Unbelievable Facts About Richard The Lionheart, The Crusader King
The Extraordinary Life Of Richard The Lionheart
Historians describe Richard the Lionheart as “a bad son, a bad husband, and a bad king, but a gallant and splendid soldier”. The reality, however, is a little more complicated.
1. He Was The Crusader King
Richard the Lionheart was King of England from 1189 to 1199. He was famous, even in his own time, for leading the Third Crusade to retake Jerusalem. But his road to salvation was long—and brutal. Along with his brothers, he led a rebellion against his father, composed poems while being held captive, and built a castle in a “rain of blood”.
So, who was this Crusader King really?
2. He Was The Runt Of The Litter
Richard I, the legendary “Lionheart," was the runt of his parents’ litter. He entered the world on September 8, 1157, likely at Beaumont Palace in Oxford, England. He was the third son of King Henry II of England and the formidable Eleanor of Aquitaine. His elder brother, William, passed before his birth, bringing him one step closer to the throne...and all of the trouble that came with it.
3. He Was His Mother’s Favorite
Considering his position in the family's hierarchy, Richard didn't seem to have a shoo-in for the throne at all. Even so, Richard was his mother Eleanor’s undeniable favorite, placing both of them in Henry II’s and Henry the Young King’s crosshairs. But Richard was born for greatness—and he had the lineage of conquerors to prove it.
4. He Was Descended From William The Conqueror
Richard’s lineage was nothing short of legendary. On his father’s side, he was a descendant of William the Conqueror, while his mother’s bloodline connected him to the Anglo-Saxon kings and Alfred the Great. According to medieval chroniclers, the family tree even claimed mythical roots, stretching all the way to Noah and Woden.
However, not all of his ancestors were heroes.
