The Early life of Richard I
Guiding Questions:
- What was Richard's early life like?
- What influence did his early life have on Richard's upbringing and developing personality?
- What kinds of qualities do we see emerge from the young Richard?
- Historiography of Richard's life
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Task Read: Who is Richard the Lionheart?
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Birth and Early Life 1157 - 1172
Richard the Lionheart is above all known as a crusader and king of England. However, well before coming to the throne, he was for twenty years Duke of Aquitaine. Having his roots in Anjou, Normandy and Aquitaine, his culture was that of central and southern France. It was in this kingdom that he spent the majority of his life, trying to ensure the permanence of the Plantagenet domain.
Richard I of England was the third son of Henry II Plantagenet, king of England, and the famous Eleanor of Aquitaine. He was born at Oxford on 8 September 1157. At this period most of the “English” nobles in fact came from the continent. Most of the Plantagenet possessions were on the continent and they themselves were a family originating from Anjou. The national identities that we know today were very loosely applied; you were Angevin, Gascon, Breton or Welsh but not English or French, these notions being attached only to large kingdoms with unstable frontiers.
Richard was probably educated in the courts of Bordeaux and Poitiers, that is, in Aquitaine in the domains of his mother Eleanor. Learning the arts of poetry, music and literature, his maternal language was “la langue d’oc” (Occitan). He was also instructed in “la langue d’oïl” (French), the language of his father, and in Latin. Like many young nobles in the 12thcentury he also learned skill at arms, particularly from the great barons faithful to his father. One of them was perhaps William the Marshal, known as the best knight of his time and tutor to Henry II’s eldest son, Henry the Young King. Richard showed real talent as a warrior.
From his youth, therefore, he was steeped in the new culture of chivalry that was spreading through the Plantagenet domains, particularly in Aquitaine. Richard probably very soon became attached to this region, in particular Poitou and Angoumois. Limousin was then experiencing a time of prosperity. The Church, providing some unity to the region, played an important role in what was a golden age for Limousin, thanks to the presence and increasing prosperity of powerful abbeys such as Saint Martial, Solignac and Grandmont. This area also saw the spread of the art of the troubadours, who glorified the new values of chivalry. The life of Richard was to a large extent conditioned by the legacy of his parents and his connections with colourful personalities.
Richard was probably educated in the courts of Bordeaux and Poitiers, that is, in Aquitaine in the domains of his mother Eleanor. Learning the arts of poetry, music and literature, his maternal language was “la langue d’oc” (Occitan). He was also instructed in “la langue d’oïl” (French), the language of his father, and in Latin. Like many young nobles in the 12thcentury he also learned skill at arms, particularly from the great barons faithful to his father. One of them was perhaps William the Marshal, known as the best knight of his time and tutor to Henry II’s eldest son, Henry the Young King. Richard showed real talent as a warrior.
From his youth, therefore, he was steeped in the new culture of chivalry that was spreading through the Plantagenet domains, particularly in Aquitaine. Richard probably very soon became attached to this region, in particular Poitou and Angoumois. Limousin was then experiencing a time of prosperity. The Church, providing some unity to the region, played an important role in what was a golden age for Limousin, thanks to the presence and increasing prosperity of powerful abbeys such as Saint Martial, Solignac and Grandmont. This area also saw the spread of the art of the troubadours, who glorified the new values of chivalry. The life of Richard was to a large extent conditioned by the legacy of his parents and his connections with colourful personalities.
Revolt of 1173-1174
Richard's early life is generally poorly documented.
One event that was recorded was his revolt against his father, Henry II. When he was invested as Duke of Aquitaine three months prior to his fifteenth birthday and less than a year later, dubbed into knighthood by Louis VII of France, his first military action was revolt.
One event that was recorded was his revolt against his father, Henry II. When he was invested as Duke of Aquitaine three months prior to his fifteenth birthday and less than a year later, dubbed into knighthood by Louis VII of France, his first military action was revolt.
- The Revolt of 1173–74 was a rebellion against King Henry II of England by three of his sons, his wife Eleanor of Aquitaine, and their rebel supporters (mostly barons).
- The revolt ended in failure after eighteen months.
