Richard the Lionheart Search TheMiddleAges.net Richard the Lionheart Richard I (September 8, 1157 – April 6, 1199) was King of England from 1189 to 1199. He was often referred to as Richard the Lionheart, Coeur de Lion. He was considered a hero in his day and has often been portrayed as one in works of literature. Early life The third of King Henry II's legitimate sons, Richard was never expected to accede to the throne. He was, however, the favourite son of his mother, Eleanor of Aquitaine. Although born in Oxford, England, he soon came to know France as his home. When his parents effectively separated, he remained in Eleanor's care, and was invested with her duchy of Aquitaine in 1168, and of Poitiers in 1172. This was his consolation prize for the fact that his eldest brother, Henry the Young King, was simultaneously crowned as his father's successor. Richard and his other brother, Geoffrey, duke of Brittany, thus learned how to defend their property while still teenagers.

As well as being an educated man, able to compose poetry in French and Provençal, Richard was also a magnificent physical specimen, his height is estimated at six feet four inches (1.93 m) tall, and gloried in military activity. From an early age he appeared to have significant political and military abilities, became noted for his chivalry and courage, and soon was able to control the unruly nobles of his territory. As with all the true-born sons of Henry II, Richard had limited respect for his father and lacked foresight and a sense of responsibility. In 1170, his elder brother Henry the Young King was crowned king of England as Henry III. Historians know him as Henry "the Young King" so as not to confuse him with the later king of this name who was his nephew. In 1173, Richard joined his brothers, Henry and Geoffrey, Duke of Brittany, in a revolt against their father. They were planning to dethrone their father and leave the Young King as the only king of England. Henry II invaded Aquitaine twice.

At the age of seventeen, Richard was the last of the brothers to hold out against Henry; though, in the end, he refused to fight him face to face and humbly begged his pardon. In 1174, after the end of the failed revolt, Richard gave a new oath of subservience to his father. After his failure Richard concentrated on putting down internal revolts by the dissatisfied nobles of Aquitaine, especially the territory of Gascony. The increasing cruelty of his reign led to a major revolt of Gascony in 1183. Richard had a terrible reputation, including reports of various rapes and murders. The rebels hoped to dethrone Richard and asked his brothers Henry and Geoffrey to help them succeed. Their father feared that the war between his three sons could lead to the destruction of his kingdom. He led the part of his army that served in his French territories in support of Richard. The Young King's death on June 11, 1183, ended the revolt, and Richard remained on his throne. Young Henry's death left Richard as the eldest surviving son and the natural heir when the old King died. However, there was some uncertainty over King Henry's intentions.

When Geoffrey also died, Richard was the only realistic possibility, his youngest brother, John, being too weak and inexperienced to be considered as an alternative. From the Young King's death Richard was considered -- though not officially proclaimed -- heir to the joint thrones of England, Normandy and Anjou. In 1188 Henry II planned to concede Aquitaine to his youngest son John Lackland, later King John of England. In opposition to his father's plans, Richard allied himself with King Philip II of France, the son of Eleanor's ex-husband Louis VII by his third wife, Adela of Blois. In exchange for Philip's help against his father, Richard promised to concede his rights to both Normandy and Anjou to Philip. Richard gave an oath of subservience to Philip in November of the same year. In 1189 Richard attempted to take the throne of England for himself by joining Philip's expedition against his father. They were victorious. Henry, with John's consent, agreed to name Richard his heir. On July 6, 1189 Henry died in Chinon, and Richard succeeded him as King of England, Duke of Normandy, and Count of Anjou.

He was officially crowned duke on July 20 and king in Westminster on September 3, 1189. Reign As a result of an incident during Richard's coronation celebrations, religious and political persecution of the Jews took place throughout the country. Richard has been criticised for doing little for England, siphoning the kingdom's resources by appointing Jewish moneylenders to support his tirades away on Crusade in the Holy Land, indeed, he spent only six months of his ten year reign in England, claiming it was "cold and always raining." See image of Effigy on tomb in Fontevrault Abbey -> Richard had one major reason for discontent with his father. Henry had appropriated Princess Alice (not the same Alice as Richard's half-sister), the daughter of the French king and Richard's betrothed, as his mistress. This made a marriage between Richard and Alice technically impossible - at least in the eyes of the church, but Henry, not wishing to cause a diplomatic incident, prevaricated and did not confess to his misdeed. As for Richard, he was discouraged from renouncing Alice because she was Philip's sister.

Leaving the country in the hands of various officials he designated (including his mother, at times), Richard spent only a small fraction of his reign in England, being far more concerned with his possessions in what is now France and his battles in Palestine. He had grown up on the Continent, and had never seen any need to learn the English language. Soon after his accession to the throne, he decided to join the Third Crusade, inspired by the loss of Jerusalem to the "infidels" under the command of Saladin. Afraid that, during his absence, the French might usurp his territories, Richard tried to persuade Philip to join the Crusade as well. Philip agreed and both gave their crusader oaths on the same date. Richard did not concern himself with the future of England. He wanted to engage in an adventure that would cause the troubadours to immortalise his name, as well as guaranteeing him a place in heaven. The evidence suggests that he had deep spiritual needs, and he swore an oath to renounce his past wickedness in order to show himself worthy to take the cross. He started to raise a new English crusader army, though most of his warriors were Normans, and supplied it with weapons.

