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- Richard I "Coeur De Lion" King Of England ruled from 1189 to 1199. He is known as Richard the Lion-Hearted. Shortly after Richard became king, he joined Philip Augustus of France in a crusade to the Holy Land. He captured the great port of Acre, but could not recapture Jerusalem.
During the crusade, Richard aroused the hatred of Leopold, Duke of Austria. In 1192, while Richard was on his journey home, Leopold seized him. Leopold kept Richard in a castle on the Danube River as a prisoner of the Holy Roman Emperor, Henry VI, until a heavy ransom was paid for his release. It is said that while he lay in prison his favorite minstrel, Blondel, made himself known to his master by singing outside the castle.
Richard returned to England in 1194, but did not really rule. Instead, he left the government to the care of a trusted minister and fought in a war with Philip Augustus of France. In 1199, Richard was killed during the siege of a French castle, and his brother John became king.
During his entire reign, Richard spent little more than six months in England, and he performed no real service for the good of his country. He was a brave and vigorous man, sometimes cruel, but often gallant and generous. He was a troubadour, and some of his songs have been preserved.
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Reference:
"The World Book Encyclopedia", 1968, p R304.
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1157 - 1199 (41 years)