pseudoscientific figures) also says that the king then refused inappropriate sexual intercourse (“abiecto concubitu illicito”). Govden will convey the warnings of the hermit with the words: “Remember the destruction of Sodom, refrain from forbidden things; if you do not do this, then the just punishment of God may befall you.” (“Esto memor subversionis Sodomae, et ab illicitis te abstine, sin autem, veniet super te ultio digna Dei”).

Guess, versions, assumptions

Gillingham (another historian) explains how words well known at the time are misinterpreted Old Testament about the death of Sodom: the picture of punishment - a consequence, not a cause, took possession of Govden's imagination.

Certainly Govden did not claim that Richard was a sodomite, and even taking into account the predilection for allusions of the time and Govden's probably considered necessary reticence, the absence of the word Sodomie is a noteworthy difference in relation to to Wilhelm Rufus, to whom homosexuality has long been attributed.

We will not continue to follow on the heels of the historians' reasoning. Let us give just a couple more facts and conclusions. And let us finally return to Richard and his strange repentance.

It is difficult to imagine that Richard, in the conditions of camp life, after his public confession in Messina and his time in captivity - always surrounded by enemies - could have thought up such an excellent alibi that incriminating facts would have eluded the medieval PR technologists from the hostile camp.

Thanks to the vulgar campaign launched by the Duke of Burgundy at the end of the crusade and public moralizing, rumors about homosexuality should have become widespread. If nothing like this has come down to us, and Govden’s “Sodom” went unnoticed by his contemporaries, then this must mean that it is a fiction, or something very similar to it.

But in modern sources, again and again, with special relish and piquant (to the point of outrageous) details, Richard’s sensuality is confirmed. However, the same Govden gives such examples of Richard’s sexual excesses that doubts about the king’s homosexuality evaporate. The Poitunians (“Homines Pictaviae”) rebelled and demanded the overthrow of their overlord, largely because he (Richard, that is) raped the wives and daughters of his subjects, and then gave the “spent flesh” to his soldiers.

What is the truth: gay or not gay?

Although, on the other hand, it is also not worth asserting that Richard was 100% heterosexual. Firstly, due to the wild debauchery and free morals of the Middle Ages. Secondly, because only one of his illegitimate children is known for certain. Thirdly, the childlessness of Berengaria’s wife is explained, rather, by his loyalty to her husband and his reluctance to fulfill his marital duty. So maybe the rumors about male power Richard turned out to be greatly exaggerated.

The same cannot be said about his military prowess. Immortalized in books and films. What is Ivanhoe worth...

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In March 1159, an agreement was reached for Richard's marriage to one of the daughters of Ramon Berenguer IV, Count of Barcelona. However, this union was not destined to come true. Richard's older brother, Henry, was married to Margaret, daughter of King Louis VII of France. Despite this, conflicts occurred from time to time between the kings of England and France. In 1168, only through the efforts of Pope Alexander III was a truce between Henry II and Louis VII secured.

At that time, Henry II intended to divide his kingdom between his three sons. Henry was to become king of England, and Anjou, Maine and Normandy also came under his control. Richard was destined for Aquitaine and the county of Poitou - his mother's fiefs. Geoffrey received Brittany through his marriage to Constance, heir to the province. On 6 January 1169, in Montmirail, together with his father and brothers Henry and Geoffrey, Richard took the oath of feudal allegiance to Louis VII as heir to Poitou and Aquitaine. On the same day, an agreement was reached for the marriage of Richard and Louis's daughter Alix (Adelaide). This alliance was supposed to seal the peace treaty between the kings of England and France. Richard was raised at the court of his mother, Alienor of Aquitaine, whose personal estates were intended for him as an inheritance. The mother made sure that her subjects got to know their sovereign better. At Easter 1170, a large meeting of the aristocracy was convened in Niort, at which Eleanor, in the name of her son, canceled the confiscations imposed by Henry II on the lands of Aquitaine, and also granted privileges to some monasteries. In Poitiers, on the feast of the Holy Trinity, Richard was given the symbolic title of Abbot of Saint-Hilaire during a magnificent ceremony. Richard's enthronement took place in Limoges, during which he entered into an alliance with the city and the duchy, putting on his finger the ring of St. Valeria, the patroness of these places. After Richard was crowned with a diadem, he was girded with a sword and put on knightly spurs. The ritual, composed for the occasion, was intended to be used to bless all subsequent dukes of Aquitaine. In Limoges, Richard and his mother laid the first stone in the foundation of the church of St. Augustine under construction. Then Eleanor and her son toured the domains of all their vassals, who received benefits at the meeting in Niort.

Richard was well educated (he wrote poetry in French and Occitan) and very attractive - estimated to be 1 meter 93 centimeters tall, with blue eyes and blond hair. Most of all, he loved to fight - from childhood he showed remarkable political and military abilities, was famous for his courage, and knew how to prevail over aristocrats in his lands. He gave great importance church celebrations and, according to contemporaries, willingly participated in the chants that accompanied the rituals, and even led the choir with the help of “voice and gesture.” Just like his brothers, Richard idolized his mother and disappreciated his father for neglecting her.

In the spring of 1183, Richard, who had quarreled with his brothers, began military operations against Eimar of Limoges. He took Issoudun, Pierre-Buffiere and joined Henry II, who began the siege of Limoges Castle. In turn, Henry the Young turned to the French king for help. Mercenaries sent by Philip helped capture Saint-Léonard de Noble for Henry the Young. At the end of May, Henry the Young fell ill and, sensing his imminent death, asked his father for forgiveness through the Bishop of Ajan. Before his death, the “young king” expressed a wish for the return of complete freedom to Alienor. After the death of the “Young King,” Richard became the heir to the English crown, and Henry II decided to give Aquitaine to his younger brother John. Having asked for time to think, Richard retired to Aquitaine and from there sent a decisive refusal. This caused a new conflict - this time between Richard, on the one hand, and Geoffrey and John, on the other. TO younger brothers Some of Henry the Young's military leaders joined. However, in 1184, the Plantagenet family, to commemorate their reconciliation, gathered in Westminster on St. Andrew's Day, and a little later, on Christmas Day, a general congress was again held at the royal court. After some time, Alienor of Aquitaine was allowed to visit the grave of her son Henry in Rouen. On this trip she was accompanied by Richard, who intended to cede lifelong suzerainty over the duchy to his mother; in fact, he continued to rule Aquitaine.

