Swinging London, and how the citizenry did cheer and the church bells ring!

Joyful at their king’s return, of blessed, brave Richard and his deeds, they did sing!

The streets of London were adorned with banners befitting the return of a king.  Richard basked in the adulation of his subjects, but circumstances precluded a lengthy period of rest and relaxation.  Due to the machinations of brother John, also known as John Lackland, some unfinished business remained.  The treacherous younger sibling had placed some forces, loyal to his disloyal person, encamped in various castles throughout the realm

So John had left Richard some mopping up to do.  The Lionheart had never baulked at getting his hands dirty and he approached the cleansing task with characteristic gusto and vigour.  He would reassert his seal of approval over England.

King Richard’s Great Seal.

This is my royal seal,

‘Tis the only viable deal!

Submit to my will, get real!

If you resist, I will certainly let you know how I feel!

Well, Richard did, and there were more than a few hard feelings.  A swift campaign in Cornwall and Nottingham cleared up the running sore created by brother John.  At the latter venue, Nottingham castle,  a large gallows was constructed in full view of the besieged, so that they could witness the death throes  of their garrison colleagues unlucky enough to be captured by the Lionheart.

Swing high! Swing low!

You have upset me, now watch how things will go!

 ‘Tis a choice between rope or hope!

Get sense! Don’t be a dope!

The castle soon surrendered.  This would not be the last time that Nottingham castle would feature as the scene of a royal power struggle.  Richard’s strategy was successful and the entire realm was  loyal once more.  In order to drive the point home Richard, for the first time in English history, decided to have himself crowned for a second time.  This time the coronation venue would be Winchester cathedral.

A second coronation!

This time without the first’s aggravation!

To leave no one in doubt as to who is supreme head of the English nation!

But what of brother John?  He, known as John Lackland?

An understandably aggrieved Richard declared John’s lands forfeit and he was arraigned on a charge of treason in his absence.  Brother John, of course, had decamped to Normandy as soon as he had heard of Richard’s imminent return.  The Lionheart now decided to catch up with brother John and more importantly, ‘Disgusting Augustus’.  The French king had invaded Normandy and Richard was determined to eject his nemesis with all possible speed.  In May 1194, in the company of his mother, Eleanor, Richard landed at Barfleur in Normandy.

The arms of the port of Barfleur.

The prodigal brother John abandoned by Philip Augustus,  presented himself to Richard and was immediately forgiven for past transgressions.  Richard mounted a masterful and extremely energetic campaign against ‘Disgusting Augustus’.  The French king was no match for Richard’s military ability and he soon beat a hasty retreat.  Richard and Philip Augustus agreed an uneasy peace agreement, the Treaty of Louviers in January 1196. However, Richard resolved to take additional precautions to thwart any attempted incursion into Normandy from the French king.

The Lionheart decided to construct a huge castle high above the river Seine.  The castle would guard the Seine valley route into Normandy.  It was to be called Chateau Gaillard and it would incorporate the most up to date, sophisticated, defensive features of castle architecture and no expense was spared in its construction.

The castle was quite simply Richard’s pride and joy.  Indeed, he would lovingly refer to it as his one year old child after its completion.  Chateau Gaillard would be captured by ‘Disgusting Augustus’ in 1204 but that was years after Richard’s death when brother John Lackland sat on the throne.

The endgame!

What’s in a name?

The Lionheart’s enduring fame!

A large amount of gold believed to have dated from Roman times was discovered by a peasant on land held by Viscount Aymar of Limoges in the spring of 1199.  Richard as Aymar’s overlord declared that the treasure was rightfully his.  The impudent Aymar refused, but offered Richard half of the treasure trove as if he were dealing with a man of equal rank.  To the Lionheart this was an act of inexcusable impertinence.  Richard resolved to take possession of the gold and swiftly departed for the castle at Chalus where Aymar had deposited it.  Laying siege to the sparsely defended castle, Richard was inspecting the progress of his sappers as they worked to undermine its fortifications.  Reckless to the end, Richard ventured close without his chain mail and was struck with a crossbow in the shoulder.  The wound turned gangrenous and Richard writhed in agony fully aware that death was inevitable. The seventy- seven year old Eleanor quickly travelled to Chalus to be at her dearest son’s bedside.  Richard did not neglect his responsibilities regarding the succession, he named his brother John as his heir.

The fatal wound!

Just before he died on April 6th 1199, Richard asked to see the bowman who had delivered the fatal arrow.  It is said that he was but a boy and instead of punishing the young marksman, the Lionheart set him free with a purse of gold coins.  However, this final act of magnanimity on Richard’s part is said to have been rescinded by the king’s senior subordinate, and the boy was slowly skinned alive once the Lionheart had breathed his last.

