This is a riveting film about one of England’s most famous kings, admired for centuries for bravery, and an important Christian commander during the Crusades. Although Richard I reigned for only ten years, from 1189 to 1199, Richard I’s reign has become legendary. Due to his legendary exploits, his prowess as a military strategist, and his lion heart on the battlefield, he is often portrayed in many movies and TV shows.
Richard was born at Beaumont Palace, Oxford, in 1157, the son of King Henry II and Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine. As the third son (fourth of eight children), no one expected him to be king. When his parents separated, he moved to France with her and spent most of his youth at her court. There was no love lost between his parents, she encouraged her sons to rebel and fight their father. In 1189, Richard defeated his father in battle and was crowned King of England, Duke of Normandy, and Count of Anjou.
Curiously, Richard only spent about six months in England during his ten-year tenure as King of England. Almost immediately after his coronation, Richard joined King Philip II of France in his Third Crusade to liberate the Holy Land from the Kurdish leader, the great Muslim Emperor Salah al-Din. Many of his critics felt that he was less devoted to England and more interested in his French territories. He didn’t even speak English, and instead used a sizable portion of his father’s treasury funds to finance his foreign wars.
But his military exploits and chivalry are recorded in the annals of history. On his way to the Crusades, he captured Sicily on behalf of his queen, his sister Joan. He also made a huge financial contribution to his growing legend by conquering Cyprus, gaining new allies, and making a living.
When he finally reached the Holy Land, he heroically captured the city of Acre. His decisive actions made him popular with his men, who were extremely loyal to him because he valued them and would go to war to fight alongside them. Although he did not regain control of Jerusalem, which was his main objective, he defeated Saladin, whom Richard greatly admired and respected despite being an enemy, and made a truce with him.
On his way back to England, he was captured by the Duke of Austria, who demanded a large ransom for his release. After returning to England, he soon left to continue fighting in France, where he was eventually shot in the shoulder by a crossbowman and died four years later.
Today, the legacy of Richard the Lionheart is his great military exploits and how he fought valiantly for Christianity in the Third Crusade. He died childless, and the throne passed to his younger brother, King John.
Directed by: Dan Davis