After the death of Geoffrey of Brittany at a knightly tournament (1187), Henry II, realizing that what he needed most now was peace, concluded another agreement with the King of France on March 25 in Nonancourt. Richard, however, not recognizing the peace treaty, continued hostilities. In response, Philip Augustus captured Berry Grace and Issoudin. The news of the fall of Jerusalem forced Richard to change his intentions: through the mediation of Philip, Count of Flanders, he asked for a truce from the King of France, intending to march to the Holy Land. Gervasius of Canterbury, talking about the conversation between the two kings, conveys the words of Richard: “I would go barefoot to Jerusalem in order to gain its grace.” According to chroniclers, at this meeting, Philip Augustus told Richard about his sister Alix’s relationship with Henry II. Richard accepted the cross from Bishop Bartholomew of Tours. All churches in France and England announced the collection of a special “Saladin tithe” to equip a new crusade. In Poitou, Richard released from prison those prisoners who expressed a desire to go to the Holy Land. However, Richard was prevented from immediately going on a campaign by another baronial unrest in Poitou and the fight against Raymond of Toulouse. Richard captured a knight from Raymond's retinue; in response, the Count of Toulouse captured two knights returning from a pilgrimage and offered Richard an exchange of hostages. After unsuccessfully seeking mediation from the French king, Richard occupied Moissac and approached the walls of Toulouse. Raymond requested help from Philip, who took the Berry cities: Chateauroux, Argenton, Buzans, Montrichard, Levroux. The conflict with the hostages was resolved through the mediation of Henry II, who proposed Archbishop of Dublin John Kamin as arbitrator. Richard, in order to take revenge for the attacks on the cities of Berry, captured the castle of Roche and captured its owner, Guillaume de Barre, a man close to the French king. Several meetings followed between the kings of England and France, the goal of which was a truce. On November 18, 1188, in Bonmoulin, Henry II was unpleasantly surprised that Richard had arrived along with Philip. The King of France, once again, wanted to know when his sister would become the wife of the heir to the English throne; in addition, he demanded the provinces of Touraine, Anjou, Maine, and Normandy for Richard. Henry II refused, then Richard, taking off his sword, took a vassal oath to Philip for his French fiefs in front of everyone. The indignant Heinrich interrupted the meeting. Richard went with Philip to Paris and, in violation of the custom established by the Plantagenets, spent Christmas with the French king, and not at his father’s court. In the spring of 1189, at a meeting with the Archbishop of Canterbury, sent by his father, Richard demanded that Brother John go with him to the Holy Land. He feared that, taking advantage of the absence of his eldest son, Henry would crown the youngest. Fighting continued: Richard raided Le Mans, where Henry was at that time, King Philip took Tours. At the last meeting in Colombier, the kings of England and France agreed to exchange lists of barons, their allies. Henry returned from Colombier completely ill, his days were numbered. It is said that the dying king asked William Marshal to read the list of lords who had sided with Philip and Richard. The first on the list was the name of Prince John - this is how the king learned about his son’s betrayal. Without listening to Marechal, Henry, turning to the wall, remained motionless for three days. He died on July 6, 1189.

Governing body

Richard the Lionheart. Portrait of the mid-19th century.

According to one of the chroniclers, Richard was greatly saddened by the death of his father. He personally escorted Henry's remains from Chinon Castle to Fontevraud Abbey, the burial vault of the Plantagenets. After the burial of his father, Richard headed to Rouen, where on July 20, 1189 he was elevated to the dignity of Duke of Normandy.

Of all the barons loyal to the late king, Richard punished only the seneschal of Anjou, Etienne de Marsay. He was imprisoned, the new king ordered to keep him chained in iron and torture him in order to obtain the return of all the money and possessions received in the service of Henry. Richard also facilitated the new marriage of de Marsay's wife. However, the remaining allies of Henry II retained both their posts and their property. The barons who left him to go over to Richard’s side did not receive any rewards; moreover, the possessions taken away by Henry were not returned to them, since the new king declared that the very fact of betrayal deserved punishment. Special attention Richard honored his father's most loyal servants: Maurice de Craon and William Marshal. The king wished that they would serve him as well as Henry. Richard made peace with John, to whom he granted the title of Earl of Mortain, lands in England, and, moreover, confirmed all his father's land grants to his brother.

On July 22, Richard met at negotiations with Philip Augustus, held between Chaumont and Trey, already as king of England. The conversation was about the bone of contention between the kings of the two countries - the castle of Gisors, which Philip dreamed of getting. Richard didn't name exact date transfer of Gisors to Philip, but promised to add to the 20 thousand marks of the subsidy promised by Henry II, 4 thousand marks in silver and 4 thousand pounds sterling.

One of Richard's first acts as king was to free Eleanor. William Marshal was sent to Winchester with this assignment, but discovered that she was “already freed and more powerful than ever before.” Eleanor was preparing for the meeting of her son and his coronation. Traveling around the country, the queen released prisoners who, by special decree, had the right to prove their innocence. For the most part, this concerned those accused of logging or poaching. Richard himself hastened to return the lost rights to those barons who had lost them at the arbitrariness of Henry II. The main bishops of the country: Canterbury, Rochester, Lincoln and Chester were given the opportunity to return to England. Author Gesta Henrici describes the general mood in England as joy at Richard's accession to the throne and hope for a better life. Upon arrival in the country, Richard, who still considered the crusade his main goal, assessed the funds in royal treasury. According to various sources, at that time it contained from 90 thousand livres in gold and silver to 100 thousand marks. Before the coronation, Richard had to resolve a conflict in connection with the appointment of Henry II's illegitimate son Geoffrey ( ) to Archbishop of York. Although he was elected by the canons of York Cathedral, his candidacy was opposed by Queen Eleanor and Archbishop Hubert Gautier. On August 29, Richard's brother John married Isabella Gloucester. On the occasion of this event, Richard granted John many English castles, including: Nottingham, Wallingford, Tickhill.