- Henry's rebellious family members had to resign themselves to his continuing rule and were reconciled to him.
The land under Henry’s control became known as the ‘Angevin’ or ‘Plantagenet’ empire and was at its greatest extent in 1173 when Henry faced the biggest threat in all of his reign. It did not come from abroad or from the church. It came from within his own family. Henry’s sons opposed their father’s intention to split his lands equally amongst them. The eldest son, known as Henry the Young King did not want his inheritance broken apart.
The revolt was led by the Young King and he was assisted by his brother Richard, the kings of France and Scotland as well as many barons from England and Normandy. Defeating this year-long rebellion was perhaps Henry’s greatest accomplishment.
The revolt was led by the Young King and he was assisted by his brother Richard, the kings of France and Scotland as well as many barons from England and Normandy. Defeating this year-long rebellion was perhaps Henry’s greatest accomplishment.
For related events during the 18 month rebellion, see:
1. Battle of Alnwick.
2. The siege of Rouen.
3. Treaty of Falaise.
1. Battle of Alnwick.
2. The siege of Rouen.
3. Treaty of Falaise.
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Sources concerning the revolt
Some of the sources for the revolt are given below:
Benedict of Peterborough writes about Richard's siege of the castle in Drincourt:
...juvenis rex et fratres sui venerunt in Normanniam cum comite Flandriæ et comite Boloniæ; et obsederunt castellum de Driencurt, quod infra quindecim dies sequentes Dolfus, Bardulfus et Thomas frater ipsius, qui fuerunt inde constabularii, reddiderunt eis;
...the Young King and his brothers entered Normandy with the count of Flanders and the count of Boulogne and they laid siege to the castle of Drincourt, which, after holding steadfast for fifteen days, was surrendered to them by the brothers Dolfus, Bardulfus and Thomas.
Gesta regis Henrici secundi Benedicti Abbatus : the chronicle of the reigns of Henry II and Richard I, A.D. 1169-1192, known commonly under the name of Bendedict of Peterborough ; v.2 / edited from the Cotton MSS by William Stubbs (London, 1867), vol.1, p.49 (tr. by Anderson)
Even late in the revolt, in 1174, Richard was still besieging his father's castles. Richard of Hoveden states:
...Ricardi comitis Pictaviæ, qui tempore illo ... in Pictavia expugnana castella et homines patris sui
...Richard, earl of Poitou, ... was at this time in Poitou, besieging the castles and subjects of his father.
Hoveden, Chronica Magistri Rogeri de Houedene. 4 vols. ed. by. W. Stubbs (London, 1868 – 1871), vol.2, p.48 (tr. vol.1, p.385).
What the sources seem to suggest is that Richard continued the revolt against his father on his own even after a truce was agreed between Henry's opposition and himself. His youthful ambition and naivety however were to be exposed when Henry - reinvigorated - marched into Poitou and seized the area Richard had besieged. Richard fled (tactical withdrawal?) knowing full well he would have no chance against his father's army:
...quod Ricardus comes Pictoviæ excluderetur a treugisillis; et quod rex Franciæ et rex Angliæ filius nullum succursum ei facerent.
... that they said Richard, earl of Poitou, should be excluded from all benefit of the truce, and that the king of France and the king of England, the son, should give him no succour whatever.
Hoveden, Chronica Magistri Rogeri de Houedene, vol.2, p.66 (tr. vol.1, p.385).
...promovit exercitum suum in Pictaviam. Cujus adventum Richardus comes Pictaviæ filius ejus non ausus expectare fugit de loco in locum.
...moved his army on into Poitou; upon which, Richard, earl of Poitou, his son, not daring to await his approach, fled from place to place.
Hoveden, Chronica Magistri Rogeri de Houedene, vol.2, pp.66-67 (tr. vol.1, p.385).
Richard realising his inability, capitulated and begged forgiveness from his father in the latter's court. Hoveden records this:
… cums lacrymis veniens cecidit pronus in terram ante pedes regis patris sui, ... postulans veniam.
... coming with tears, fell on his face upon the ground at the feet of his father, ... imploring pardon
Hoveden, Chronica Magistri Rogeri de Houedene, vol.2, p.67 (tr. vol.1, p.385).
