Richard the Lionheart

## Richard I of England

King of England

Eleanor of Aquitaine

(In Aquitaine)

Matilda FitzCornwall

William FitzCornwall

Richard FitzCornwall

Joan FitzCornwall

Henry FitzRoy

Edith FitzRoy

**Richard I of England** (C. 1130 - 1164) was known as **Richard the Lionheart** for his many military victories, was the second child of Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine, from birth his parents styled Prince Richard, Earl of Cornwall and Richmond, and also knight of the Garter, Richard was known to be his mothers favourate child, but his fathers third least favourate child. Richard was also known to have a bad relationship with his elder brother Henry the Young and his younger sister by a year Constance of England, Richard was raised mostly with his sisters Princess Joan, and Matilda in Aquitaine, when Richard was 11, he stepped foot in England for the first time with his sister's whom he was very close to, he wen't to Wales after his brother had gotten a bride there, and wen't to Cardiff Castle, Richard was the perfect child according to Eleanor, he knew Welsh unlike his older brother and sister, and he had great manners, at first, he was bethrothed to Joan de Bohun, who was a English noblewoman, but Joan died of yellow fever, and Richard was promptly married to the younger half-sister of the Queen Consort of France, her name was Berengaria of Navarre, al though Richard was unfaithful, he never wasted time giving his wife money, presents and political positions. When Richard's older brother Henry was killed while on a Bridge in the Earldom of Cambridge, Richard was next in line, this pleased Eleanor a lot who declared Richard Heir to her Duchy in Aquitaine. When Richard defeated his father in the battle of Richmond-Somerset, his father died a month later after being strangled by Eleanor on Richards orders, Richard and his Queen were crowned, Richard never spent time with his wife because he was on crusade most of the time. Richard had many mistresses while on Crusade, most of his mistresses were peasents and nobles of Jerusalem, but while Richard was making his way from Germany to England, his sister Isabella who hated Richard, captured him, and sold him to Richard's other sister Constance, Eleanor in horror payed Constance 100 euros, to let Richard free, Constance accepted, but not without embarrasing her brother, her brother was whipped with a rope, in front of Constance's friends, and servents. Then when Richard begged for mercy, Constance instead sent back the 100 euros, and dragged him to Arce without clothes, then Constance imprisoned Richard, then strangled, mocked, and beat Richard with a heated rod in front of his 12 year old illegitimate daughter. Richard died and his body was dragged to Oxfordshire, Richard was succeeded by his little brother John (Who was known as "John Lackland."

## Early Life

### Birth

Richard was born on 1130, in the Duchy of Brittany, which was a territory owned by Richard's father Henry II of England, Richard's mother Eleanor of Aquitaine, she was his mothers favourate as he inherited every body feature of Eleanor of Aquitaine, Richard was named after an unknown Anglo-Saxon King of Mercia. His mother appointed Hodierna of St Albans as Richard's wet nurse, Richard's birth was celebrated in France and England, Richard had an older brother named Henry the Young and a year after his birth his mother gave Richard a sister named Constance, Richard had 5 older half-siblings whom were Alix, Louis VIII of France, Blanche, Marie, and St. Agnes of France.

### Investments

When Richard turned 3, his father made Richard Earl of Cornwall, and 7 months later he was made Earl of Richmond, Richard's father then gave him a less important Earldom, which was the Earldom of Middlesex. Richard was the 4th most powerful person in England after his Father, Mother, and brother. Over year later on his 5th birthday, Richard was appointed Earl of Dorset, right after the Earl of Dorset died with no legitimate male heir, he was also appointed Lord of the Manor in Yorkshire, but Richard never visited the Manor until he was 21 years old.

### Education

Richard indeed was the smartest of the children of Henry II of England and Eleanor of Aquitaine, he knew perfect French/Latin/Welsh/Flemish/Greek/Hebrew/Italian/Sicilian/Hungarian/German/Norman/Navarrese/Catalan/Spanish and Aquitainian, which impressed his mother who showed Richard off as a smart and handsome child, his siblings Constance and Henry the Young were indeed jealous of Richard, and always tried to be better then him. Richard was no close to any of his brothers, nor much of his younger sisters, but he was close to his sister Joan, and very close to his sister Matilda.

### Knight of the Garter

When Richard was 10, he was already solving hard math problems, and reading and barely stuttering, he was also writing perfect script and beating profesinals in sword fighting. When he wen't to Normandy in 1140 his father knighted him Knight of the Garter along side Robert I of Dublin and Louis VIII of France. The celebration that followed was a drinking party, at 10, Richard had a grand appitite, he drank and ate meats and ducks, after he was knighted, a grand-master knight took Richard to Poiters to start training as a warior.