The unusually respectful relationship between Richard and Saladin became one of the most famous medieval romantic plots. During the siege of Acre, Saladin sent fresh fruit and ice to Richard and Philip Augustus, who were suffering from illness. Richard also responded with gifts.

After the capture of Acre, Richard invited all the crusaders to take an oath not to return to their homeland for another three years or until Jerusalem was recaptured. The King of France refused to make such a promise, intending to soon leave the Holy Land; he also planned to take advantage of Richard's absence to annex his lands in France. Philip also raised the issue of dividing the island of Cyprus, and subsequently relations between the two kings deteriorated due to a dispute between Guy of Lusignan and Conrad of Montferrat about the inheritance of the kingdom of Jerusalem.

On July 29, Philip obtained Richard's consent to his departure and swore on the Gospel to the inviolability of the alliance between him and the English king. Having handed over his crusaders to Richard, he placed the Duke of Burgundy South at the head of this army. Richard and Philip divided the spoils taken from Acre. Duke Leopold of Austria considered that, as the oldest participant in the siege of Acre, he had the right to a share of the spoils, but his claims were not taken into account. As a sign that he, too, should benefit from the fruits of victory, the Duke ordered his standard to be carried in front of him. The knights from Richard's retinue threw the banner to the ground and trampled on it. Philip left his hostages to Conrad of Montferrat, whom he supported in the dispute over the possession of the Kingdom of Jerusalem and left for Tyre on July 31. Philip's departure seriously complicated the position of the crusaders; many blamed him for refusing to continue the fight, while Richard's authority increased.

The crusaders were preparing for a new campaign: Richard set himself the goal of taking Ascalon, beyond which the path to Egypt opened.

On the eve of the proposed exchange of prisoners, a conflict arose between Richard and Conrad of Montferrat, which almost turned into a military clash. The marquis refused to hand over the hostages to the king on the grounds that they had been given to him by Philip. The dispute was settled by the Duke of Burgundy. Neither on August 9 nor 10, contrary to Saladin's promises, the captured Christians were released, nor did the crusaders receive ransom for the defenders of Acre and the True Tree of the Life-Giving Cross, captured in the Battle of Hattin. The deadline for the exchange was postponed to August 20, however, even on this day Saladin did not fulfill the conditions of the crusaders. According to the successor chronicler William of Tyre, Richard ordered the execution of 2,700 prisoners: “with their hands tied they were killed in full view of the Saracens.” Negotiations with Saladin were broken down.

Campaigns on Jerusalem

Leaving Acre to Bertrand de Verdun and Stephen (Etienne) Longchamp, Richard on August 22 led the crusaders to Haifa along the seashore, with ships following the army on a parallel course. After a short respite near Haifa (the city itself was devastated by Saladin), the campaign continued on August 30. Near the Nahr-Falik River, Saladin, whose soldiers skirmished with the crusaders throughout the transition, blocked Richard's path. The king resumed negotiations; on September 5, at a meeting with the Sultan's brother Malik Al-Adil, he demanded the surrender of Jerusalem and was refused. On September 7, Richard defeated Saladin's army at the Battle of Arsuf. According to the chronicler Ambroise, the king himself “showed such valor that around him, on both sides and in front and behind, a wide road, filled with dead Saracens." The victory of the crusaders at Arsuf plunged Saladin into despondency, and when he set out to hold Ascalon, his emirs, who were afraid of repeating the fate of the defenders of Acre, demanded that the Sultan himself or one of his sons remain with them in the city. Then Saladin ravaged Ascalon and, retreating, again used the “scorched earth” tactic, destroying everything in the path of the crusader army. According to some Arab chroniclers (for example, Ibn al-Athir), the Marquis of Montferrat reproached Richard for the fact that, seeing how the city was dying, he did not occupy it “without a fight and without a siege.” Richard sent his troops to Jaffa, also destroyed by Saladin, to restore it and spent about two months there. There, while going around the fortifications of the city, he was almost captured and only thanks to the fact that the knight Guillaume de Preaux called himself king to the Saracens and diverted their attention, Richard managed to escape. The king again began negotiations with Malik Al-Adil, hoping to obtain all the lands of the coast.

