Richard I was King of England from 6 July 1189 until his death. He also ruled as Duke of Normandy, Duke of Aquitaine, Duke of Gascony, Lord of Cyprus, Count of Anjou, Count of Maine, Count of Nantes, and Overlord of Brittany at various times during the same period. He was known as Cœur de Lion, or Richard the Lionheart.
Background
Richard was born on 8 September 1157, probably at Beaumont Palace, in Oxford, England. He was a younger brother of Count William IX of Poitiers; Henry the Young King; and Duchess Matilda of Saxony. As the third legitimate son of King Henry II of England, he was not expected to ascend the throne. He was also an elder brother of Duke Geoffrey II of Brittany; Queen Eleanor of Castile; Queen Joan of Sicily; and Count John of Mortain, who succeeded him as king. Richard was the younger maternal half-brother of Countess Marie of Champagne and Countess Alix of Blois. Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine's oldest son, William, died in 1156, before Richard's birth.Richard is often depicted as having been the favourite son of his mother Eleanor of Aquitaine. His father, Henry, was Norman-Angevin and great-grandson of William the Conqueror. Contemporary historian Ralph of Diceto traced his family's lineage through Matilda of Scotland to the Anglo-Saxon kings of England and Alfred the Great, and from there linked them to Noah and Woden. According to Angevin legend, there was even infernal blood in the family. While his father visited his lands from Scotland to France, Richard probably spent his childhood in England. His first recorded visit to the continent was in May 1165, when his mother took him to Normandy. He was wet-nursed by a woman called Hodierna, and when he became king he gave her a generous pension.
Education
Little is known about Richard's education. Although born in Oxford, Richard could speak no English; he was an educated man who composed poetry and wrote in Limousin (lenga d'òc) and also in French.
Career
Richard was the second son of Henry Plantagenet. It was not seen as a direct heir of his father. While his older brother Henry was crowned in 1170, the English crown and declared as co-Henry II, Richard in 1172, proclaimed the Duke of Aquitaine and considered heir mother Eleanor. His reign in Aquitaine was held in constant clashes with the local barons, accustomed to independence. Soon added to the internal wars clashes with his father. Early in 1183 he ordered Richard to bring lennuyu oath older brother Henry. Richard refused to do so on the grounds that it was unheard of innovation. Henry Jr. invaded Aquitaine led mercenary army, began to ravage the country, but in the summer of that year, suddenly fell ill with fever and died. The death of his older brother did not put an end to strife between father and son. In September, Henry told Richard to give Aquitaine to his younger brother John. Richard refused, and the war continued. Younger brothers Gottfried and John attacked Poitou. Richard responded to this invasion of Brittany. Seeing that the force did not achieve, the king said to tell the controversial Duchy mother. This time Richard obeyed. But though the father and son reconciled, trust between them was not. The French king was not slow to take advantage of strife in English royal dome.Richard Bonmulene reconciled to the French king, and brought him lennuyu oath. The following year, the two of them took Maine and Touraine. Henry led against Richard and Philip war, but without success. In July 1189, he had to agree to the humiliating terms dictated by his enemies, and died shortly thereafter.
In August, Richard arrived in England and 3 September was crowned in Westminster Abbey. Taking power, Richard began to work on the organization of the Third Crusade, the vow to which he gave back in 1187. Campaign began in the spring of 1190, when the masses of pilgrims marched through France and Burgundy to the shores of the Mediterranean Sea. Because of the late hour continuing campaign has been postponed until next year. This months-long delay is very bad impact on relations between the two monarchs. Richard has made an emergency stop in Cyprus. It so happened that the storm of the English ships were washed ashore the island. Emperor who ruled Cyprus Isaac Comnenus seized them on the basis of the coastal law. But on May 6 in Limassol harbor entered the fleet of the Crusaders. The king demanded that Isaac satisfaction, and when he refused, immediately attacked him. Richard was attacked in front and above all distinguished his valor. May 12 in the city was conquered with great pomp celebrated the wedding of King Berengaria. Isaac yet realized their mistakes and tied with Richard talks. Terms of reconciliation were very hard for him: in addition to a large ransom, Isaac had to open up all its crusaders fortress and set to take part in the crusade auxiliaries. After all the things seemed settled, Isaac suddenly fled to Famagusta and accused Richard that he was encroaching on his life. The enraged king declared Comnenus perjurer, violators of peace and ordered his fleet to guard the coast, so he did not run away. He first of all took Famagusta, and then moved to Nicosia. In the way of Tremifussii again there was a battle. Having won a third victory, Richard solemnly entered the capital, resulting in a successful 25-day war, Richard became the owner of a rich and prosperous island. By placing all the cities and castles their garrisons, he sailed on June 5 to Syria. Three days later he was in the Christian camp under the walls of the besieged Akkona. With the arrival of the British siege of the boil with a bang. In a short time the towers were built, battering rams and catapults. Under the protective roof and dig through the Crusaders approached thus strengthening the enemy. Soon nearly breached everywhere on fire fighting. The situation became hopeless citizens, and on July 11 they have entered into negotiations for the surrender of the Christian kings. In late July, Philip, and many French pilgrims left the Holy Land, and went back.
After the treaty with Saladin, Richard spent several weeks in Akkone and early October sailed home. It was an outspoken enemy of Duke Leopold of Austria. German Emperor Henry VI was against Richard because of the close relationship with the King of England by the Normans and Guelphs, the main enemies of Hohenstaufen. However, despite this, Richard decided to sail up the Adriatic Sea, apparently intending to go through southern Germany in Saxony under the protection of Welf. Near the coast between Aquileia and Venice, his ship ran aground. Richard went to the sea with a few escorts and, dressed, went through Friaul and Carinthia. December 21, Richard was captured and imprisoned in the castle Dyurenshteyn. As soon as news of the arrest of Richard reached the Emperor, he immediately demanded his extradition. Leopold agreed after he promised to pay 50,000 marks of silver. After that, more than a year had become a prisoner of the English King Henry. He bought himself a freedom only after the emperor brought lennuyu oath and promised to pay a ransom of 150,000 marks of silver. In February 1194 Richard was released in mid-March and landed on the English coast. London King met his magnificent celebrations.
In the absence of Richard Philip II had some dominance over the English on the continent. English king hastened to correct the situation. He took Losch, one of the main strongholds of Touraine, Angouleme seized and forced into submission inveterate rebel Count of Angouleme. The following year, Richard Berry and moved into acting here as well that forced Philip to sign peace. The French had to give up the eastern Normandy, but kept several important castles on the Seine. Therefore, the agreement could not be durable. In 1198, Richard returned to Normandy border ownership, and then went up to the castle naughty-Chabrol in Limousin, the owner of which was exposed in secret communication with the French king. March 26, 1199, after dinner, in the dark, Richard went to the castle without armor, protected only helmet. During combat crossbow arrow pierced deep into the king's shoulder, close to the cervical spine. Not submitting the form that he was wounded, Richard rode to his camp. No important body was not hurt, but as a result of an unsuccessful operation began septicemia. Probolae eleven days, the king is dead.
Politics
A great military leader and warrior. He remains one of the very few Kings of England remembered by his epithet, rather than regnal number, and is an enduring, iconic figure in England and France.