August 29, 2018 | Stephanie Kelsey

Bloody Facts About King Richard the Lionheart


“I am born in a rank which recognizes no superior but God, to whom alone I am responsible for my actions; but they are so pure and honorable that I voluntarily and cheerfully render an account of them to the whole world”. —Richard the Lionheart

“Something as curious as the monarchy won’t survive unless you take account of people’s attitudes. After all, if people don’t want it, they won’t have it”. —Prince Charles

Richard the Lionheart may have lived centuries ago, but his legend still goes on today. Like any teenager, he rebelled against his own father—who, may we add, was king at the time—with his brothers. Later, when Richard himself became king, he famously led the Crusades in hopes of winning Jerusalem for the Christians. This English king who barley spoke a word of the language also decided prior to his death that parts of him were to be buried in various places. Some loved him, some hated him, but he did hold the throne for nearly a decade. Take a look into his life.


King Richard Facts

1. So Many Titles, So Little Time

Richard I was born on September 8, 1157,  and was known by quite a number of titles and names during his life. He’s most known today as Richard the Lionheart, but also would have answered to the French Richard, Coeur de Lion; Duke of Aquitaine starting in 1168; then of Poitiers four years later. Between 1189-1199 he was King of England, Duke of Normandy and Count of Anjou.

Advertisement

Painting of Richard I the Lionheart, King of England - 1841Merry-Joseph Blondel, Wikimedia Commons

Advertisement

2.  Forgive Me, Father

Richard was the spare’s spare, if you will. He was the third son born to his parents, Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine. Richard and his brothers weren't known for their great respect for dear old dad. They rebelled against their father in 1173 and 1174, when Richard was only about 16 or 17 years old.

Advertisement

It didn’t really go all that great, and Richard gave in, with his father pardoning him for his actions. The father-son family drama wasn't over yet, though, and after further disagreements Richard would eventually ally with France to all but browbeat his father into naming him as heir to the throne of England, whereupon Henry II promptly died.

Advertisement

 Painting of Henry Ii Of England - circa 1620Unknown Author, Wikimedia Commons

Advertisement

3. Do You Want a Piece of Me?

When Richard did pass, parts of his body went to different places. Gross, I know, but bear with me here. Richard was very specific about where certain parts were to go. His body, crown, and regalia were buried alongside his father in the royal abbey of Fontevraud, while his embalmed heart went to Rouen cathedral because of his profound love for Normandy.

Advertisement

But there’s more: his entrails were also sent to the region of Limousin to be buried.

Portrait of Richard I - before 1626Dulwich Picture Gallery, Wikimedia Commons

Advertisement

4. Richard Saves the Day!

If you’re a fan of Robin Hoodyou’ll likely know that Richard is often depicted in the films. He shows up toward the end, garnering the character the nickname of “Richard of the Last Reel”. He’s always depicted as being triumphant and heroic as he comes to punish the bad guys, namely Prince John and the Nottingham Sheriff.

Screenshot : Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991)Warner Bros., Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991)

Advertisement

5. All in the Family

You might be wondering if he has any relation to the current British monarchy.

Advertisement

Well, he does! He is the 21st great-granduncle of Queen Elizabeth II. That gives just a bit more perspective to how long ago he reigned, doesn’t it?Queen Elizabeth II attends a service for the Order of the British Empire in red clothes and crownWPA Pool, Getty Images

Advertisement

6. The Lion Lives on

Those three lions that help identify England even now on things like national sports jerseys and coins can be traced back to Richard.

Advertisement

His original Great Seal from 1189 only had one or two lions, but when the second Great Seal came out, there were three. It would be known as the Royal arms of England.

Richard I of England (Richard the Lionheart) - circa 1620Unknown Author, Wikimedia Commons

Advertisement

7. Lord of the Kitchen

Richard once knighted his cook. In that time period, cooks were pretty important simply because one wrong move could mean killing those eating the meal.

Advertisement

Don’t forget, hygiene wasn’t really a thing then. After one meal in particular, Richard was in such a good mood that he suddenly knighted his cook, giving him the title of “lord of the fief of the kitchen of the counts of Poitou”.