King Richard was entombed at Fontevraud Abbey in Anjou at the feet of his father, Henry II in April 1199; Eleanor would join them there in 1204 at the age of 82.

Richard!  You thought that the Saracens of the east were your ultimate foe!

No!  It is back in Europe that those whose characters are so despicably low!

They capture you! Jail you!  Then demand a huge ransom to let you go!

Richard’s journey away from Palestine did not mean that he was leaving his enemies behind. Far from it!  Saladin may have been his opponent, but now it was his fellow Christians who would prove to be his real foes.  Indeed, he probably had more adversaries in Europe than in the middle east.  The King of France Philip Augustus , once a dear boyhood friend, was now in league with his own treacherous brother John in an attempt to take his lands in both England and France. Things had soured greatly since the great crusader victory at Acre.  When as equal, regal monarchs they had both sat together and acknowledged the surrender of the Saracen garrison.

The Way We Were!

Philip Augustus (centre) and Richard (left) accept the keys of Acre.

‘He’s no longer my friend, Philip Augustus!

But my bitter foe, Disgusting Augustus!’

Posing as a wealthy merchant, Richard decided to travel through the Adriatic sea, thereby avoiding the King of France’s jurisdiction.  This was not all.  There were others with whom he could expect no welcome of audience.  The Lionheart was on very poor terms with the Holy Roman Emperor, Henry VI.  Richard had also grievously offended Duke Leopold of Austria during the battle for Acre and the Austrian still nursed a grudge.

This was most unfortunate as he had to pass through Leopold’s domain to reach Saxony and the safety of the fiefdom of his brother-in-law, Henry the Lion.  So, given the circumstances, a low profile was the most appropriate mode of conduct.

‘To be neither seen nor heard!

Was the method of procedure preferred!’

However a rather unfortunate incident occurred!’

Such is misfortune and ultimately it was the people of England who were forced to pay an enormous fortune. Richard was spotted when he became ill and stopped to rest at a tavern south of Vienna.  It was now December 1192 and he was duly delivered into the custody of a delighted Duke Leopold who was beginning his Christmas festivities.  This was an unexpected Christmas present for the Duke and one that exceeded his wildest expectations. The pope Celestine III had been keen to encourage Christians to take up the cross and therefore had declared that it was wrong to imprison a returning crusader without due cause.  This papal edict was known as the Peace of God, the penalty for breaking it was excommunication from the Catholic church.

Pope Celestine III

‘But Leopold feeling so bold!

Elected to stray from the Catholic  fold!

He decided that he would not toe the papal line!

Leopold declared!  Oh vengeance, so sweet, is mine!

How very divine!

For your freedom Richard, England must pay an enormous fine!’

Leopold, realising that he could hold Richard for a king’s ransom, decided that it was worth the risk.  Richard was ensconced in comfortable but closely guarded captivity at Durnstien castle on the banks of the Danube.  In his defiance of papal authority, Leopold was supported by his liege, Henry VI of Germany, the Holy Roman Emperor.

Durnstien castle.

Both Leopold and Henry were subsequently excommunicated for their behaviour, but this did little to deter them from what they regarded as a most promising financial enterprise.  Henry decided that the price for Richard’s release would be 100,000 marks, a colossal sum for the time. This figure was later  increased to 150,000.

Henry VI, Holy Roman Emperor.

Richard’s whereabouts were not known in England at this point and his mother, Queen Eleanor was frantic with worry about the fate of her favourite son.

Eleanor of Aquitaine

When England received the ransom note, it was not entirely bad news to this mother’s ears!

In fact the avaricious demand served to allay this elderly lady’s worst fears!

It mercifully served to wipe away her most bitterest tears!

The dowager sprung into action with an energy which belied her advanced years!

However the king of France, Philip (disgusting) Augustus was also keen in ‘buying’ Richard, or at least delaying his release.  In this endeavour he was supported by Richard’s brother John. Their intention was to grapple the Lionheart’s empire from him while he was incarcerated.  They did not reckon on the formidable Eleanor, who oversaw the collection of the funds to pay the ransom. England’s finances were drained and the people grievously taxed to ensure the return of their king.

Richard returned to England in March 1194 to a tumultuous welcome from the city of London. There was no welcome of a fraternal nature from brother John. For (kid) brother John had fled to Normandy.

To many a crusader, the aim of the sojourn was Jerusalem or bust!

Now with an overwhelming, unbearable sense of disgust!

They saw their noble ambition turn as to dust!

Richard and the crusaders were clearly distraught that their endeavour to liberate the sacred city of Zion had ended in failure.  In the first instance Richard decided to retreat from Jerusalem in July of 1192.  However, there were further hostilities and these actually showed Richard’s military acumen at its very best.