He spent most of his father's treasury (filled with money raised by the Saladin tithe), raised taxes, and even agreed to free King William I of Scotland from his oath of subservience to Richard in exchange for 10,000 marks. To raise even more money he sold official positions, rights, and lands to those interested in them. He finally succeeded in raising a huge army and navy. After repositioning the part of his army he left behind so that it would guard his French possessions, Richard finally started his expedition to the Holy Land in 1190. Richard appointed as regents Hugh, Bishop of Durham, and William de Mandeville, who soon died and was replaced by Richard's chancellor William Longchamp. Richard's brother John was not satisfied by this decision and started scheming against William. The struggle for Sicily In September 1190 both Richard and Philip arrived in Sicily. In 1189 King William II of Sicily had died. His heir was his aunt Constance, later Queen Constance of Sicily, who was married to Emperor Henry VI.

But immediately after William's death, William's cousin, Tancred, rebelled, seized control of the island and was crowned early in 1190 as King Tancred I of Sicily. He was favored by the people and the pope but had problems with the island's nobles. Richard's arrival caused even more problems. Tancred had imprisoned William's widow, Queen Joan Plantagenet, who was Richard's sister, and did not give her the money she had inherited according to William's will. Richard demanded that his sister be released and given her inheritance. Meanwhile the presence of two foreign armies caused unrest among the people. In October, the people of Messina revolted, demanding that the foreigners leave the island. Richard attacked Messina and captured it on October 4, 1190. After looting and burning the city Richard established his base in it. He remained there until March 1191 when Tancred finally agreed to sign a treaty. The treaty was signed during the same month by Richard, Philip and Tancred. According to the treaty's main terms: Joan was to be released, receiving her inheritance along with the dowry her father had given to the deceased William.

Richard and Philip recognized Tancred as legal King of Sicily and vowed to keep the peace between all three of their kingdoms. Richard officially proclaimed his nephew, the son of Geoffrey, Arthur of Brittany, as his heir, and Tancred promised to later marry one of his daughters to Arthur when he came of age (Arthur was only four years old at the time). After signing the treaty Richard and Philip left Sicily. The treaty undermined England's relationships with the Holy Roman Empire and caused the revolt of Richard's brother John, who hoped to be proclaimed heir instead of their nephew. Although his revolt failed, John continued to scheme against his brother after this point. Richard on the Third Crusade During April Richard stopped on the Byzantine island of Rhodes to avoid the stormy weather. He left in May but a new storm drove Richard's fleet to Cyprus. On May 6, 1191, Richard's fleet arrived in the port of Lemesos (now Limassol). Richard captured the city. When the island's despot Isaac Dukas Comnenus arrived to stop the Crusaders he discovered he was too late, and retired to Kolossi. Richard called Isaac to negotiations but Isaac broke his oath of hospitality and started demanding Richard's departure.

Richard ordered his cavalry to follow him in a battle against Isaac's army in Tremetusia. The few Roman Catholics of the island joined Richard's army and so did the island's nobles who were dissatisfied with Isaac's seven years of tyrannical rule. Though Isaac and his men fought bravely, Richard's army was bigger and better equipped, assuring his victory. Isaac continued to resist from the castles of Pentadactylos but after the siege of his castle of Kantaras he finally surrendered. Richard became the new ruler of Cyprus. Richard looted the island and massacred those trying to resist him. Meanwhile, Richard was finally able to marry the woman to whom he was engaged, who had been brought by his mother to join him on the crusade route. His marriage to Princess Berengaria of Navarre, first-born daughter of King Sancho VI of Navarre, was held in Limassol on May 12, 1191. It was attended by his sister Joan, whom Richard had brought from Sicily. There were no children from the marriage; opinions vary as to whether it was ever a love match.

The unfortunate Berengaria had almost as much difficulty in making the journey home as her husband did, and did not see England until after his death. Richard and most of his army left Cyprus for the Holy Land early in June. In his absence Cyprus would be governed by Richard Kamvill. King Richard arrived at Acre in June 1191, in time to relieve the siege of the city by Saladin. Deserted by Philip and having fallen out with Duke Leopold V of Austria, he suddenly found himself without allies. Richard's tactics ensured success at the siege of Acre and on the subsequent march south, Saladin's men being unable to harass the Crusader army into an impulsive action which might not have gone their way. However, the desertion of the French king had been a major blow, from which they could not hope to recover. Realising that he had no hope of holding Jerusalem even if he took it, Richard sadly ordered a retreat. Despite being only a few miles from the city, he refused, thereafter, to set eyes on it, since God had ordained that he should not be the one to conquer it.