Peterborough more poetically records the reconciliation as:
... et venit lacrymans et cecidit in faciem suem pronus in terram, ante pedes Regis patris sui, veniam ab eo postulans.
... and it came to pass that he wept and he fell down onto his face sinking onto the ground, in front of the feet of his father the King, there he begged for forgiveness
Gesta regis Henrici secundi, vol.1, p.76 (Tr. Anderson).
Benedict of Peterborough writes about Richard's siege of the castle in Drincourt:
...juvenis rex et fratres sui venerunt in Normanniam cum comite Flandriæ et comite Boloniæ; et obsederunt castellum de Driencurt, quod infra quindecim dies sequentes Dolfus, Bardulfus et Thomas frater ipsius, qui fuerunt inde constabularii, reddiderunt eis;
...the Young King and his brothers entered Normandy with the count of Flanders and the count of Boulogne and they laid siege to the castle of Drincourt, which, after holding steadfast for fifteen days, was surrendered to them by the brothers Dolfus, Bardulfus and Thomas.
Gesta regis Henrici secundi Benedicti Abbatus : the chronicle of the reigns of Henry II and Richard I, A.D. 1169-1192, known commonly under the name of Bendedict of Peterborough ; v.2 / edited from the Cotton MSS by William Stubbs (London, 1867), vol.1, p.49 (tr. by Anderson)
Even late in the revolt, in 1174, Richard was still besieging his father's castles. Richard of Hoveden states:
...Ricardi comitis Pictaviæ, qui tempore illo ... in Pictavia expugnana castella et homines patris sui
...Richard, earl of Poitou, ... was at this time in Poitou, besieging the castles and subjects of his father.
Hoveden, Chronica Magistri Rogeri de Houedene. 4 vols. ed. by. W. Stubbs (London, 1868 – 1871), vol.2, p.48 (tr. vol.1, p.385).
What the sources seem to suggest is that Richard continued the revolt against his father on his own even after a truce was agreed between Henry's opposition and himself. His youthful ambition and naivety however were to be exposed when Henry - reinvigorated - marched into Poitou and seized the area Richard had besieged. Richard fled (tactical withdrawal?) knowing full well he would have no chance against his father's army:
...quod Ricardus comes Pictoviæ excluderetur a treugisillis; et quod rex Franciæ et rex Angliæ filius nullum succursum ei facerent.
... that they said Richard, earl of Poitou, should be excluded from all benefit of the truce, and that the king of France and the king of England, the son, should give him no succour whatever.
Hoveden, Chronica Magistri Rogeri de Houedene, vol.2, p.66 (tr. vol.1, p.385).
...promovit exercitum suum in Pictaviam. Cujus adventum Richardus comes Pictaviæ filius ejus non ausus expectare fugit de loco in locum.
...moved his army on into Poitou; upon which, Richard, earl of Poitou, his son, not daring to await his approach, fled from place to place.
Hoveden, Chronica Magistri Rogeri de Houedene, vol.2, pp.66-67 (tr. vol.1, p.385).
Richard realising his inability, capitulated and begged forgiveness from his father in the latter's court. Hoveden records this:
… cums lacrymis veniens cecidit pronus in terram ante pedes regis patris sui, ... postulans veniam.
... coming with tears, fell on his face upon the ground at the feet of his father, ... imploring pardon
Hoveden, Chronica Magistri Rogeri de Houedene, vol.2, p.67 (tr. vol.1, p.385).
Peterborough more poetically records the reconciliation as:
... et venit lacrymans et cecidit in faciem suem pronus in terram, ante pedes Regis patris sui, veniam ab eo postulans.
... and it came to pass that he wept and he fell down onto his face sinking onto the ground, in front of the feet of his father the King, there he begged for forgiveness
Gesta regis Henrici secundi, vol.1, p.76 (Tr. Anderson).
Causes:
- Henry II had huge estates and land as a king and many rich aristocrats wanted a piece of that.
- Henry's sons felt they were unjustly treated by their father and so demanded their inheritance in a forceful way.
