Richard I

The amazing life of Richard I, King of England, known to history as 'Richard the Lionheart', after his reputation for bravery exhibited fighting the 'Saracens' whilst crusading in the Holy Land.

"Richard I (8 September 1157? 6 April 1199) was King of England from 6 July 1189 until his death. He also ruled as Duke of Normandy (as Richard IV), Duke of Aquitaine, Duke of Gascony, Lord of Cyprus, Count of Anjou, Count of Maine, Count of Nantes, and Overlord of Brittany at various times during the same period. He was known as Richard Cœur de Lion, or Richard the Lionheart, even before his accession, because of his reputation as a great military leader and warrior. The Saracens called him Melek-Ric or Malek al-Inkitar? King of England."--Wikipedia.

"Eighteenth- and nineteenth-century historians such as Hume, Gibbon and Stubbs criticized Richard for his neglect of domestic government and policy, and cast him as a careless ruler and bad husband."--BOOK JACKET. "Harnessing the latest sources and interpretations, John Gillingham provides a new assessment of Richard I, looking at what matters in history as well as what matters in legend."--BOOK JACKET.

Examines both Richard's role as prince and king in history, and also analyses the different and sometimes controversial elements which, for the chroniclers of his day, helped to make Richard a true model of chivalry

The Crusade of Richard I. 1189-92: Extracts from the Itinerarium Ricardi, Boh?din, Ernoul, Roger of Howden, Richard of Devizes, Rigord, Ibn Alath?r, Li Livres, Eracles, Etc.

With the emphasis firmly on Richard's monarchy rather than on his personal life, Gillingham's history aims to explain why the Lionheart's reputation has fluctuated more than that of any other monarch. The study places Richard in Europe, the Mediterranean and Palestine and demonstrates that few rulers had more enemies or more influence.

Richard I, king of England from 1189 to 1199, was a brilliant soldier and military strategist. His fierceness in battle during the Third Crusade won him the title of Coeur de Lion, or Lionheart. Even his most formidable enemy, Saladin, respected Richard and feared his army. Saladin's own emirs were terrified of the warrior they called Malek Rik. For decades following Richard's crusade, Muslim mothers called upon his name to frighten their children into behaving.