He had finally realised that his return home could be postponed no longer, since both Philip and John were taking advantage of his absence to make themselves more powerful. Having planned to leave Conrad of Montferrat as "King" of Jerusalem and Cyprus in the hands of his own protégé, Guy of Lusignan, Richard was dealt another blow when Conrad was assassinated before he could be crowned. His replacement was Richard's own nephew, Henry I of Champagne. Captivity and return On his return to Europe in the autumn of 1192, Richard was captured by Duke Leopold — whom he had publicly insulted in the course of the crusade — and was handed over as a prisoner to the Emperor Henry VI after being held captive at Dürnstein. Although the circumstances of his captivity were not severe, he was frustrated by his inability to travel freely. Nevertheless, he spent the remainder of his reign attempting to regain the territory he had lost in France. After his departure in May 1194, he never returned to England. Overall assessment There is no doubt that Richard had many admirable qualities, as well as many bad ones.

He was a military mastermind, and politically astute in many ways; yet incredibly foolish in others, and unwilling to give way to public opinion. He was capable of great humility as well as great arrogance. He loved his family, but behaved ruthlessly to his enemies. He was revered by his most worthy rival, Saladin, and respected by the Emperor Henry, but hated by many who had been his friends, especially King Philip. He was often careless of his own safety: the wound which killed him need not have been inflicted at all if he had been properly armoured. Almost the same thing had happened, ten years earlier when, while feuding with his father, he had encountered William Marshal while unarmed and had to beg for his life. Richard's existence had been one whole series of contradictions. Although he had neglected his wife and had to be commanded by priests to be faithful to her, she was distraught at the news of his death. During his absence, his brother John had come close to seizing the throne; Richard forgave him, and even named him as his heir in place of Arthur, who was growing into an unpleasant youth.

With his 77 year-old mother at his side, Richard died on 6 April 1199 from the after-effects of an arrow wound received during the siege of Chalus in France and was buried next to his father at Fontevraud Abbey near Chinon and Saumur, France. It is said that he summoned Pierre Basile, the crossbowman who had delivered the fatal wound to his bedside, and was so impressed with the man's refusal to be cowed that he pardoned him. Richard was succeeded by his brother John as king of England. However, his French territories initially rejected John as a successor, preferring his nephew Arthur of Brittany, the son of their late brother Geoffrey, whose claim was technically better than John's. Folklore Over the years the figures of Robin Hood and Richard I have become closely linked. However, the in the earliest Robin Hood ballads the only king mentioned is "Edward our comely king", presumably Edward I, II, or III. It was not until much later that a connection came to be made between the two men. The typical usage of the link is that the major political goal of Robin's war is to restore Richard to the throne after Prince John usurped it.

Richard I | king of England | Britannica.com king of England Alternative Titles: Richard Coeur de Lion, Richard IV of Normandy, Richard the Lionheart, Richard the Lionhearted Richard I Henry V Richard I, byname Richard the Lionheart or Lionhearted, French Richard Coeur de Lion (born September 8, 1157, Oxford , England —died April 6, 1199, Châlus, duchy of Aquitaine), duke of Aquitaine (from 1168) and of Poitiers (from 1172) and king of England, duke of Normandy , and count of Anjou (1189–99). His knightly manner and his prowess in the Third Crusade (1189–92) made him a popular king in his own time as well as the hero of countless romantic legends . He has been viewed less kindly by more recent historians and scholars. Richard I, detail of tomb effigy in the abbey church of Fontevrault-l’Abbaye, France.

Giraudon/Art Resource, New York Contunico © ZDF Enterprises GmbH, Mainz Early life Richard was the third son of Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine . He was given the duchy of Aquitaine, his mother’s inheritance, at age 11 and was enthroned as duke at Poitiers in 1172. Richard possessed precocious political and military ability, won fame for his knightly prowess, and quickly learned how to control the turbulent aristocracy of Poitou and Gascony . Like all of Henry II’s legitimate sons, he had little or no filial piety, foresight, or sense of responsibility. He joined his brothers in the great rebellion (1173–74) against their father, who invaded Aquitaine twice before Richard submitted and received pardon. Thereafter Richard was occupied with suppressing baronial revolts in his own duchy. His harshness infuriated the Gascons , who revolted in 1183 and called in the help of the “Young King” Henry and his brother Geoffrey of Brittany in an effort to drive Richard from his duchy altogether.

Alarmed at the threatened disintegration of his empire , Henry II brought the feudal host of his continental lands to Richard’s aid, but the younger Henry died suddenly (June 11, 1183) and the uprising collapsed. United Kingdom: Richard I (1189–99) Richard was now heir to England and to Normandy and Anjou (which were regarded as inseparable), and his father wished him to yield Aquitaine to his youngest brother, John . But Richard, a true southerner, would not surrender the duchy in which he had grown up, and even appealed, against Henry II, to the young king of France , Philip II . In November 1188 he did homage to Philip for all the English holdings on French soil and in 1189 openly joined forces with Philip to drive Henry into abject submission. They chased him from Le Mans to Saumur , forced him to acknowledge Richard as his heir, and at last harried him to his death (July 6, 1189). King of England Scientists Ponder Menopause in Killer Whales Richard received Normandy on July 20 and the English throne on September 30.