- Eleanor of Aquitaine was feuding with her husband over his behaviour as king, especially for possibly being involved in the murder of the Archbishop Thomas Beckett
- The revolt lasted eighteen months, played out across a large geographic area from southern Scotland to Brittany. At least twenty castles in England were recorded as demolished on the orders of the king.
- Many towns were destroyed and many people were killed. Blame was placed on young Henry's advisors, the rebel barons, who manipulated the inexperienced and rash princes for their own dreams of gain.
- Another effect was that this during the revolt, Richard undertook campaigns that indicated his early promise as a young fighter and tactician.
Task: written answers
Richard's Revolt - Answer the following questions:
1. What can we learn from the revolt about Richard as a young prince? (use the sources in your answer as evidence).
2. What can we learn or infer from the revolt about medieval political and imperial life? (use the sources and your wider knowledge).
3. If you were to set out a short timeline of Richard's revolt against his father, what would you include?
4. According to Hoveden, when Richard begged for forgiveness, Henry took him into his arms:
postulans veniam in patris sinu recipitur...
[he] was received into his father's bosom... [vol.2, p.6 (tr. vol.1, p.385)]
What does this source suggest about Henry?
1. What can we learn from the revolt about Richard as a young prince? (use the sources in your answer as evidence).
2. What can we learn or infer from the revolt about medieval political and imperial life? (use the sources and your wider knowledge).
3. If you were to set out a short timeline of Richard's revolt against his father, what would you include?
4. According to Hoveden, when Richard begged for forgiveness, Henry took him into his arms:
postulans veniam in patris sinu recipitur...
[he] was received into his father's bosom... [vol.2, p.6 (tr. vol.1, p.385)]
What does this source suggest about Henry?
REbellion Evaluation
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Richard I |
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What can we learn about the Young Richard from the text?
Duke of Aquitaine: Early military experience
Richard experienced his first battles at the age of sixteen when he was Duke of Aquitaine. In 1173 he rebelled against his father, Henry II, at the side of his brother, Henry the Young King. Named as successor to Henry II, Henry the Young King had nevertheless not been given a fief. It seems that Eleanor had also plotted to set her sons against the king of England. The revolt failed, in spite of the support of numerous lords from Anjou, Poitiers and Aquitaine, as well as the King of France, Louis VII. The rebel armies were all repulsed by Henry II, in Normandy, in Aquitaine and even in Scotland; his victory was complete. Richard and his brothers were reconciled with their father and swore allegiance to him again.
The king therefore ordered his son Richard to pacify the rebel lords in Aquitaine. That is why Richard turned against the lords who were in revolt against his father, although they had supported Richard himself several months earlier. He led campaigns in the Toulouse region and in Gascony, but also in Angoumois and Limousin. The Viscount Adémar (or Aimar) of Limoges, who had been his ally against his father, Henry II, became after that an implacable enemy. He triumphed over the barons of Limousin and Angoumois at the Battle of St Maigrin in May 1175, the first battle in which he took part.
He next tried to pacify Limousin and Angoumois to consolidate his victory. The Viscount of Limoges and the Count of Angoulême, William Taillefer, were sent to England to ask for pardon from King Henry II at the end of the year 1176. Richard next went to Gascony and the Basque country where he subdued the robber lords who were ransoming pilgrims on their way to Santiago de Compostella. Imprudently, and perhaps calculatingly, he then let loose his mercenaries in Poitiers where they pillaged and murdered, treating Limousin in the same way. The enraged population was obliged to raise a “peace-keeping militia” who wiped out the mercenaries at the Battle of Malemort in April 1177.
It was during this period, after the capture of Agen and Castillon in 1175, that Richard showed his qualities as knight and leader in war, being given his nickname “Lionheart” as a mark of his courage but also of his ferocity and perhaps of his cruelty. He carved out for himself as much of a reputation for being a model knight, brave and modest, as for being brutal. This volatile aspect of his character also earned him the nickname “oc e no”, in Occitan meaning “yes and no”, given to him by the knight troubadour Bertran de Born
The king therefore ordered his son Richard to pacify the rebel lords in Aquitaine. That is why Richard turned against the lords who were in revolt against his father, although they had supported Richard himself several months earlier. He led campaigns in the Toulouse region and in Gascony, but also in Angoumois and Limousin. The Viscount Adémar (or Aimar) of Limoges, who had been his ally against his father, Henry II, became after that an implacable enemy. He triumphed over the barons of Limousin and Angoumois at the Battle of St Maigrin in May 1175, the first battle in which he took part.