At the end of October, Richard gathered his troops to march on Jerusalem. Before this, on his orders, the Templars rebuilt the fortresses of Casal-des-Plaines and Casal-Moyen on the way from Jaffa to Jerusalem. The Crusaders were delayed at Ramla due to rains from November 15 to December 8, 1191. According to the testimony of Ambroise, a participant in the campaign, the soldiers, seeing their long-awaited goal (Jerusalem) very close by, experienced extraordinary elation, forgetting hunger and cold. Richard, however, did not storm it: there were no materials to build siege weapons - the Muslims destroyed all the trees in the vicinity of Jerusalem. In addition, Saladin's army was nearby and at any moment could destroy the smaller army of the crusaders. The knights born in the Holy Land argued that even with a favorable outcome (the capture of the city), it would be difficult to hold it, and as soon as the crusaders, having fulfilled their duty, went home, Jerusalem would be lost again. Richard retreated, some of the French went to Jaffa, Acre and Tire. The king, together with his nephew Henry of Champagne, headed to Ibelin. Soon he again began negotiations with Malik el-Adil, as well as with the Sultan, Richard struck up friendly relations with him. They even raised the question of a wedding between Richard's sister Joanna and Saladin's brother Al-Adil. Joanna agreed to marry El-Adil only if he converted to Christianity and the proposed marriage did not take place. The king’s contacts with the enemy did not please many of the crusaders and were the reason for “great accusations against Richard and slander” (Ambroise). Richard began his next campaign against Jerusalem without the army of the Duke of Burgundy, which was aimed at restoring Ascalon, which began on January 20. Richard had to enter into fruitless negotiations in Saint-Jean-d-Acre with Conrad of Montferrat, who entered into new conflict with Guy Lusignan. The French joined the marquis and tried to leave for Acre, but when Richard prevented this, they headed to Tire. After some time, the king received news of the hostile actions of Brother John in England, and, convening a council in Ascalon, announced that he would soon leave the Holy Land. However, the knights and barons who were to remain in Palestine unanimously rejected Richard's proposal to appoint Guy of Lusignan as commander. Taking this into account, the English king recognized the Marquis of Montferrat's right to the kingdom of Jerusalem and decided to transfer command to him. However, on April 28, 1192, Conrad of Montferrat was killed by the Assassins. The question arose again about a contender for the throne of Jerusalem; with universal approval, he became the nephew of the French and English kings, Henry of Champagne. Guy of Lusignan, having paid Richard 40 thousand ducats, became the owner of the island of Cyprus. On May 17, Richard besieged and five days later took the Daron fortress, a citadel located on the way through Sinai desert. During the siege, he was joined by Henry of Champagne and South of Burgundy. Everyone was sure that this time Jerusalem would be taken. In the city itself, from the moment the crusader scouts were spotted five kilometers from it, the townspeople were seized with panic. According to the author of the Anglo-Norman account of the crusade, at this time Richard visited a certain hermit from Mount St. Samuel. He, in a conversation with the king, stated “that the time has not yet come when God will consider His people sanctified enough for the Holy Land and the Holy Cross to be transferred into the hands of Christians.” This prediction, which became known to the crusaders, shook their confidence; they hesitated, deciding to wait for support from Acre. On June 20, 1192, Richard captured a caravan coming from Bilbais, Egypt, taking rich booty. This circumstance plunged Saladin himself into confusion. The crusaders, who had perked up in spirit, were ready to attack Jerusalem, but the king could not decide to storm. Ambroise talks about his hesitations: Richard feared the loss of honor in case of failure, he was afraid of remaining “forever guilty.” At the council on July 4, where representatives of the Templar and Hospitaller orders, French and English knights, as well as knights native to the Holy Land gathered, it was decided to withdraw from Jerusalem without a fight. The spirit of the Crusader army was undermined.

Completion of the hike

Returning to Acre, Richard prepared to march on Beirut. He soon received news of Saladin's attack on Jaffa and sailed to its defense. On August 1, Christian ships, led by a royal ship, approached Jaffa. The king was the first to land on the shore, followed by other warriors. The crusaders, under the cover of shields constructed from the wreckage of ships, reached the fortifications of the city and recaptured it from Saladin, who retreated to Yazur. The detachment of the English king, which numbered no more than two thousand people, camped near Jaffa. On the morning of August 5, Saladin, who had an army ten times greater than the enemy forces, attempted to defeat the Franks. Thanks to Richard's presence of mind and his decisive actions, the crusaders repulsed the Saracen attack. According to Ambroise, the king himself fought so hard that the skin on his hands tore. Towards the end of the battle, Malik al-Adil, seeing that Richard had lost his horse, sent a Mameluke with two horses to him, since the king was not supposed to fight on foot. Saladin left through Yazur to Latrun.

The Bishop of Salisbury, Hubert Gautier, and Henry of Champagne convinced Richard to begin negotiations, which lasted about a month. Saladin was playing for time, realizing that delay was not beneficial for Richard. On September 2, 1192, peace was concluded. Richard achieved freedom of access for Christians to shrines without paying customs fees and duties and living in Jerusalem, Saladin recognized the coastal lands of Syria and Palestine from Tire to Jaffa as the possessions of the crusaders. For many years, Jaffa became a place where pilgrims came and waited there for permission to continue their journey to Ramla and Jerusalem. The prisoners were freed, including the knight Guillaume de Preaux, thanks to whom Richard escaped captivity. The king of England himself did not dare to visit Jerusalem, feeling guilty, since “he could not snatch it from the hands of his enemies.” Although Jerusalem was not taken, Richard's conquests ensured the existence of a Christian kingdom in the Holy Land for another hundred years.

Events in England

Events that occurred during Richard's absence from England required the king's immediate return. Conflicts between Bishop Longchamp, who received the powers of chancellor from Richard, and the king's brothers did not stop. While still in Sicily, Richard sent the Bishop of Rouen to England, instructing him to resolve the revealed contradictions. The king also wished that Hugh Bardulf succeed his brother William Longchamp as sheriff of the province of York. The king's brother John besieged Lincoln Castle, who wished to take Longchamp under his hand, and captured the castles of Tickhill and Nottingham. The death of Pope Clement forced Longchamp, considered the papal legate, to conclude a peace treaty with John and withdraw his mercenaries who had captured Lincoln. In July 1191, William Longchamp promised to support John's takeover of the English throne if Richard died in the Holy Land. However, the chancellor prevented the return to England of the king's half-brother Geoffrey, who became Archbishop of York. Geoffrey landed at Dover on September 14, was captured there by the Chancellor's men and imprisoned in the fortress along with his retinue. Soon Longchamp released the king's brother, but he, having arrived in London, did not cease to complain about his arbitrariness. Judging by the reports of Hugues de Nuant, Bishop of Lichfield (or Covenry), Longchamp, after several clashes with the men of John Lackland, took refuge in the Tower. On October 8, 1191, in St. Paul's Cathedral, John, with a large crowd of people, removed Longchamp from all posts. After this, representatives of the London townspeople took an oath of allegiance to Richard and John, recognizing the latter as the king's heir. Longchamp resigned his powers, liberated Windsor and the Tower he occupied, and, leaving the hostages, fled from England. Since Longchamp was excommunicated, his diocese, Ely, was deprived of the practice of rites. Eleanor of Aquitaine, who visited several estates in the diocese of Ely, petitioned for the excommunication to be lifted. Meanwhile, Longchamp, having met with the Pope, won him over to his side and managed to get him to be reinstated as papal legate.

