He was canonized by Pope Boniface VIII in 1297, and was the only French monarch to become a saint. Louis IX of France is the only king on this list who was canonized. 13th century, accessed via The Morgan Library & Museum The Saintly Ruler: Louis IX of France (1226-70) Saint Louis, artist unknown, c. Moreover, Richard’s reign was a period of relative peace with Scotland, something many of his successors failed to achieve.Ģ. Richard definitely deserves a place on this list as he achieved far more in warfare and territory terms than many of his predecessors who are also regarded as good kings did, such as William I (r. He may have been king of England, but that was in name only he only spent 6 months of his 10 year reign in England. Richard’s legacy as a king is certainly one of a crusader, rather than an English king. Unfortunately for Richard, just five years later, he was shot by an arrow in France, the wound became gangrenous, and he died on the 6th of April 1199. However, he did not stick around and was back on the Continent by June of the same year. Richard returned to England in March 1194 and forgave John for his rebellions. Walter also managed to raise 100,000 marks - enough to pay Richard’s ransom. Fortunately, in his absence, Richard had promoted Hubert Walter (a royal advisor) to Archbishop of Canterbury, and he ran England smoothly, even quashing a rebellion from Richard’s younger brother, John. Richard was later captured by Henry VI, the Holy Roman Emperor, on his way back from the Holy Land and imprisoned in Trifels Castle in Germany between December 1192 and February 1194. They may not have captured Jerusalem, but they captured huge amounts of important territory. The Treaty of Jaffa (which Richard signed with Saladin on the 2nd of September 1192) ensured that Christians would be granted safe access to Jerusalem, and granted all territory between Jaffa and Tyre. Yet this does not mean that this crusade was not a success. ![]() ![]() However, he never managed to recapture Jerusalem. Upon arriving on the coast of Acre, Richard took part in the famous Siege of Acre, recapturing the coastal city for the crusaders. She was the daughter of King Sancho VI of Navarre. ![]() Arguably the most important was his marriage to Berengaria of Navarre in Cyprus, in May 1191. Richard also made important alliances across Europe on his way to the Holy Land - something pivotal to the success of any medieval king. Philip (center) and Richard (left) accepting the keys to Acre, from Grandes Chroniques de France, c. Both Richard and Philip set out on crusade together two huge medieval kings going to fight for their countries was a sight admired by many in both England and France. He did not actually set out on crusade until July 1190 - ten months after his coronation as king of England. His father had died, and Richard was thus crowned as King Richard I of England - which delayed his crusading journey. However, Richard was unable to go out on crusade as soon as he wanted to. Richard was the first European noble to “take the cross” - a term given to those who had given their crusading vows to recover Jerusalem for Christendom and take it out of the Muslim Saladin’s hands. In 1172, he was made Duke of Aquitaine and became acquainted with the French heir to the throne, Philip Augustus.īy 1180, Philip had been crowned as King Philip II of France, and just seven years later, the pair’s friendship would be put through a serious test: the onset of the Third Crusade. Richard spoke French and became accustomed to French culture. During his early childhood, Eleanor and Henry had become estranged from one another, and as a result, Richard spent the majority of his early years in France with his mother. Born on the 8th of September 1157, Richard was the eldest surviving son of Henry II of England and his wife, Eleanor of Aquitaine. Yet he is still one of the most famous medieval kings of all time. Richard I of England, better known as Richard the Lionheart, was king of England for just ten years, from 1189-99. The Medieval King Who Took the Cross: Richard I of England (1189-99) Effigy of Richard the Lionheart at Fontevraud Abbey, photograph by Adam Bishop, 17 October 2011, via Wikimedia Commons
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