He next tried to pacify Limousin and Angoumois to consolidate his victory. The Viscount of Limoges and the Count of Angoulême, William Taillefer, were sent to England to ask for pardon from King Henry II at the end of the year 1176. Richard next went to Gascony and the Basque country where he subdued the robber lords who were ransoming pilgrims on their way to Santiago de Compostella. Imprudently, and perhaps calculatingly, he then let loose his mercenaries in Poitiers where they pillaged and murdered, treating Limousin in the same way. The enraged population was obliged to raise a “peace-keeping militia” who wiped out the mercenaries at the Battle of Malemort in April 1177.
It was during this period, after the capture of Agen and Castillon in 1175, that Richard showed his qualities as knight and leader in war, being given his nickname “Lionheart” as a mark of his courage but also of his ferocity and perhaps of his cruelty. He carved out for himself as much of a reputation for being a model knight, brave and modest, as for being brutal. This volatile aspect of his character also earned him the nickname “oc e no”, in Occitan meaning “yes and no”, given to him by the knight troubadour Bertran de Born
During the years that followed, Richard was involved in numerous feudal conflicts in his domain of Aquitaine. The barons of the duchy never stopped rebelling, particularly the counts of Angoulême and the viscounts of Limoges. Revolt rumbled on in Limousin and Richard, sometimes accompanied by his father, had to undertake several campaigns to pacify the region.
Henry the Young King finished by rebelling again against his father, encouraged by his brother Geoffrey. They managed to rally the rebel barons of Aquitaine and Poitou to their cause. They ravaged Limousin, Perigord and Poitou, pillaging and committing numerous atrocities. Richard, with his father in support, led a campaign in Limousin and subdued the rebel vassals again. This was the moment when everything changed for Richard. His oldest brother, Henry the Young King, became ill and died prematurely in 1183. The war with his brothers came to an end and Richard the Lionheart found himself heir to the throne of England.
But his father, Henry II, was wary of Richard and tried to take Aquitaine from him in order to give it to his other son John who had not received any fiefdom. Enraged, Richard claimed his dead brother’s inheritance and entered into a conflict with John, considering that he held Aquitaine from his mother and that therefore his father had no power over it. At this point, Richard recruited the mercenary leader Mercadier, who became one of his most loyal lieutenants. Richard was remarkable for his employment of so many mercenaries, a fact which was not without consequence for local populations, as his troops were violent and predatory. The Church had tried several times to limit the predations of these bands of mercenaries, and equally the use of the crossbow, a murderous weapon also favoured by Richard.
Henry the Young King finished by rebelling again against his father, encouraged by his brother Geoffrey. They managed to rally the rebel barons of Aquitaine and Poitou to their cause. They ravaged Limousin, Perigord and Poitou, pillaging and committing numerous atrocities. Richard, with his father in support, led a campaign in Limousin and subdued the rebel vassals again. This was the moment when everything changed for Richard. His oldest brother, Henry the Young King, became ill and died prematurely in 1183. The war with his brothers came to an end and Richard the Lionheart found himself heir to the throne of England.
But his father, Henry II, was wary of Richard and tried to take Aquitaine from him in order to give it to his other son John who had not received any fiefdom. Enraged, Richard claimed his dead brother’s inheritance and entered into a conflict with John, considering that he held Aquitaine from his mother and that therefore his father had no power over it. At this point, Richard recruited the mercenary leader Mercadier, who became one of his most loyal lieutenants. Richard was remarkable for his employment of so many mercenaries, a fact which was not without consequence for local populations, as his troops were violent and predatory. The Church had tried several times to limit the predations of these bands of mercenaries, and equally the use of the crossbow, a murderous weapon also favoured by Richard.
It was at this moment that the recently crowned King of France, Philip Augustus, involved himself in the quarrel within the Plantagenet family. He applied a divisive strategy, supporting one camp and then the other in order to weaken his dangerous rivals.