Captivity

The Bishop of Bovez, Philippe de Dreux, who returned from the Holy Land, spread rumors about Richard’s treachery. He accused the English king of wanting to hand over Philip Augustus to Saladin, ordered the murder of Conrad of Montferrat, poisoned the Duke of Burgundy and betrayed the cause of the crusaders. According to the chronicler, the Bishop of Beauvaise assured the King of France that Richard was thinking about his murder, and he sent an embassy to the Holy Roman Emperor to turn the latter against the King of England. Chronicler Wilhelm of Neuburg says that Philip Augustus, fearing assassins, surrounded himself with armed guards. The Emperor ordered that if Richard appeared on the lands subordinate to him, he would detain the King of England.

Returning from Palestine, the king made a stop in Cyprus. Here he confirmed Guy Lusignan's rights to the island. On October 9, 1192, Richard left Cyprus. His fleet was caught in a series of storms that lasted six weeks. A few days before the planned landing at Marseilles, the king received news that he would be captured as soon as he set foot on land. He turned back and was forced to land on the Byzantine island of Corfu, where he met two pirate ship. The pirates expressed a desire to negotiate with Richard, who agreed and visited them, accompanied by several associates. Together with the privateer ships, the king continued his journey along the Adriatic coast and landed near Ragusa. The lands where Richard was located belonged to Leopold V's vassal Maynard of Görtz, from whom the king had to obtain permission to pass to the Alps. Realizing that he was risking his freedom, and even his life, he identified himself as the merchant Hugo, accompanying Count Baudouin of Bethune, returning from a pilgrimage. The messenger sent to Maynard also received valuable gifts for Count Görtzky. However, it was the generosity of the imaginary merchant that aroused Maynard’s suspicions that Richard himself was traveling with Count Bethune. Having allowed the pilgrims to cross his lands, Maynard at the same time asked his brother Frederick of Bethes to capture the king. One of Frederick's close associates, a certain Roger d'Argenton, was ordered to search all the houses in the city and find Richard. Seeing the king, d'Argenton begged him to flee as quickly as possible, and Richard, accompanied by only two companions, set off towards Vienna. Three days later, the king stopped in the town of Ginana on the Danube. One of Richard's servants, who knew German, went to buy food. He attracted suspicion by trying to pay with gold bezants, never before seen by local residents. The servant hastily returned to Richard and asked him to urgently leave the city. However, the king was overtaken by an attack of illness, which he had suffered from since he visited Palestine. The fugitives had to stay for several days. On December 21, 1192, the king’s companion again went to the city for food and was arrested because he had young man there were gloves with Richard's coat of arms. The servant was forced to reveal the king's hiding place. Grabbed Richard Georg Roppelt, knight of the Austrian Duke Leopold, who was in Vienna at that time. At first, the King of England was kept in Durnstein Castle, sixty kilometers from Vienna, then in Oxenfurt, near Würzburg. At Oxenfurt, Richard was handed over to Emperor Henry VI. Later, the Trifels fortress became the place of imprisonment. According to Raoul Coggeshall, by order of the emperor, the king was surrounded by guards day and night, but maintained his presence of mind. Guards with drawn swords did not allow anyone to get close to Richard, meanwhile, many wanted to see him, among others - the abbot of Cluny Abbey, Bishop Hugo of Salisbury and Chancellor William Longchamp.

Henry VI in Hagenau, at a specially convened meeting of high-ranking clergy and secular officials, announced a list of charges against Richard. According to the emperor, due to the actions of the English king, he lost Sicily and Apulia, which were claimed by his wife Constance. The emperor did not ignore the overthrow of the Emperor of Cyprus, his relative. According to Henry, Richard sold and resold the island without having any right to do so. The king was also accused of the death of Conrad of Montferrat and an attempt to kill Philip Augustus. The episode with the insult to the banner of the Duke of Austria and the repeatedly shown contempt for the crusaders from Germany were mentioned. Richard, who was present at the meeting, rejected all accusations and, according to the chronicler, his defense was so convincing that he “earned the admiration and respect of everyone.” The emperor himself “was imbued with mercy towards him, but even began to have friendship for him.” The agreement to ransom the King of England was accepted on June 29. The emperor demanded 150 thousand marks - two years' income of the English crown. It is known that Philip Augustus was accused of trying to bribe the emperor: he allegedly offered an amount equal to the ransom or more, if only he would continue to keep Richard in prison, but Henry was kept from breaking his oath by the imperial princes.

In England, Richard's capture became known in February 1193. Eleanor of Aquitaine turned to Pope Celestine III, reproaching him for not doing everything possible to restore Richard's freedom. Celestine excommunicated Leopold of Austria and informed Philip Augustus that he would also be subject to excommunication if he caused damage to the lands of the Crusaders (Richard was one of them), but did nothing against Emperor Henry.

After receiving the conditions under which the king was to be released, all taxpayers were ordered to provide a quarter of the income to raise funds for the ransom. Alienor of Aquitaine personally monitored the implementation of the instructions of the justiciars. When it became clear that the required amount could not be collected, it was decided to send two hundred hostages to the emperor until he received the entire ransom. Alienora personally delivered the money to Germany. On February 2, 1194, at a solemn meeting in Mainz, Richard received his freedom, but was forced to pay homage to the emperor and promise him an annual payment of five thousand pounds sterling. In addition, Richard reconciled the emperor and Duke of Saxony Henry the Lion; the guarantee of agreement was to be the marriage of one of the duke’s sons and a girl from the emperor’s family. On February 4, 1194, Richard and Eleanor left Mainz. According to William of Newburgh, after the departure of the English king, the emperor regretted releasing the prisoner, “a strong tyrant, truly threatening the whole world,” and sent in pursuit of him. When Richard could not be captured, Henry tightened the conditions under which the English hostages were kept.