Richard, unlike Philip, had only one ambition, to lead the Crusade prompted by Saladin ’s capture of Jerusalem in 1187. He had no conception of planning for the future of the English monarchy and put up everything for sale to buy arms for the Crusade. Yet he had not become king to preside over the dismemberment of the Angevin empire. He broke with Philip and did not neglect Angevin defenses on the Continent. Open war was averted only because Philip also took the Crusader’s cross. Richard dipped deep into his father’s treasure and sold sheriffdoms and other offices. With all this he raised a formidable fleet and an army, and in 1190 he departed for the Holy Land, traveling via Sicily . Coronation procession of Richard I in 1189. Hulton Archive/Getty Images Sicily Richard found the Sicilians hostile and took Messina by storm (October 4). To prevent the German emperor Henry VI from ruling their country, the Sicilians had elected the native Tancred of Lecce , who had imprisoned the late king’s wife, Joan of England (Richard’s sister), and denied her possession of her dower.

By the Treaty of Messina Richard obtained for Joan her release and her dower, acknowledged Tancred as king of Sicily, declared Arthur of Brittany (Richard’s nephew) to be his own heir, and provided for Arthur to marry Tancred’s daughter. This treaty infuriated the Germans, who were also taking part in the Third Crusade, and it incited Richard’s brother John to treachery and rebellion. Richard joined the other Crusaders at Acre on June 8, 1191, having conquered Cyprus on his way there. While at Limassol in Cyprus, Richard married (May 12) Berengaria of Navarre . The holy land Structures of Government: Fact or Fiction? Acre fell in July 1191, and on September 7 Richard’s brilliant victory at Arsūf put the Crusaders in possession of Joppa . Twice Richard led his forces to within a few miles of Jerusalem. But the recapture of the city, which constituted the chief aim of the Third Crusade, eluded him. There were fierce quarrels among the French, German, and English contingents .

Richard insulted Leopold V, duke of Austria, by tearing down his banner and quarrelled with Philip II, who returned to France after the fall of Acre. Richard’s candidate for the crown of Jerusalem was his vassal Guy de Lusignan , whom he supported against the German candidate, Conrad of Montferrat . It was rumoured, unjustly, that Richard connived at Conrad’s murder. After a year’s unproductive skirmishing, Richard (September 1192) made a truce for three years with Saladin that permitted the Crusaders to hold Acre and a thin coastal strip and gave Christian pilgrims free access to the holy places. Imprisonment Editor Picks: Exploring 10 Types of Basketball Movies Richard sailed home by way of the Adriatic , because of French hostility, and a storm drove his ship ashore near Venice . Because of the enmity of Duke Leopold he disguised himself, but he was discovered at Vienna in December 1192 and imprisoned in the duke’s castle at Dürnstein on the Danube . Later, he was handed over to Henry VI , who kept him at various imperial castles.

It was around Richard’s captivity in a castle, whose identity was at first unknown in England, that the famous romance of Blondel was woven in the 13th century. Under the threat of being handed over to Philip II, Richard agreed to the harsh terms imposed by Henry VI : a colossal ransom of 150,000 marks and the surrender of his kingdom to the emperor on condition that he receive it back as a fief. The raising of the ransom money was one of the most remarkable fiscal measures of the 12th century and gives striking proof of the prosperity of England. A very high proportion of the ransom was paid, and meanwhile (February 1194) Richard was released. Return to England He returned at once to England and was crowned for the second time on April 17, fearing that the independence of his kingship had been compromised. Within a month he went to Normandy, never to return. His last five years were spent in warfare against Philip II, interspersed with occasional truces. The king left England in the capable hands of Hubert Walter , justiciar and archbishop of Canterbury .

It was Richard’s impetuosity that brought him to his death at the early age of 42. The vicomte of Limoges refused to hand over a hoard of gold unearthed by a local peasant. Richard laid siege to his castle of Châlus and in an unlucky moment was wounded. He died in 1199. He was buried in the abbey church of Fontevrault , where Henry II and Queen Eleanor are also buried, and his effigy is still preserved there. Assessment Facebook Twitter YouTube Instagram Pinterest Richard was a thoroughgoing Angevin, irresponsible and hot-tempered, possessed of tremendous energy, and capable of great cruelty. He was more accomplished than most of his family, a soldier of consummate ability, a skillful politician, and capable of inspiring loyal service. He was a lyric poet of considerable power and the hero of troubadours. The evidence that he was a homosexual seems persuasive but has been strongly challenged. Richard had no children by Queen Berengaria, with whom his relations seem to have been merely formal. Biography of Richard the Lionheart Richard the Lionheart from a 12th-Century Codex.

Public Domain Updated October 20, 2015. Richard the Lionheart was born on September 8, 1157, in Oxford, England. He was generally considered to be his mother's favorite son, and has been described as spoiled and vain because of it. Richard was also known to let his temper get the better of him. Nevertheless, he could be shrewd in matters of politics and was famously skilled on the battlefield. He was also highly cultured and well-educated, and wrote poems and songs. Through most of his life he enjoyed the support and affection of his people, and for centuries after his death, Richard the Lionheart was one of the most popular kings in English history. Richard the Lionheart's Younger Years Richard the Lionheart was the third son of King Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine , and although his eldest brother died young, the next in line, Henry, was named heir. continue reading below our video What are the Seven Wonders of the World Thus, Richard grew up with little realistic expectations of achieving the English throne.