In this situation, Geoffrey began to lay claim to Anjou as well as Brittany, of which he was duke by marriage. Supported by Philip Augustus he took refuge at the French court. He joined himself in friendship to the French king but he died, trampled by horses during a tournament in 1186. Therefore, Philip Augustus began to attack Normandy and Berry. He took as his pretext the fact that Alice, his sister, should have married one of the sons of Henry II some time earlier. The King of England had let the matter drag on, all the while keeping her dowry. It seemed, in fact, that Henry II had made the young Alice his concubine. Only the prospect of his departure on Crusade, after the announcement of the taking of Jerusalem by the Muslims, brought peace between the two kings.
But the Crusade was slow to be organised, and new revolts took place in Aquitaine. Richard was obliged to go to re-establish order. On this occasion he entered into conflict with Raymond of Toulouse and he went to besiege his castles in Quercy. Philip Augustus, overlord of the Count of Toulouse, took the part of his vassal and the conflict between the Capetians and the Plantagenets threatened to begin again.
It was Richard who was to act as intermediary to guarantee the peace but Philip Augustus brought him over to his side by letting it slip that Henry II was not intending to let Richard succeed him, and they entered an alliance against the King of England. They led victorious campaigns in Normandy and Berry. The defeat of Henry II seemed unavoidable and he fled to his castle at Chinon, pursued by Richard and his knights. William the Marshal, a knight eternally loyal to the old king, enabled him to escape by killing Richard’s horse. Several months later, Henry II died
In this situation, Geoffrey began to lay claim to Anjou as well as Brittany, of which he was duke by marriage. Supported by Philip Augustus he took refuge at the French court. He joined himself in friendship to the French king but he died, trampled by horses during a tournament in 1186. Therefore, Philip Augustus began to attack Normandy and Berry. He took as his pretext the fact that Alice, his sister, should have married one of the sons of Henry II some time earlier. The King of England had let the matter drag on, all the while keeping her dowry. It seemed, in fact, that Henry II had made the young Alice his concubine. Only the prospect of his departure on Crusade, after the announcement of the taking of Jerusalem by the Muslims, brought peace between the two kings.
But the Crusade was slow to be organised, and new revolts took place in Aquitaine. Richard was obliged to go to re-establish order. On this occasion he entered into conflict with Raymond of Toulouse and he went to besiege his castles in Quercy. Philip Augustus, overlord of the Count of Toulouse, took the part of his vassal and the conflict between the Capetians and the Plantagenets threatened to begin again.
It was Richard who was to act as intermediary to guarantee the peace but Philip Augustus brought him over to his side by letting it slip that Henry II was not intending to let Richard succeed him, and they entered an alliance against the King of England. They led victorious campaigns in Normandy and Berry. The defeat of Henry II seemed unavoidable and he fled to his castle at Chinon, pursued by Richard and his knights. William the Marshal, a knight eternally loyal to the old king, enabled him to escape by killing Richard’s horse. Several months later, Henry II died
Early Influences
Eleanor of Aquitaine
That Richard loved his mother deeply is unquestionable. He had been with her at her court in Poitiers from the ages of nine to thirteen. As Duke of Aquitaine he identified with her and her heritage. He surrendered the Aquitaine to her and her alone, trusting her not to give it to one of his brothers. His very first act as king was to order her release from detention. He sought her advice when he was with her and entrusted her with royal authority during his absence. Arguably there was no other human being that he trusted as much as he trusted his mother, and rightly so. She, more than anyone, held his kingdom together in the face of rebellions and secured his release from German captivity.
Henry II
Richard’s relationship with his father was far more complex than that of an impatient and rebellious son. From 1173 to 1183, Richard and his father fought almost continuously together – against the French King, against the rebellious lords of Aquitaine, against Richard’s brothers. They were allied again 1184 – 1187. It seems fair to hypothesize that the bitterness of the final break (that led indeed to Richard hounding his father to his grave) was a function of the intensity of Richard’s earlier love for his father. Richard felt betrayed by a man he had come to love, and it was this sense of betrayal that turned love into hatred.