Screenshot: Richard I wearing animal skin as coat and looking at side from - Richard the Lionheart: Rebellion (2015)Wonderphil Entertainment, Richard the Lionheart: Rebellion (2015)

Advertisement

8. Just Give Him a Hat and Sunglasses

After the Crusades, Richard's Christian allies were actually pretty peeved at him, and he couldn't even return to his kingdom out in the open.

Advertisement

He was caught trying to sneak past the Duke of Austria's borders in disguise (he hadn't made a friend in the Duke either) and was handed over to the German emperor. Historians even argue that Richard's ensuing reputation as "Good King Richard" was actually just a spin campaign run by his mom Eleanor to get her beloved son out of this patch of trouble in Austria.

Twentieth Century Fox, Kingdom of Heaven (2005)

Advertisement

9. A Stately Statue

There’s a huge bronze statue of Richard in the yard of Westminster Palace. This statue depicts a very muscular Richard sitting atop a horse, complete with a crown on his head, wearing full armor while he raises his sword in victory.

Advertisement

Classic Richard.The statue of Richard I stands in front of the Houses of Parliament on March 10, 2017 in London, EnglandJack Taylor ,Getty Images

Advertisement
Factinate

Sign up to our newsletter.

History’s most fascinating stories and darkest secrets, delivered to your inbox daily. Making distraction rewarding since 2017.

Thank you!
Error, please try again.

10. Spiralling out of Control

Richard’s coronation was held at Westminster Abbey on September 3, 1189. He banned all women and Jewish people from attending the ceremony, and things started to go south from there. His edict incited anti-Semitic violence and created a social uproar. It got so far out of hand, people even began claiming that Richard ordered all Jews to be killed, and the populace reacted with rioting, burning Jewish homes and assaulting Jewish people.

Advertisement

For his part, Richard punished those responsible for the violence—but likely for self-serving reasons. After all, he was about to embark on his Crusade, and didn't want to leave his country in tatters.

Screenshot: Richard I wearing animal skin as coat and looking at side from - Richard the Lionheart (2013)Wonderphil Entertainment, Richard The Lionheart (2013)

Advertisement

11. What Does a King Look Like?

Rumor has it that Richard was a large man, standing around six feet five inches.

Advertisement

He was also said to be attractive, with reddish-blond hair, light eyes and pale skin. Of course, we can only guess at his stature, as his remains have long since been lost, roughly around the time of the French Revolution.

Screenshot: Richard I wearing armor is looking at front  from - Richard the Lionheart: Rebellion (2015)Wonderphil Entertainment, Richard the Lionheart: Rebellion (2015)

Advertisement

12. V for Vendetta

After gaining the throne in September, 1189, Richard didn’t think about his country’s future. No, he was more interested in leading the crusades against Saladin, who had captured Jerusalem.

Advertisement

Philip II of France, though previously an ally, wasn't really interested in eternal war, so Richard broke away from him. The new English King went deep into the coffers to pay for his army, but eventually a reluctant Philip did join in the crusades and help out.

Advertisement

Painting of Richard Lionheart and Philip II quarelling in MessinaUnknown Author, Wikimedia Commons

Advertisement

13. Try, Try Again

The first two times Richard tried getting at Jerusalem, he and his troops made it within just miles of its walls before failing. But by then, everything was falling apart. There was infighting, Richard and Philip had yet another spat, and the English king began making enemies left, right, and center.

Advertisement

Richard, the Lion Heart, On His Way To Jerusalem - circa 1850James William Glass, Wikimedia Commons

Advertisement

14. Let’s Make a Deal

After seemingly getting on all his allies’ nerves, Richard managed to strike a deal with Saladin, which was only to last for a period of three years. The deal would allow those taking part in the Crusades to have some of the land they currently occupied along with another thin section of land along the coast.

Advertisement

What’s more, Richard got Saladin to allow Christian pilgrims the ability to go to holy areas with no worry.

