Richard I Interesting Facts

1 No english?!

Richard is celebrated as a strong, heroic, English King, yet he couldn’t speak the language. He spoke only French. During his ten year reign, he was in England for little more than six months.

2 An absent Queen

Richard’s wife, Berengaria, is the only reigning Queen of England never to visit her country.

3 The price of war

He practically sold England in order to go to war. The Scots were able to buy parts of the north. Titles and jobs were up for purchase. His Chancellor, William Longchamp, had to buy his job back for £3,000. One of Richard’s famous quotes is ‘I would have sold London if I could have found a buyer’.

4 The first Mayor of London

In response to Richard’s punitive taxation, London broke away from Richard’s rule, organising itself and appointing the first mayor of London Henry Fitz-Ailwyn. This was a royal blow since London was a major source of revenue.

5 Richard’s missing lionheart

Uniquely, Richard’s heart was removed from his body, soaked in frankincense and buried separately to the rest of his remains. It is believed that this was an attempt to gain access to heaven. Richard lay on his deathbed for ten days. During this time he is said to have reflected not only on his massacre of prisoners during the Crusade but possibly on his preference for men over women. That would have been seen as ungodly at the time.

6 The Plantagenet Myth

The family were said to be descended from the she-devil Melusine, ‘from the devil they came and to the devil they will return’. Richard in particular was singled out as especially evil. He caused terror among his enemies who referred to him as ‘the Devil’.

7 Ambitious King

Richard inherited all his father’s land and titles, by force, becoming King of England, Duke of Normany and Count of Anjou.

8 The Warrior King

He was regarded as a great hero for his part in the Third Crusade which was a long-running war between Christians and Muslims for ownership of the holy lands.

9 Disguise

Legend has it that he was not above dressing in disguise to save his skin, once pretending to be a kitchen boy in Austria.