Aquitaine
Richard was, furthermore, only 13 when he was first invested with authority as Duke of Aquitaine. While children in the Middle Ages undoubtedly grew up faster than children do today, that is still a very young age to be raised to such high status. It is hard to imagine that the dignity, power and importance of this title did not go to his head.
Certainly, Richard identified with Aquitaine far more powerfully and emotionally than he ever did with England or Normandy. He spent almost no time in England as a child, and not until the death of his elder brother Henry the Young in 1183 did he expect to become King of England. Even then, his father kept him guessing about whether he would be recognized as heir or not. It was literally not until his father died in 1189 that Richard had a bond with England. By then he was 32 years old and had already taken the cross. In short, his mind was focused elsewhere. So, no, he neither spent much time in nor cared particularly about England. But that does not necessarily make him a “bad” king. Indeed, it was not until the 18th century that the English “disowned” him. Throughout the Middle Ages, Richard was revered as one of England’s greatest kings, as a king who made England proud because his glorious reputation reflected well upon his kingdom and subjects.
Certainly, Richard identified with Aquitaine far more powerfully and emotionally than he ever did with England or Normandy. He spent almost no time in England as a child, and not until the death of his elder brother Henry the Young in 1183 did he expect to become King of England. Even then, his father kept him guessing about whether he would be recognized as heir or not. It was literally not until his father died in 1189 that Richard had a bond with England. By then he was 32 years old and had already taken the cross. In short, his mind was focused elsewhere. So, no, he neither spent much time in nor cared particularly about England. But that does not necessarily make him a “bad” king. Indeed, it was not until the 18th century that the English “disowned” him. Throughout the Middle Ages, Richard was revered as one of England’s greatest kings, as a king who made England proud because his glorious reputation reflected well upon his kingdom and subjects.
Understanding Richard
We meet the same difficulties in trying to understand Richard’s character. The texts of the Middle Ages repeatedly describe the King’s conduct during the course of his life. But they are often biased, either favourably or critically, in describing his personality. Furthermore, they define these traits of character according to a system of values and a way of thinking that are different from ours. In this period, individualism was considered out of place and it is very difficult to discern what is characteristic of the person rather than what is attributed to them on the basis of their rank and status.
Even the powerful were described according to pre-established archetypes. Thus, numerous qualities and faults were ascribed to Richard the Lionheart, but they were entirely the same as were ascribed to other figures of his rank. There again, one notices many similarities with his father Henry II and other members of his family.
Richard the Lionheart was seen, in the 12th century as in the 21st, as a warrior king with an impulsive character. He was often criticised, even in his lifetime, for behaving more like a knight than like a king, travelling through his kingdom on a quest for personal glory rather than actually governing it. In this period, one expected a king to lead his men in battle and to lead them by example. But Richard had been personally involved in his military campaigns to the extent of being frequently wounded. It was, furthermore, this impulsiveness and thirst for glory in combat that led him to expose himself to danger beneath the walls of Châlus in 1199.
Unlike him, his enemies, particularly the kings of France, behaved much more like monarchs. Richard seemed to show great courage. The chroniclers of the time sang his praises for it and none of them omitted to emphasise this aspect of his character. His ferocity in combat was pointed out, although some events were exaggerated for the sake of propaganda, especially in the context of his incessant rivalry with his brothers, his father and the king of France.
His nickname “Lionheart” reflected this reputation. One becomes aware of this character trait when authors like Bertran de Born, a bellicose troubadour knight often very critical of the great figures of his time, praised Richard’s courage and valour. While considering this warlike aspect of his character, one must remember that Richard was regarded as a bloodthirsty and cruel man, particularly by the Muslims after his massacre of prisoners at the Siege of Acre during the Crusade, but equally, at other times, as a fearsome adversary, worthy of respect.
Richard’s other character traits are even more difficult to define. His generosity and his open-handedness towards his allies and servants seemed to have been counterbalanced by a tendency to get carried away by violent anger which led him to make ill-considered decisions. Once again, one can cite the example of the massacre of Muslim prisoners after the fall of Acre during the Third Crusade which brought about the breaking- off of diplomatic relations with Saladin and the Muslim armies. It seems that Richard had a volatile character, quick to lose his temper. Bertran de Born, in one of his songs, gave him the soubriquet “oc et no” (“yes and no” in Occitan) because he was always changing his mind.