### Bethrothal and Marriage

Richard was a wealthy Prince, and very worthy of a wealthy noblewoman/royal, on his 11th birthday, he wen't to Wales and spoke Welsh perfectly, when he was entering, he met with his brother Henry the Young who was also Junior king of England, the Young King disliked Richard for being the favourate and kicked him down the stairs, but Richard got up un-harmed and punched Henry were a hurt most, when he arrived the whole Welsh court was amazed to see such a polite Prince he bowed down before the Welsh Prince who smirked at the little boy, he then announced in perfect Welsh he wanted a bride, Richard met a French-English noble named Mary de Bohun, Mary was 8 years old at the time and Richard called her "Magdalene" like in Mary Magdalene. But sadly Mary was poisoned by an noble who wanted Richard to marry there daughter, but Richard met another woman, she was born in Navarre, and she was the younger-half-sister to the wife of Louis VIII of France. The Princess was named Berengaria of Navarre, Richard proposed to her, despite Berengaria being a higher rank, she still accepted because Richard was very rich. They were married in Normandy and brought to London to move in, Richard's father despised Richard as he believed Richard was a political threat like Richard's sister Constance and his brother Henry.

## England

In 1141, 4 weeks after Richard married Berengaria, they were invited of Yorkshire in Pontefract Castle, when Richard arrived, he was greeted by cheering crowds in York, his bride followed his horse with hers, Berengaria spoke very little English, but she was able to put up with the languaege, Richard did not live in Pontefract for long, Richard and his wife and mother moved to Richmond Palace in Richmond, Richard was a neat prince, his Castle was so perfect, that one noble claimed "There ins'nt a single speck of dirt on the floor." Some people living in Richmond did get bored of Richards perfect life style, Richard was strict about cleanliness and perfection, Berengaria of Navarre complained "He is too perfect, if any is to know what a girl like me means, it gets kind of fret when everything is to clean, if you know what I say?" Richard gave his sisters there own establishments in Richmond Palace.

## Third Crusade

When Richard turned 12 years old in 1140, Richard was at the age to start crusading, his father did not wan't to train him, but Eleanor trained him in her army, Richard joined the Aquitainian army a month after, Richard's mother took Richard on Crusade to Romania where Richard started killing Ottomans, Richard was excelled in sword fighting and was indeed the best of his siblings, Eleanor was very impressesed and on campagin to Jerusalem, Richard showed his skills of to Hungarian noble-woman, while Richard was in a coven resting before crusading in Jerusalem, he met Hungarian noble Ysabele de Paist, Ysabele fell in love with Richard and Richard indeed loved her back, as expected Berengaria hated Ysabele very much. Ysabele gave birth to Richard's illegitimate child 9 months later while Richard was in Hafia, a famous city in Jerusalem, when Richard heard the news, he knew he had to hide the child from Berengaria, or Berengaria would go in a jealous rage, and murder the child, Eleanor asured Richard she would help hide the baby, it took a 4 week journey to go all the way back to Romania, Ysabele gave birth to a daughter Richard named Margaret, Richard's daughter was named "Margaret FitzCornwall" because Richard was the Earl of Cornwall. Richard's mother convinced Richard to go home with his mistress to hide the child, but Richard refused instead he once again left his mistress and child in Romania and on campain to Syria, he yet found another mistress, who was no other then Mafalda de Molina, Mafalda was not really a crusader, she only accompanied her husband the Duke of Alba. Richard had another child with her, this time twins, Richard stayed 9 months on campain, enough for Mafalda to have Matilda FitzCornwall and Richard FitzCornwall. Mafalda's husband attempted to murdered Mafalda for having an affair which caused Richard to murder the Duke of Alba. Richard came home with his mistresses who constantly were fighting with each other, and his 3 children, the 14 year old gave his mistresses seprate castles to take care of there children.

## 4th Crusade

Not long after the 5th Crusade, the Pope called a second Crusade, Berengaria made sure this time Richard snuck no mistresses, but on Campain to Turkey, Richard had an affair with a Welsh noblewoman and sired twins, Berengaria in jealousy murdered the Welsh noblelady, Richard never scolded his wife and allowed her to kill anyone she wanted (Except illegitimate children) even his mistresses, when they arrived in Turkey, Berengaria played the role as a "Faithful" wife to ensure her husband would forget the fact that she murdered his mistress, although Richard never cared, he still accepted her help and was happy to have her march the army's with him. Berengaria was no that good of a warrior, but Richard did not wan't her to be good, he feared Berengaria would be a better warrior then him, Richard always wanted to be on top no matter what, so he never bothered to teach her. After his victory he wen't on crusade to a few other countries and wen't home victorious, he was nicknamed "Richard Ironside" and "Richard the Lionheart."