In any case, he was more interested in the family's French holdings than he was in England; he spoke little English, and he was made duke of the lands his mother had brought to her marriage when he was quite young: Aquitaine in 1168, and Poitiers three years later. In 1169, King Henry and King Louis VII of France agreed that Richard should be wed to Louis's daughter Alice. This engagement was to last for some time, although Richard never showed any interest in her; Alice was sent from her home to live with the court in England, while Richard stayed with his holdings in France. Brought up among the people he was to govern, Richard soon learned how to deal with the aristocracy. But his relationship with his father had some serious problems. In 1173, encouraged by his mother, Richard joined his brothers Henry and Geoffrey in rebelling against the king. The rebellion ultimately failied, Eleanor was imprisoned, and Richard found it necessary to submit to his father and receive a pardon for his transgressions. Duke Richard In the early 1180s, Richard faced baronial revolts in his own lands.

He displayed considerable military skill and earned a reputation for courage (the quality that led to his nickname of Richard the Lionheart), but he dealt so harshly with the rebels that they called on his brothers to help drive him from Aquitaine. Now his father interceded on his behalf, fearing the fragmentation of the empire he had built (the "Angevin" Empire, after Henry's lands of Anjou). However, no sooner had King Henry gathered his continental armies together than the younger Henry unexpectedly died, and the rebellion crumpled. As the oldest surviving son, Richard the Lionheart was now heir to England, Normandy, and Anjou. In light of his extensive holdings, his father wanted him to cede Aquitaine to his brother John , who had never had any territory to govern and was known as "Lackland." But Richard had a deep attachment to the duchy. Rather than give it up, he turned to the king of France, Louis's son Philip II, with whom Richard had developed a firm political and personal friendship. In November of 1188 Richard paid homage to Philip for all his holdings in France, then joined forces with him to drive his father into submission.

They forced Henry -- who had indicated a willingness to name John his heir -- to acknowledge Richard as heir to the English throne before hounding him to his death in July, 1189. Richard the Lionheart: Crusader King Richard the Lionheart had become King of England; but his heart wasn't in the sceptred isle. Ever since Saladin had captured Jerusalem in 1187, Richard's greatest ambition was to go to the Holy Land and take it back. His father had agreed to engage in Crusade along with Philip, and a "Saladin Tithe" had been levied in England and France to raise funds for the endeavor. Now Richard took full advantage of the Saladin Tithe and the military apparatus that had been formed; he drew heavily from the royal treasury and sold anything that might bring him funds -- offices, castles, lands, towns, lordships. In less than a year after his accession to the throne, Richard the Lionheart raised a substantial fleet and an impressive army to take on Crusade. Philip and Richard agreed to go to the Holy Land together, but not all was well between them.

The French king wanted some of the lands that Henry had held, and that were now in Richard's hands, which he believed rightfully belonged to France. Richard was not about to relinquish any of his holdings; in fact, he shored up the defenses of these lands and prepared for conflict. But neither king really wanted war with each other, especially with a Crusade awaiting their attention. In fact, the Crusading spirit was strong in Europe at this time. Although there were always nobles who wouldn't put up a farthing for the effort, the vast majority of the European nobility were devout believers of the virtue and necessity of Crusade. Most of those who didn't take up arms themselves still supported the Crusading movement any way that they could. And right now, both Richard and Philip were being shown up by the septuagenarian German emperor, Frederick Barbarossa , who had already pulled together an army and set off for the Holy Land. In the face of public opinion, continuing their quarrel was not really feasible for either of the kings, but especially not for Philip, since Richard the Lionheart had worked so hard to fund his part in the Crusade. The French king chose to accept the promises that Richard made, probably against his better judgment.

Among these pledges was Richard's agreement to marry Philip's sister Alice, who still languished in England, even though it appeared he had been negotiating for the hand of Berengaria of Navarre. Prev Arrayed in Gold: Berengaria of Navarre: The English Queen Who Never Set Foot in England Berengaria of Navarre, Queen of England. Engraving from c.1890. Berengaria of Navarre, consort to one of England's most beloved and best remembered kings, Richard I (the Lionheart), had a distinction in history as the only Queen of England never to set foot in England, well at least during her husband's lifetime. Just as in the case of early medieval English queens consort, little is known about Berengaria's life, and this what makes her more intriguing for me. She lived in a time of many historical events and yet she was overshadowed by more forceful personalities of that time (Richard the Lionheart and his mother Eleanor of Aquitaine). Berengaria is one of my favorite historical character, and I have always looked up to her as a beautiful, intelligent, compassionate and courageous woman, deeply devoted to her husband. But beauty and devotion were all seemed wasted.

Richard, although undoubtedly the ideal warrior-king and the epitome of a chivalrous knight, was far from being the ideal husband (and the ideal king), and his treatment of Berengaria reveals a rather cold and callous side of his personality. Berengaria was born a princess of Navarre, a little kingdom on the borders of France and Spain (and now a Northeastern region of Spain), between the years 1165 and 1170. She was the eldest daughter of Sancho IV of Navarre (nicknamed "the Wise") and Infanta Sanchia of Castile. Berengaria was probably born and educated in Pamplona, the capital of Navarre. She was said to be extremely well-educated, and she grew up with a great appreciation for the music and poetry of the troubadours of neighboring Provence. Even though she was a Spanish by descent, she was more a Provencal princess in language and education. When it comes to her appearance, Berengaria was described as dark-haired and dark-eyed, "petite, and a fine musician... in all things, a suitable consort for a king".