Screenshot: Richard I wearing blue jacket is looking at side from - Saladin (1963)Lotus Films Internacional, Saladin (1963)

Advertisement

15. Rebel, Rebel, Toil and Trouble

Richard may not have been the most loyal son or the most fiscally responsible king, but he was undeniably a military genius. His victory at the Battle of Arsuf during the Crusades is legendary, and his reign saw him easily batting back surges of rebel forces.

Advertisement

Screenshot: Richard I wearing animal skin as coat and looking at side from - Richard The Lionheart (2013)Wonderphil Entertainment, Richard The Lionheart (2013)

Advertisement

16. Long-Since Levelled

The King's Houses, the palace Richard was born in, no longer stands, but its importance in history still remains. There’s a commemorative plaque near where the palace once stood proud, detailing that Richard (and perhaps even his brother John) was born there. Henry I, Richard’s great-grandfather, built the King’s Houses where he did because it was a close enough ride from there to his hunting tower.

Plaque on Beaumont Street, Oxford, England - 2008Owen Massey, Wikimedia Commons

Advertisement

17. Just Can’t Please Everybody

Richard’s sister, Joan, was once taken prisoner in Sicily. Richard had to sign the Treaty of Messina to help secure her release.

Advertisement

In doing so, Richard had to give some concessions of his own. Most importantly, he had to acknowledge that Tancred of Lecce was the Sicilian king. For various political reasons, this royally pissed off not only the Germans, but also Richard's brother John.

Image of Tancred, Count of Lecce, King of SicilyUnknown Author, Wikimedia Commons

Advertisement

18. Here Comes the Groom

Richard married Berengaria of Navarre on May 12, 1191 while in Cyprus.

Advertisement

She is now known as "the only English queen never to set foot in the country," though there is some evidence that she did in fact go to England after Richard's death.Berengaria of Navarre, consort of Richard I of EnglandUnknown Author , Wikimedia Commons

Advertisement

19. Mama's Boy

When Richard rebelled against his father as a teen, Henry II punished his young son in a brutal manner.

Advertisement

Henry II had his own wife (and Richard's mother) Eleanor imprisoned. There were rumors that Eleanor had even encouraged her sons to rebel against their head of household, so her imprisonment may have been her own comeuppance. However, Richard was a bit of a mama's boy, and she was also used as insurance and leverage to make sure Richard kept himself in line.

Advertisement

She remained imprisoned until her husband's death.Portrait of Queen Eleanor - 1858Frederick Sandys,Wikimedia Commons

Advertisement

20. No Heir, No Spare

Richard never even bore an heir to his throne. Despite the fact that he married Berengaria of Navarre, he never had legitimate children to carry on his line. Apparently, he generally had a disinterest in women. This, combined with some of his confessions, have lead some historians to suggest Richard had homosexual or bisexual desires.

Advertisement

During his coronation, his dear mother Eleanor, likely the only woman he truly respected, stood in for the role of his queen.Coronation of Richard I in Westminster Abbey 1189Print Collector, Getty Images

Advertisement

21. Baby Betrothal

Richard had actually been betrothed to another woman when he was only nine years old. His father managed to trick the French King into giving his daughter Alais as Richard’s intended. It would never come to be, though.

Advertisement

Henry essentially just kept Princess Alais as a prisoner for 25 years, even going so far as to use her as his own mistress. As per his wife Eleanor, Henry II's solution to pretty much everything seems to have been "imprison more women".

Henry II of England - circa 1620Unknown Author, Wikimedia Commons

Advertisement

22. Speaking a Foreign Tongue

Richard probably didn’t even speak English. Yes, he was the king of England and didn’t even speak their language. He actually didn’t spend a lot of time in the country, perhaps only about six months during his entire reign.

Screenshot: Richard I is looking at side with sad face from - Richard the Lionheart (2013)Wonderphil Entertainment, Richard The Lionheart (2013)

Advertisement

23. The King Is Dead

Richard, at only 41 years old, died after a crossbow bolt snagged his left shoulder in 1199 during a castle siege.

Advertisement

Once the bolt was ripped out, the wound quickly became infected. He died just two days later—but his beloved Eleanor was able to make it to the site to see him before he ultimately passed. He died in her arms.