Philip II sent a letter to John the Landless with the words “Be careful. The devil is on the loose."

End of reign

King Richard in prison (left) and Richard's death at Chaluses (right)

Richard returned to England on March 13, 1194. After a short stay in London, Richard headed to Nottingham, where he besieged the fortresses of Nottingham and Tickhill, occupied by supporters of his brother John. The defenders of the citadels, amazed by the return of the king, surrendered without a fight on March 28. Some of them avoided imprisonment by paying large ransoms to Richard, who was in need of money. On 10 April the king called a solemn Easter Assembly in Northampton, ending on 17 April with his second coronation at Winchester. Before the ceremony, a meeting of castellans and lords subordinate to Richard took place, expressing their loyalty to him. Richard's conflict with Philip Augustus was inevitable; the war was delayed only by severe financial situation England and the need to mobilize all forces to conduct large-scale military operations. Richard also tried to secure the northern and southwestern borders of his lands. In April 1194, for a sum almost equal to the size of his ransom, the king of England confirmed the independence of Scotland, depriving Philip Augustus of a possible ally. On May 12, Richard left England, entrusting the government of the country to Hubert Gautier. The author of the biography of William Marshal talks about the enthusiastic reception given to the king by the inhabitants of the Norman Barfleur. In Lisieux, in the house of Archdeacon John d'Alençon, Richard met with his brother. The king made peace with John and appointed him as heir, despite his past contacts with the king of France, who used every opportunity to expand his possessions at the expense of the lands of the Angevin house. By order of Richard, a list of men was drawn up (the so-called "sergeants' assessment"), representatives of all settlements, which, if necessary, could replenish the king's army. In the spring of 1194, Philip Augustus besieged Verneuil, but withdrew from it on May 28, having received news of Richard's appearance. On June 13, the English king captured the castle of Loches in Touraine. A little later he became a camp at Vendôme. Philip Augustus, having plundered Evreux, went south and stopped near Vendôme. In the clash at Freteval on July 5, Richard gained the upper hand, pursued the retreating French and almost captured Philip. After the battle of Freteval, the parties agreed on a truce.

In dire need of money, Richard allowed knightly tournaments, prohibited by his father, to be held in England. All participants, in accordance with their position, contributed a special fee to the treasury. In 1195, when Normandy suffered due to crop failure, Richard again took advantage of financial assistance from England. The sudden death of Leopold of Austria brought about the release of the hostages he was holding, pending Richard's payment of the remainder of the ransom. Leopold's son, whose excommunication was never lifted, fearing further punishment, released the British.

Fighting between Richard and Philip continued. New meeting The English and French kings took place in Verneuil on November 8, 1195, despite the fact that the parties did not resolve the conflict, the truce was extended until January 13, 1196. A little later, Philip Augustus took Nonancourt and Aumale, almost at the same time Brittany rebelled: its inhabitants sought independence and supported Arthur, the son of Geoffrey of Brittany, an ally of the French king. To quell unrest in this province, Richard's troops made several raids there. These events caused Richard to seek reconciliation with Raymond of Toulouse. The marriage of his sister Joanna with the Count of Toulouse, concluded in October 1196 in Rouen, made the latter an ally of the English king.

Ruins of Chateau-Gaillard. Even " bloody rain", which passed over the castle under construction and was considered a bad omen, did not force Richard to stop the construction of this expensive fortress.

In -1197, Richard built the castle of Château-Gaillard in Normandy near Rouen. Despite the fact that, according to the agreement with Philip, he was not supposed to build fortresses, Richard, who had lost his key Norman citadel of Gisors (in 1193, it went to the French king), completed the construction of Château-Gaillard in record time.

After the death of Emperor Henry VI, the German princes offered the crown of the Holy Roman Empire to the English king. Richard did not accept her, but named the name of the one whom he would like to see as emperor: the son of Matilda’s sister, Otto of Brunswick. In 1197, Richard entered into a treaty with Baudouin of Flanders, who took a vassal oath to the king of England. Thus, his position on the continent strengthened: France found itself surrounded by its allies. In the ongoing skirmishes between the armies of the two kings, luck favored Richard, and last period The war was marked by mutual cruelty towards prisoners. Having suffered a series of defeats, Philip decided to conclude a peace treaty. He met Richard on the Seine between Goulet and Vernon. On January 13, 1199, an agreement was concluded on a five-year truce. The treaty confirmed the rights of Otto of Brunswick to the crown of the Holy Roman Empire and provided for a marriage union between Philip's son and Richard's niece (the identities of the bride and groom were not specified). After the Christmas Assembly in Donfront, Richard headed to Aquitaine. At the beginning of March, he received envoys from Viscount Eimard of Limoges. According to custom, the Viscount offered his lord part of the treasure found on the lands of Ashar, Count of Chalus

Every time I watch another film on the topic of world history, from blockbusters of recent years to silent productions of the 10s and 20s of the 20th century, I become more and more imbued with respect for the peplum genre, no matter what country the film is about: from our country to distant States, or, say, Egypt and Israel (on the topic of the latter, especially many films were made based on biblical pages). This time we will not talk about hot countries, but about events in a country whose language is established as international, but was not such in those times about which this picture was filmed, which in itself is by no means recent years, and was filmed even before the invention of cassette technology, and therefore, watching films from the 70s and older, every time you ask the question “Well, how was this possible in cinema, when the masters of screen art could not even dream of computer graphics?”. We will talk about the perfection of the storyline later, and I hasten to assure you in advance that the praises in my review will be addressed not only to the visual component, but for now I’ll ask again How? I think if I had the opportunity to enter the film academy, there I would have received answers to all my questions in lectures about how the Americans managed to shoot such high-quality and natural active scenes demonstrating large-scale fights and extreme situations, doing all this under adverse weather conditions, but at the same time in complex expensive scenery. Nowadays, you can make the most spectacular movie possible without leaving the studio and without filming on location (films like “Gravity”), or you can do without scenery altogether, using only the actual actors from the real thing, drawing everything else on the computer (the authors of the Russian “Legend of Kolovrat” recently boasted of a similar move). Back in 1999, the super hit “The Mummy” the authors had to film in the real deserts of Africa, where, by the way, there are not only graphic, but also real snakes and scorpions, and actors risked dying in real life, even when, according to the film's script, their characters survived. I wonder how big the risk was for actors who starred in extreme scenes, for example, in the 50s (when Richard the Lionheart was filmed). I want to spend a little of my time telling you about an amazing story based on royal passions that took place in feudal England, shown by the Americans in the film, which in our time has been awarded not only restoration, but also conversion to color. So, what is the film about, bearing a title consisting of the majestic nickname of a legendary historical figure?