Richard was also opportunistic and proud. He didn’t hesitate to ally himself with the king of France against his own father, although he was fighting him several months earlier. Equally, he showed himself to be arrogant and resentful.
The final point that the medieval texts emphasise about Richard’s character is that he was a bon viveur, a lover of all the pleasures of life, particularly entertaining. He was also literate and was interested in literature and poetry. He wrote several poems and songs during his captivity in the Holy Roman Empire in the manner of the troubadours whose art reached its peak in the Plantagenet fiefs of Aquitaine and Poitou. It is not easy to construct a portrait of Richard the Lionheart, as his character is so surrounded with legend.
Even the powerful were described according to pre-established archetypes. Thus, numerous qualities and faults were ascribed to Richard the Lionheart, but they were entirely the same as were ascribed to other figures of his rank. There again, one notices many similarities with his father Henry II and other members of his family.
Richard the Lionheart was seen, in the 12th century as in the 21st, as a warrior king with an impulsive character. He was often criticised, even in his lifetime, for behaving more like a knight than like a king, travelling through his kingdom on a quest for personal glory rather than actually governing it. In this period, one expected a king to lead his men in battle and to lead them by example. But Richard had been personally involved in his military campaigns to the extent of being frequently wounded. It was, furthermore, this impulsiveness and thirst for glory in combat that led him to expose himself to danger beneath the walls of Châlus in 1199.
Unlike him, his enemies, particularly the kings of France, behaved much more like monarchs. Richard seemed to show great courage. The chroniclers of the time sang his praises for it and none of them omitted to emphasise this aspect of his character. His ferocity in combat was pointed out, although some events were exaggerated for the sake of propaganda, especially in the context of his incessant rivalry with his brothers, his father and the king of France.
His nickname “Lionheart” reflected this reputation. One becomes aware of this character trait when authors like Bertran de Born, a bellicose troubadour knight often very critical of the great figures of his time, praised Richard’s courage and valour. While considering this warlike aspect of his character, one must remember that Richard was regarded as a bloodthirsty and cruel man, particularly by the Muslims after his massacre of prisoners at the Siege of Acre during the Crusade, but equally, at other times, as a fearsome adversary, worthy of respect.
Richard’s other character traits are even more difficult to define. His generosity and his open-handedness towards his allies and servants seemed to have been counterbalanced by a tendency to get carried away by violent anger which led him to make ill-considered decisions. Once again, one can cite the example of the massacre of Muslim prisoners after the fall of Acre during the Third Crusade which brought about the breaking- off of diplomatic relations with Saladin and the Muslim armies. It seems that Richard had a volatile character, quick to lose his temper. Bertran de Born, in one of his songs, gave him the soubriquet “oc et no” (“yes and no” in Occitan) because he was always changing his mind.
Richard was also opportunistic and proud. He didn’t hesitate to ally himself with the king of France against his own father, although he was fighting him several months earlier. Equally, he showed himself to be arrogant and resentful.
The final point that the medieval texts emphasise about Richard’s character is that he was a bon viveur, a lover of all the pleasures of life, particularly entertaining. He was also literate and was interested in literature and poetry. He wrote several poems and songs during his captivity in the Holy Roman Empire in the manner of the troubadours whose art reached its peak in the Plantagenet fiefs of Aquitaine and Poitou. It is not easy to construct a portrait of Richard the Lionheart, as his character is so surrounded with legend.
Task: Answer the following questions
- What was Richard's early life like?
- What influence did his early life have on Richard's upbringing and developing personality?
- What kinds of qualities do we see emerge from the young Richard?
Written Task: Prepare a CV
Prepare a CV for Richard in 1189 in order to promote his achievements before he became king.
What experience does he have?
What successes has he gained?
What are his prominent skills and qualities?
What experience does he have?
What successes has he gained?
What are his prominent skills and qualities?
Extension Task
| scan_oct_5_2020_at_9.03_pm.pdf |
| richard_duke_of_aquitaine_questions.docx |