She was said to be very beautiful, but a Norman minstrel named Ambroise, one of the only two contemporaries who ever saw her, simply described her as "elegant and prudent". Berengaria first saw Richard when he was still Count of Poitou at a grand tournament held by her father in Pamplona. Richard was a great friend of Berengaria's brother, Sancho. They were fratres juratis, or sworn brothers, according to a custom of the times of chivalry. They had similar personalities and interests. Both men were renowned for their bravery, and they were highly skilled in all the learning and poetry of the Provencals. As Count of Poitou, Richard had ample opportunities to visit Sancho since Navarre was a close neighbor of Poitou. It was believed by historians that it was the result of Richard's frequent sojourns to Navarre that he became acquainted and eventually felt attracted to Berengaria. Berengaria herself was a learned and cultivated princess, and Richard, a gifted troubadour-poet, must have become naturally drawn to her. He admired her cultivated mind, and she made a strong impression on his volatile heart.

Years after Richard and Berengaria's first meeting, the King of Navarre was informed that Eleanor of Aquitaine was interested in a marriage between Berengaria and her favorite son Richard, who by this time had made a vow to 'take up the cross' and join the Crusade. The union between the Princess of Navarre and a Prince of England would be very beneficial for Queen Eleanor, for an alliance with the kingdom of Navarre would mean protection to the southern borders of Aquitaine. The cultural similarities between Aquitaine and Navarre, where the troubadours enjoyed great prestige and royal protection, and the apparent physical attraction between Richard and Berengaria, helped to forge the marriage. But marriage was impossible between the couple while the contract made by their parents between Richard and Alys of France remained intact. Years ago, Richard had been promised in marriage to Alys Capet, half-sister of the King of France. However, Richard's father King Henry II of England, had taken the gentle Alys as his own mistress, which resulted in Alys giving birth to an illegitimate child.

But after the death of his father in 1189, Richard, now King of England, was quick to break the engagement to Alys, and felt free to select a bride according to his personal inclinations. Of course, Alys's brother, King Philip of France, insisted that Richard should marry Alys, but Richard stated openly the reason for his refusal: that Alys's reputation was sullied. Philip was unable to refute this charge, and finally dropped the matter. King Richard I by the 19th century painter Merry-Joseph Blondel Since Richard was at that time busy preparing for the Third Crusade, he sent his mother Queen Eleanor to Navarre to secure Berengaria's hand in marriage. King Sancho was more than happy to accept the proposition and entrusted his willing daughter to Eleanor. We do not know what Berengaria thought about the whole arrangement, but being a dutiful daughter, she was aware of the political advantage of her marriage. And so Eleanor and Berengaria started on their journey not to England, but to Sicily. They were expecting to meet Richard in Messina, but he was already on his journey for the Holy Land.

The two women arrived in Messina during Lent, and so the marriage could not take place until after Easter. Richard's sister, Joanna, the Dowager Queen of Sicily, had previously arrived, and she and Berengaria became the closest of friends. Queen Eleanor left Sicily for England with a task of raising money for the Crusade, and Berengaria was left under Joanna's custody. With the crusading forces started on their journey for the Holy Land, arrangements were made for Berengaria and Joanna to set sail to the Holy Land with Richard in a separate ship. En route to the Holy Land, a violent storm came on and scattered the vessels. Richard's ship found shelter in Crete, while Berengaria and Joanna's was driven towards Cyprus. The latter found themselves threatened by the island's ruler, Isaac Comnenus. Eventually, Richard found Berengaria's ship in the open sea, and was indignant to see Isaac and his men plundering the wrecked vessel. Richard led the attack, rescued his fiancee and his sister, captured the island, and overthrew Isaac. Berengaria must have been delighted to be reunited with Richard. It was then decided that their wedding should take place immediately.

Richard and Berengaria were married in Limassol on May 1191, amidst great feasting and revelry. A chronicler wrote: "And there in the joyous month of May, 1191, in the flourishing and spacious isle of Cyprus, celebrated as the very abode of the goddess of love, did King Richard solemnly take to wife his beloved lady Berengaria." The wedding was followed by their coronation. Richard was crowned King of Cyprus, and Berengaria Queen of England and of Cyprus. It was said that Berenagaria's crown was more elaborate and more expensive than those worn by previous Queens of England. It was probably due to her being both Queen of England and Cyprus. Loretta Young as Berengaria of Navarre from the movie "The Crusaders", 1935. Soon after the wedding, Richard immediately set sail to the Holy Land, leaving his wife and his sister to sail under the protection of his most trusted knight, Stephen de Turnham. He was so busy commanding his troops and was in such haste to arrive in Holy Land that observers noted that he did not even spend enough time with his wife.