The action takes place at a time when King Richard of England, while away, appointed a deputy, after which an attempt was made on the life of the king himself: an arrow made by the Saracens was shot at him so that suspicion would fall on the latter, but miraculously the surviving king knows that the Saracens do not poison their arrows, and therefore he is sure that his own people betrayed him. Meanwhile, a conspiracy is being prepared in England itself, and these events are being discussed in Germany. It will soon become known who exactly wants the death of the king, the fall of England and the victory of the crusaders - this will become clear after the king personally appoints the traitor as a military leader, which clearly plays into the hands of the conspirators. The king is served by a loyal subject of Scottish origin, and the king trusts and respects him, although he admits that in general he hates this nation. The Scotsman turns out to be the lover of the king's cousin, which could lead to the Scotsman's death, but his love is higher than the fear of death, especially when it is mutual. The Scotsman goes to the lands of the Saracens, lying in the deserts, along the way he will have to fight with one of the representatives of this people, after which they will become friends and go further, helping each other out in different situations, one of which will be an attack by the traitors of the king, who were following in the footsteps of the Scotsman . The travelers return, and the Saracen conveys to the English king a message from the leader of the Saracens: he offers the king a fair one-on-one fight in order to save the army of both sides. Of the events that take place next, not everything will be clear to a person who knows little about the history of feudal England, but you can perceive everything that happens in the last third of the film as simply colorful and fascinating story about interethnic conflicts ; marriages entered into for the sake of peace among nations; competitions organized to determine dominance; and just war, peace, love and betrayal. It is worth noting that the film briefly mentions the ascension to the English throne of Prince John in the absence of his brother Richard; we are well aware of these events from films about Robin Hood. The final battle in this film, and the end of the story, cannot but evoke strong emotions.

If you respect England and are interested in its history; if you are delighted with old and new masterpieces about Robin Hood and other famous national British heroes; if you just enjoy it beautiful, dynamic, exciting and spectacular productions, dedicated to the passions of kings, kings and nobles, masters and slaves, military leaders and ordinary soldiers; rooted in the depths of centuries, then a film like “Richard the Lionheart” will definitely not leave you indifferent, because a perfectly structured storyline with many twists and significant events will literally take you to 12th century England. Welcome!

September 8, 1157, in the family Henry II of England And Alienora of Aquitaine was born strange creature. "A knight with the heart of a lion and the head of a donkey." Exactly Karl Marx, a prominent publicist of his time, many years later would characterize the figure of the King of England: Richard the Lionheart.

The definition is biting. And the image of Richard that has developed in popular culture does not correspond one bit. In fact: what is this man famous for? The first associative series is simple. First of all, he is one of the most prominent heroes of the Crusades era. Then - the king of England. And not just a king, but one who left the most rosy memories among the people: fair, and honest, and an intercessor for you. Finally, the friend and patron of the famous “noble robber”, an unsurpassed archer Robin Hood.

However, mass culture is only mass culture because there is little truth in it. Let's start with the fact that the famous archer Robin Hood, who robbed the rich and shared with the poor, if he existed, then at least three hundred years after the death of Richard. The rest will have to be dealt with in more detail.

The Third Crusade, of which Richard was one of the participants, was planned as revenge. By that time, the main thing was why it was started global project“Let us return the Holy Sepulcher to the hands of Christians” was lost. Muslims occupied Jerusalem and had no intention of leaving. Looking ahead, let's say that they never left, despite all the heroism of Richard and his comrades. The king-knight himself felt guilty to death for the fact that he could not “snatch the Holy City from the hands of the enemy of the Cross.”

However, in the Holy Land he succeeded in something else. In particular, he earned his nickname there, with which he went down in history. I can imagine romantic feats, where our hero alone fights a hundred Muslims and wins. Something similar actually happened. This is how the Chronicle of Ambroise describes the fighting king: “Richard gave spurs to his horse and rushed as quickly as he could to support the front ranks. Flying faster than arrows on his horse Fauvel, which has no equal in the world, he attacked the mass of enemies with such force that they were completely knocked down, and our riders threw them out of the saddle. The brave king, prickly like a hedgehog from the arrows that pierced his shell, pursued them, and around him, in front and behind, a wide path opened, covered with dead Saracens. The Turks fled like a herd of cattle."

Beautiful. But “Lionheart” is not at all about such stories, of which there were indeed plenty. He received his nickname for a single episode associated with the capture of Acre.

Siege of Acre. reproduction

Actually, there was no capture as such. There was an honorable surrender of the city. After a long and tedious siege, Richard's enemy, Sultan Salah ad-Din, sent the keys to the fortress. Everything is as it should be. After this, there was also an exchange of prisoners. When, already on the fortieth day after the surrender of the city, Richard realized that he would not receive captured Christians, the following was done: 2,700 Muslims were taken outside the walls of Acre. And in full view of the Sultan’s troops, they were cut down in cold blood. For this act, Muslims first nicknamed the king “Heart of Stone.” Then, however, they learned the details: “carriage servants, the poor, Kurds, and in general all insignificant people, including women and children” were released by Richard without ransom. Then the nickname was changed to one that is familiar to us. What is fair: a lion can sometimes be cruel beyond measure, but one cannot expect meanness from him.