The death of Richard IUnknown Artist, Wikimedia Commons

Advertisement

24. One Can Forget, if the Dead Do the Forgiving

Before his death, Richard summoned the man who had shot him; he turned out to be a mere boy.

Advertisement

When asked why he had shot the King of England, this mere boy spat out that Richard had killed his father and brothers, and he was seeking his revenge. He thought he was facing certain execution, but Richard's final words to him were an act of mercy.

Advertisement

 "Live on, and by my bounty behold the light of day," the King said, forgiving the boy and sending him away with 100 shillings. Tragically, Richard's royal pardon may have been immediately betrayed: one source reports that a vicious captain named Mercadier went against the King's wishes, flaying the boy alive and hanging him in revenge.

Screenshot: Richard I laying on the ground in pain and looking at front  from - Richard the Lionheart (2013)Wonderphil Entertainment, Richard The Lionheart (2013)

Advertisement

25. The Price Is Right

In 2018, the chateau in France where Richard died was put on the market.

Advertisement

Located just over 100 miles northeast of Bordeaux, Châlus-Chabrol can be yours for €996,400, which equals just over $1,100,000 American. Quite frankly, that’s a bit of a steal if you ask me! It boasts 15 rooms and incredible views of the surrounding region.

Le château de Châlus-Chabrol, Châlus, Haute-Vienne, France - 2008Père Igor, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

Advertisement

Sources:  1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7


More from Factinate

Featured Article

My mom never told me how her best friend died. Years later, I was using her phone when I made an utterly chilling discovery.

Dark Family Secrets

Dark Family Secrets Exposed

Nothing stays hidden forever—and these dark family secrets are proof that when the truth comes out, it can range from devastating to utterly chilling.
April 8, 2020 Samantha Henman

Featured Article

Madame de Pompadour was the alluring chief mistress of King Louis XV, but few people know her dark history—or the chilling secret shared by her and Louis.

Madame de Pompadour Facts

Entrancing Facts About Madame de Pompadour, France's Most Powerful Mistress

Madame de Pompadour was the alluring chief mistress of King Louis XV, but few people know her dark history—or the chilling secret shared by her and Louis.
December 7, 2018 Kyle Climans

More from Factinate

Featured Article

I tried to get my ex-wife served with divorce papers. I knew that she was going to take it badly, but I had no idea about the insane lengths she would go to just to get revenge and mess with my life.

These People Got Genius Revenges

When someone really pushes our buttons, we'd like to think that we'd hold our head high and turn the other cheek, but revenge is so, so sweet.
April 22, 2020 Scott Mazza

Featured Article

Catherine of Aragon is now infamous as King Henry VIII’s rejected queen—but few people know her even darker history.

Catherine of Aragon Facts

Tragic Facts About Catherine of Aragon, Henry VIII’s First Wife

Catherine of Aragon is now infamous as King Henry VIII’s rejected queen—but very few people know her even darker history.
June 7, 2018 Christine Tran



Dear reader,


Want to tell us to write facts on a topic? We’re always looking for your input! Please reach out to us to let us know what you’re interested in reading. Your suggestions can be as general or specific as you like, from “Life” to “Compact Cars and Trucks” to “A Subspecies of Capybara Called Hydrochoerus Isthmius.” We’ll get our writers on it because we want to create articles on the topics you’re interested in. Please submit feedback to contribute@factinate.com. Thanks for your time!


Do you question the accuracy of a fact you just read? At Factinate, we’re dedicated to getting things right. Our credibility is the turbo-charged engine of our success. We want our readers to trust us. Our editors are instructed to fact check thoroughly, including finding at least three references for each fact. However, despite our best efforts, we sometimes miss the mark. When we do, we depend on our loyal, helpful readers to point out how we can do better. Please let us know if a fact we’ve published is inaccurate (or even if you just suspect it’s inaccurate) by reaching out to us at contribute@factinate.com. Thanks for your help!


Warmest regards,



The Factinate team




Want to learn something new every day?

Join thousands of others and start your morning with our Fact Of The Day newsletter.

Thank you!

Error, please try again.