Upon Berengaria and Joanna's arrival at Acre, the place had already been successfully captured by Richard and his men. The ladies stayed there throughout the duration of the Syrian campaign, living in almost harem-like seclusion. While Richard was busy securing the honor and renown he sought, history was silent about Berengaria and her life during this period. I would like to think that she possessed considerable courage and strength of will, since going to the Crusade and the constant dangers of living in a war zone was not an easy thing. Richard, on the other hand, appeared to have had no interest on his wife whatsoever, and many historians believe that the couple's marriage was never consummated. The reasons for this were various: some blame it to Richard being a homosexual, or that he was far too busy with his battles to devote his time to his queen. After spending a year or two in the Holy Land, Richard finally made truce with his enemy, Saladin. With Jerusalem now under the rule of an Italian nobleman, Richard left the Holy Land, and started on his journey back to Europe. He had already sent Berengaria and his sister back ahead of him to Naples.

While Berengaria and Joanna safely arrived in Naples, Richard's ship was wrecked on the coast of Istria. He was captured and imprisoned by the Emperor of Germany, and a huge ransom was demanded for his release. His ever devoted mother, raised the ransom money, and she was aided in this by Berengaria. Richard was released and journeyed back to England after a four-year-absence. As if to make up for the shame of his imprisonment and his long absence, he was re-crowned at Westminster Abbey. This might be the best opportunity to bring Berengaria with him in England and show her to his people. But he did not even bother to recall her. When he went to Normandy to check on his French territories, he did not make any effort to see Berengaria despite ample opportunities. It was said that during this time, Richard renewed his connections with "profligate and worthless set of persons with whom he had been associated in his bachelor days". Berengaria was in a humiliating situation, but she kept her dignity and patience. The Church then finally intervened and reprimanded Richard.

When he fell ill and thought that he was going to die, he admitted his faults and vowed that if he recovered, and if Berengaria would forgive him, he would never leave her again. He did recovered, and as he promised, he went to Poitou where Berengaria was residing, and became reconciled with her. She welcomed him with joyful forgiveness, wisely avoiding from giving him any reproaches. In the Polychronicon, a entry was found about the couple: "The King took to him his Queen Berengaria, whose society he had for a long time neglected, though she were a royal, eloquent, and beauteous lady, and for his love had ventured with him through the world." Berengaria indeed loved Richard, and throughout his time in France, she never left his side, even when he was on his campaigns. He further sealed the reconciliation by giving her the royal revenues arising from the mines in Cornwall and Devonshire for her dower. Unfortunately, her renewed happiness was short-lived. The couple's reconciliation proved to be unfruitful, and Richard, despairing of heirs by his queen, eventually named his younger brother John as heir to the throne of England.

Richard never returned to England - his continental possessions had always been more important for him than England, which he viewed as only a source of money and resources for his wars. And thus Berengaria remained Queen of a country which she had never seen. Queen Berengaria's tomb and effigy in the Cathedral of St. Juliens in Le Mans, France Richard died on 1199, when he was 42 years old, as a result of an arrow wound. Berengaria was with him when he died, and was a witness to the testimony that Richard left his crown and his kingdom to his brother John. Although she was still young and beautiful, Berengaria never remarried, and retired in Le Mans, one of her dower properties, where she founded the Abbey of L'Espan. She had never been insistent upon her marital rights, but when it came to her dower rights, she proved to be firm and unyielding. King John refused to pay her her dower rights, and she came to England to demand what was due to her. John treated her shabbily, but she refused to back down. She appealed to the Pope, who championed her cause.

King John finally relented (after the threat of excommunication), but he died before the payment could be made. John's son, now King Henry III, finally set things straight, and Berengaria's courage and persistence were rewarded when she received her pension from England. She spent the remaining years of her life at the stately Abbey of L'Espan, doing good works like feeding the poor, and caring for abandoned children. She died in 1230 and was buried in her abbey. Berengaria, although one of the least known about Queens of England, proved to be, as her story shows, a virtuous, courageous and admirable woman. I also find her to be a sympathetic figure - she truly loved and admired her husband, but unfortunately for her, Richard seemed to be more interested in battling his wars than being with his wife. We would never know what her feelings were regarding her husband's neglect of her - she took her heart's secrets to her grave.

Her devotion to Richard was commendable, and this was best summed up by the English writer Agnes Strickland: "From early youth to her grave, Berengaria manifested devoted love for Richard; uncomplaining when deserted by him, forgiving when he returned, and faithful to his memory even unto death." References: Agnes Strickland, The Lives of the Queens of England. Lisa Hilton, Queens Consort, England's Medieval Queens. Berengaria of Navarre Berengaria of Navarre Queen of England, Spouse of Richard I Berengaria of Navarre, Queen Consort of Richard I Lionheart of England. © 2011 Clipart.com Married May 12, 1191 to Richard I of England Died December 23, 1230 Occupation: Queen of England - Queen consort of Richard I of England, Richard the Lionhearted Known for: the only Queen of England never to set foot on the soil of England while Queen About Berengaria of Navarre: Berengaria was the daughter of King Sancho VI of Navarre, called Sancho the wise, and Blanche of Castile.