## Family Feud

When Richard returned for a visit with his parents, he and his brother Henry got into a fight, Henry dismissed Richard after he hit him, after that his father wrote a long script called *The acts of succession*, which declared Richard's younger brother Prince John would become king after him, even though John was not the eldest son like Henry and Richard, this outraged Eleanor who declared Richard should take the crown, but Henry declared he was the eldest and he should take the crown, and he had 2 sisters and a powerful friend that agreed. And just like that the family wen't to war with each other, Richard's sister's Constance and Isabella Henry's wife Mary of Gloucester and few friends sided with Henry the Young King as the next heir, Richard's wife Berengaria, his mistresses, and his sisters Matilda and Joan and Eleanor sided with him. John was only 3 years old and did not know he was even heir, Richard was named heir to Aquitaine instead on Henry, which caused Henry to be even more outraged and he had Constance raid Surrey and Normandy, when the 5th Crusade was called the family separated from each other in hatred, after they 5th Crusade they fought again.

## 5th Crusade

Richard had been prepared for the 5th Crusade sense the 4th one, the Pope fondly called Richard "The King of Preparing." Richard's fighting talent earned him many nick-names. Richard was already prepared when while other European powers were starting to get prepared, 5 months later the Pope declared the 5th Crusade, Richard was 15 years old, he took his wife and mother to Jaffa and Hafia in Jerusalem. Richard wen't to Jerusalem were he was shot in the rib-cage with an arrow, Richard only needed a 5 day recovery, he still had the wound, but he could not feel it, which earned him the nickname "Richard Iron-chest." Richard met victory when he burned down an Ottoman military base, but the fire spread all across the city of Modessa, Turkey, the fire was known as *The Great Fire of Modessa* which was a devastating loss for Modessa, Richard earned another nickname "Savior Richard" which mainly the people called him. Modessa was an important city because of its beauty, the Sultan was furious and killed a famous crusader named William Donketter, who was a Dutch Crusader. But Richard was not done, he wen't to Bulgaria and slaughtered thousands, but he was forced to flee the battle field when a fire broke out that killed thousands on both sides, Richard came back to Bulgaria just to find out another fire broke out, and he never returned there for the whole 5th Crusade, he wen't to Slovenia instead were Sengal Turks were, the Sengals were like to Ottomans, but less powerful, Richard did not wan't to set fire to Slovenia in fear he would get caught up in it, so instead he launched a donkey to start, the Donkey did hit anyone but an innocent cook delivering food to the Visconti family, after that Richard decided to lead a raid against the Seljuik Turks in Slovenia, this time it was a victory and all the seljuiks were chased out, the Queen of Slovenia Blanche was honored, and knighted Richard a nicknamed him "Richard Iron-eye." The second he came home, he plotted to over-throw his brother and father in the family feud.

## Second Family Feud

When he entered his father Castle, his parents were fighting, Richard instead wen't home, just to find his once clean castle covered in blood, Henry murdered Richard's illegitimate son, Henry and Richard got into a fist fight, Richard was undoubtly stronger, but Henry was more prepared, and stepped on Richard's throat causing him to puke blood. Richard survived and threw Henry down the stairs, Henry got up and threw an arrow at him, Henry's best friend Edward joined him, Edward held Richard down as Henry strangled him with a cloth, Richard kicked Henry off, but Henry's second side-kick Constance stopped him, Constance got her chance and slot Richards right hand, Richard had no choice but to fight Constance, Richard never fought Constance before, but he sure wined, Richard grabbed Constance's hanker-chief and strangled her, Henry and Edward came to her rescue, but were kicked off, Edward then stabbed Richard with a read hott poker, Richard took his focus off Constance who was fainted, Constance was carried back to Surrey, while Richard, Henry and Edward were beating each other up, the second feud ended when Henry and Edward were so beaten up, they had to flee.

## 6th Crusade

After the long feud, Richard only trusted his 2 sisters Matilda and Joan, when he heard we was going on another crusade, he forgot about his problems and started crusading, this crusade only lasted 3 years, during this crusade Richard wen't to Armenia to help King Leo X escape from exile, Leo with Richard's help reclaimed his lost throne, Richard then wen't to Jerusalem with Louis VIII of France, Louis offered to help Richard get from Jerusalem to Jordan, but Richard declined his help and wen't alone with his army, he slaughtered everyone who was no a crusader in Jordan, including innocence, Richard declared himself "Lord of Jordan" and forced everyone to convert to Christianity, but many practiced in Islam in secret, only 19.7% converted Christianity, Richard was nicknamed by most of the people of Jordan as "Lord of Evil" and his wife was nicknamed "The mad woman" which Berengaria took personally, Berengaria not being fond of her nickname ordered a slaughter of the Jordanese people, the people revolted by burning statues of Berengaria and replacing them with Muhammad, Berengaria's staff were forced to bow down to the people, Richard in fear Jordan would gain independance, re built the statues of his wife, and adopted stricter ways of ruling, and appointed close vassals as governors, Richard made his illegitimate son Richard FitzCornwall heir to Jordan. After the 6th Crusade Richard celebrated with his mother over his conquest of Jordan.