Victorious Saladin. reproduction/ Gustave Doré

That campaign is generally remembered for some incredible number of legends associated with a chivalrous attitude towards the enemy. Let's say, in the Battle of Jaffa, which the crusaders won, Richard's horse was killed. His opponent, brother of Sultan Saladin Malik al-Adil, sent a horse to the king: “My enemy of such a high kind should not fight on foot!”

For his part, Richard did not shy away from Muslims. He received the same al-Adil in his camp: “The King of England met him in his tent in the most honorable manner, after which he took him to his place and ordered him to serve those dishes that are considered especially pleasant and desirable among this people. Al-Adil ate these dishes, and the king and his companions ate the dishes offered by al-Adil. Their conversation lasted well into the afternoon, and they parted, assuring each other of perfect friendship and sincere affection.”

Richard and Saladin. reproduction

Then the king came up with almost the only sensible and original thought in his entire life. He even developed a project that could solve the problem of Jerusalem and Christian shrines in general with peace. And this world could suit everyone. The idea is simple. The king has a sister Zhanna the Beautiful, former Queen of Sicily. Sultan Saladin has a brother Malik, with whom Richard already feasted. What if they got married? They could jointly rule the entire Palestinian coastline. And they would have lived in Jerusalem, ruling over the resulting Christian-Muslim dominion, and such a tandem would have allowed the Latin clergy to freely perform divine services at the Most Holy Shrine of the Lord, while Muslims could continue to pray in their mosques.

Richard the Lionheart and Joanna meet King Philip II Augustus of France. reproduction

Saladin unexpectedly liked the project. His brother too. Only Jeanne the Beautiful herself was horrified by marriage to a Muslim. The matter never worked out.

Things did not work out for the English king and in England. Which is not surprising. He didn't know English. In England, during the 10 years of formal rule, he spent at most six months. He was not interested in English affairs, although he took an oath upon ascending the throne: “To carry out righteous justice to the people entrusted to me, to destroy bad laws and perverted customs, should such be found in my kingdom, and to protect the good ones.”

But he demanded money. And considerable ones. Exploits in the Holy Land were very, very expensive. Another thing is that the collection of the so-called “Saladin tithe” was led by the king’s brother, John, famous in folk songs as "Greedy John". Richard himself, concerned not with the prosperity of England, but with the war in Syria, remained in memory as the “good” king. And not only in folk. The official chronicler left the following note about Richard the Lionheart: “So, the son, rising above the horizon, continued the good works of his father, stopping those that were bad. Those whom the father dispossessed, the son restored to their former rights. The exiles were returned from exile. The son, chained in iron by his father, released them unharmed. Those to whom the father determined various punishments in the name of justice, the son pardoned in the name of piety.”

Image of the English king Richard I the Lionheart covered with an aura of romance and courage. His name was often mentioned in medieval epic as a hero of legends and novels. But if we look at history, everything turns out to be not so rosy. And the king received the nickname “Lionheart” not for his outstanding courage, but for his incredible cruelty.

Richard the Lionheart was the son of King Henry II of the Plantagenet dynasty and Alienora of Aquitaine, one of the richest and most powerful women of that period. The mother actively intervened in the politics of England and France, which is why over time the relationship between the spouses became very strained. It got to the point that Eleanor of Aquitaine rebelled against the king and returned to her castle in Poitiers (Aquitaine). Henry II was supported by his three sons, and Richard chose to side with his mother.

Historical chronicles have preserved a lot of information about the strong connection between Richard the Lionheart and Alienora of Aquitaine. The son was brought up under the influence of his mother and being in mature age I always listened to her advice. The mother even went on a crusade with her son, although this was completely unusual for women of that time.

When Richard the Lionheart ascended the English throne (by the way, he didn’t even know in English), he spent only six months in the country itself. The king immediately began to prepare for the Third Crusade, a vow to participate in which he had made long before. While Richard earned fame in battles on foreign soil, England suffered most of all, because the inhabitants were forced to pay huge taxes to support the army. During the reign of Richard I, the country was practically ruined.

The English king became the hero of numerous literary works. Thus, in the novels of the 14th-15th centuries, his image is almost ideal. Allegedly, in a fight with a lion, Richard put his hand into its mouth and tore out its pulsating heart. But in fact, he was nicknamed “Lionheart” for a completely different reason.

During the Third Crusade, Richard I captured the city of Acre and negotiated with Saladin for a prisoner exchange. When the Muslim leader failed to exchange anyone, Richard the Lionheart ordered the death of 2,700 prisoners. For this, Muslims nicknamed him Stone Heart. A little later, when the peace treaty was signed, the English king executed another 2,000 captured Saracens because the Muslim commander was not in a hurry to fulfill all the terms of the treaty.

Another nickname for the king was Richard Yes-and-No. This is a kind of ridicule from his subjects for the fact that he often changed his decisions, being influenced from outside.

The English king had enough opponents not only among Muslims, but also among Christians. Intrigues and the struggle for influence in the European arena led to the fact that after returning from Crusade Richard was captured by the Holy Roman Emperor Henry VI.

According to legend, at first no one knew that Richard was languishing in captivity. But one day the troubadour Blondel passed by the prison and hummed a song composed by the English king. And then suddenly a voice was heard from the prison window, singing along with him.

The emperor asked for 150 thousand marks for the king's ransom. This amount amounted to the taxes of the British for two years. The first to rush to the king's rescue was Alienor of Aquitaine. She ordered a quarter of their income to be collected from people. The English medieval historian William of Newburgh wrote that after the release of Richard, Emperor Henry VI lamented that he had not left “a strong tyrant, truly threatening the whole world” to languish in prison.

The king died during another battle. It was the siege of the castle of Chalus-Chabrol in Limousin. The king was wounded by a crossbow arrow. The cause of death was blood poisoning. Richard the Lionheart died in the presence of Eleanor of Aquitaine.

The king's mother herself lived a long life.