Richard I of England had been betrothed to Princess Alice of France, sister of King Phillip IV. But Richard's father, Henry II, had made Alice his mistress, and church rules therefore forbid the marriage of Alice and Richard. Berengaria was chosen as wife to Richard I by Richard's mother, Eleanor of Aquitaine . The marriage with Berengaria would bring a dowry that would help Richard finance his efforts in the Third Crusade. Eleanor, though almost 70 years old, traveled over the Pyrenees to escort Berengaria to Sicily. In Sicily, Eleanor's daughter and Richard's sister, Joan of England , embarked with Berengaria to join Richard in the Holy Land. continue reading below our video Test Your General Science Knowledge But the ship carrying Joan and Berengaria was wrecked off the shore of Cyprus. The ruler, Isaac Comnenus, took them prisoner. Richard and part of his army landed in Cyprus to free them, and Isaac foolishly attacked. Richard freed his bride and his sister, defeated and captured Comnenus, and took control of Cyprus. Berengaria and Richard were married on May 12, 1191, and set off together to Acre in Palestine.

Berengaria left the Holy Land for Poitou, France, and when Richard was on his way back to Europe in 1192, he was captured and then held prisoner in Germany until 1194, when his mother arranged for his ransom. Berengaria and Richard had no children. Richard is widely believed to have been a homosexual, and though he had at least one illegitimate child, it is believed that the marriage with Berengaria was little more than a formality. When he returned from captivity, their relationship was so bad that a priest went so far as to order Richard to reconcile with his wife. After Richard's death, Berengaria as dowager queen retired to LeMans in Maine. King John, Richard's brother, seized much of her property and refused to repay her. Berengaria lived in virtual poverty during John's lifetime. She sent to England to complain that her pension was not being paid. Eleanor and Pope Innocent III each intervened, but John never did pay her most of what was owed to her. John's son, Henry III, finally did pay much of the overdue debts.

Berengaria died in 1230, soon after founding Pietas Dei at Espau, a Cistercian monastery. Bibliography: Ann Trindade. Berengaria: In Search of Richard's Queen. 1999. ( buy at Amazon ) [1851824340] More women's history biographies, by name: Richard the Lionheart, King of England By Ben Johnson | Comments Outside the Houses of Parliament there stands a statue of Richard I seated on his horse as testimony that he was one of England’s bravest and greatest kings …or was he? All English school children learn about this great king who reigned from 1189-1199. He earned the title ‘Coeur-de-Lion’ or 'Lion Heart' as he was a brave soldier, a great crusader, and won many battles against Saladin, the leader of the Saracens who were occupying Jerusalem at that time. But was he really one of the greatest kings of England - or one of the worst?

It appears that he hadn’t much interest in being king …in his ten years as monarch he only spent a few months in England, and it is doubtful that he could actually speak the English language. He once remarked that he would have sold the whole country if he could have found a buyer. Fortunately he couldn’t find anyone with the necessary funds! Richard was the son of King Henry II and Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine. He spent much of his youth in his mother's court at Poitiers. During the last years of Henry's reign, Queen Eleanor constantly plotted against him. Encouraged by their mother, Richard and his brothers campaigned against their father in France. King Henry was defeated in battle and surrendered to Richard, and so on the July 5th 1189, Richard became King of England, Duke of Normandy and Count of Anjou. After his coronation Richard, having already taken the crusader’s vow, set out to join the Third Crusade to free the Holy Land from Saladin, the leader of the Turks. Whilst wintering in Sicily, Richard was met by his mother along with a potential bride to-be…Berengaria of Navarre. He initially resisted the match.

On the way to the Holy Land, part of Richard’s fleet was wrecked off Cyprus. The island’s ruler Isaac I made the mistake of upsetting Richard by badly treating his surviving crews. Richard had landed in Rhodes but immediately sailed back to Cyprus where he defeated and deposed Isaac. Whether it was the magic of the island, the heightened senses from his victory or something else entirely, it was in Cyprus that Richard relented and married Berengaria of Navarre. An unlikely place perhaps for an English king to get married, nevertheless Berengaria was crowned Queen of England and Cyprus. Richard continued with the Crusade, landing and taking the city of Acre on 8 June 1191. Whilst reports of his daring deeds and exploits in the Holy Land excited the folks back home and in Rome, in reality he failed to achieve the main objective which was to regain control of Jerusalem. So in September, after concluding a three years’ peace deal with Saladin he set off alone on the long journey home. During the journey Richard was shipwrecked in the Adriatic and eventually captured by the Duke of Austria. A heavy ransom was demanded for his release.

Kings apparently do not come cheap, and in England it took a quarter of every man’s income for a whole year to raise the funds for Richard’s release. He eventually returned to England in March 1194. However he didn’t spend much time in England and spent the rest of his life in France doing what he seemed to enjoy most of all …fighting. It was while besieging the castle at Chalus in France that he was shot by a crossbow bolt in the shoulder. Gangrene set in and Richard ordered the archer who had shot him, to come to his bedside. The archer’s name was Bertram, and Richard gave him a hundred shillings and set him free. King Richard died at the age of 41 from this wound. The throne passed to his brother John. A sad end for the Lion-Heart, and alas, also for poor Bertram the archer. Despite the King’s pardon he was flayed alive and then hanged.

Question: Who was the wife of Richard I of England (the Lionheart)?
Answer: Berengaria of Navarre