## Final war against Henry the Young

Henry was still plotting revenge against his brother, Henry thought raiding Cornwall was a good idea, so Henry wen't with Constance and Edward to invade Cornwall, when Richard's spies alerted Eleanor of Aquitaine about the raid, Eleanor ran to Richard imdieatly, once Richard heard the news, he gathered his army and raced from Richmond to Cornwall, which took 6 days, once he arrived many people were dead, he headed twords east Cornwall, were he captured many knights, he headed west were Henry the Young killed Richard's best friend William, 1st Earl of Lincoln, Richard was so angry he got way to aggresive, he captured his older brother and killed his brother's best friend, and Henry in grief, Constance and Henry surrendered and begged Richard for mercy, Richard looked down and then Constance and Henry were arrested and sent to the tower, 5 months later Richard felt bad for Constance and thought she was manipulated by Henry, Henry's wife and daughter were also let out, but Henry managed to escape by getting the support of the prisoners in the tower, he managed to free both them and himself.

## Heir to the Throne

Henry the Young swore he would never fight Prince Richard ever again, and instead work twords killing his father to gain his lost throne, Richard did not stop him, while Henry was raiding Cambridge, Henry was stabbed and killed, Henry's daughter Mary of England was next in-line because she had no brothers, Richard was very unhappy, he waited years for Henry the Young King to die, just to find out Mary was next in-line, but Richard did not wan't to kill Mary, Richard never wanted to kill a child, so he got support of the nobles, and deposed the 8 year old co-Queen, but Richard felt really bad, so he raised her and promised to find her a husband, Richard was named Co-King after he deposed her, but his father desprately wanted John to succeed him, so his father attempted to depose Richard, but he ripped up the abdication papers.

## King of England

In 1149, Richard was 19 years old and well built, he led an army against his father and convinced is 12 year old son Prince John to betray Henry, John listened and they forced Henry into imprisonment, while imprisoned he was forced to read the names of all Richard's supporters, John's name was first, Henry was so devastated at his betrayal, that he died a month later, Richard was crowned King of England, Duke of Normandy, Duke of Brittany, Count of Anjou, Nantes, Poiters and Angouleme, and finally Lord of Ireland. Constance offered her support now that he was king, Richard accepted and he gave Constance premisson to enter any of his colonies, but Richard still did not trust Constance enough, and forced Constance to give up her Castle in Surrey to Richard's sister Matilda, in fury imprisoned Matilda, and later murdered her.

## Capture and Imprisonment

Richard wen't alone to the holy lands on the 7th Crusade, until his sister Isabella kidnapped him, Isabella hated Richard because her favourate sister Constance did, Constance offered Isabella and her husband money for the king, Isabella and her husband accepted, and sent Richard to Sicily were Constance lived, Richard was imprisoned at St. Maria's Castle, Catania, and he was no treated like a king, Eleanor of Aquitaine begged Constance to have mercy on Richard she wrote "Please have mercy on sweet Richard." Eleanor offered Constance 100 euros in return of Richards freedom, at first she agreed, but she ordered Richard be wipped upside down, but then she broke the deal with her mother and kept Richard in Sicily, Richard begged Constance to let him free, but she refused, Eleanor of Aquitaine died leaving Richard Duke of Aquitaine, and Berengaria of Navarre was left in charge of Richard's vast empire. When 6 years passed, Richard was still imprisoned, Constance moved Richard to a dark prison cell, Richard was hard broken when he heard Constance had murdered his favourate sister Matilda.

## Murder

10 years into Richard's imprisonment, Richard turned 34, his wife was 29. Berengaria sent Richard's old toys he had when he was 4, but Constance destroyed them, Constance was still cruel and wanted revenge on Richard for dissing her. So she lied to Richard saying she would let him free, Richard so excited to move back to England, but Richard was held down, then Constance stepped on his throat and cut his throat open, when he would not die, Constance dragged Richard to Arce, were she slit Richard in the face and stabbed him 28 times in the chest, Richard was wounded and very close to death, but not yet dead, at last, Constance strangled him with the same hanker chief he strangled her with and he finally died, Richard's body was given to his wife whom was devastated, Richard was burried next to his brother Henry the Young, Constance died a year after. Richard's legacy is that of a strong man, with an unfortunet downfall.