On July 31st, Saladin attacked Jaffa and the garrison were beaten back into the city’s legendary citidel.  Richard decided to break the siege by dividing his army into two.  He would lead a contingent by sea, while the rest would march and meet at Jaffa.  Approaching Jaffa on his galley, Richard was horrified at what he saw and stood dumbstruck with mortification.  The Saracens were attacking the citadel and the besieged Christians appeared on the brink of defeat.  It was clear that the Saracens heavily outnumbered the crusader army, who desperately attempted to stave off the onslaught.  Standing on the command galley, the Lionheart was engulfed with feelings of abject despair.  The crusader fleet sat still on the waters as the King contemplated the situation.

The priest seeing the King’s ship leapt from the city wall and into the sea!

Reaching Richard, he advised that prompt action would cause the Saracens to turn and flee!

The priest before he decided to take the plunge.

Richard took the plucky prelate’s advice and without further ado proceeded into the harbour. As the galley approached the port, Richard was the very first to jump ashore.  Roaring like a lion, Richard sword in hand, led his men to the fray and the Saracens did just what the priest predicted they would.  They turned tail, ran and kept running until they reached safety, a good many miles inland.

The huge Saracen army appeared to be a force that would be almost impossible to beat!

However the Lionheart would snatch victory from the jaws of defeat!

His retaking of Jaffa with breakneck speed, would be remembered by all as no mean feat!

Both sides realised that the crusader victory at Jaffa had created a situation of stalemate. There was no alternative but to negotiate, and a rather lengthy and torturous period of consultation was embarked upon.  For Richard there was an additional reason for wishing to arrange a treaty.  He had heard that his younger brother John and King Philip Augustus were plotting against him in both England and France.

Crusaders and Saracens confer.

On September 2nd a peace treaty between the two sides was agreed upon.  The settlement was in fact a victory for Saladin because he was to keep Jerusalem, but there were concessions. Saladin would allow Christian pilgrims to visit the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and other holy sites.

The Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

The crusaders would retain control of Acre and Jaffa as well as the coastal route connecting the two cities.  It is said that it is easy to be magnanimous in victory and the Sultan was most certainly that.  Saladin invited Richard to visit the city as his honoured guest but the Lionheart declined this generous courtesy.  Richard must have harboured an interest in meeting Saladin, who was his most enigmatic and able of adversaries, but curiosity has its limits.  The Lionheart had come to Palestine to recover Jerusalem for Christendom, but the venture had failed, the Third Crusade was no more.

If Richard could not enter Zion as liberator he would not step inside its hallowed gates as a mere visitor.  Richard’s spirits were understandably at their very lowest possible ebb as summer gave way to autumn.  His great Lion’s heart was on the verge of breaking, as he reflected upon the high hopes, the back-breaking labour and the enormous sacrifices that had characterised the Third Crusade from its inception in the heady days of 1190.

A fourteenth century illustration depicting Richard and Saladin in battle. But of course, the two leaders never actually met.

In October of 1192, the Lionheart, who had arrived with a large army on a fleet of 200 ships sailed from Palestine on a single vessel.  His departure was undoubtedly a muted affair and in truth he left not so much with an almighty roar but perhaps with more of a sorrowful sigh. Nonetheless Richard’s time in Palestine showed him at his most magnificent!  Indeed it was in the smallest of ways that the Lionheart’s magnificence came to the fore.

The great Lionheart was always prepared to play his part!

He would willingly discard his fine attire!

Enthusiastically and happily descending into the dusty mire!

To his men, he was now simply regal Rick,

Who energetically worked alongside them rebuilding defences brick by brick!

Who could forget how, when the fortifications required rebuilding, Richard donned the labourers humble tunic and personally helped rebuild the walls. The memory of him standing bare chested in the searing heat, tool in one hand and stone in the other as he toiled with his men, accepting no preferential treatment from the overseers.

Did a crown adorn this royal head?  Yea! Nay!  Only the same beads of sweat that emanated from the pores of the assembled ranks of enlisted men who toiled beside the Lionheart under the unforgiving,  unrelenting sun. The meagre fare that was doled out to the common soldiers was gladly accepted by Richard as he hunkered down beside them in a rare moment of respite from the punishing, almost debilitating labour.  The spittle laced jugs of dark, stagnant water passed from mouth to mouth were gratefully received, as were the concrete textured, enamel challenging loaves of bread offered as a means of sustenance.

The besieged Christians at Acre on the brink of catastrophic defeat just months before would always remember that despite being heavily outnumbered, he came to their aid and routed the Muslim forces.  This act of heroism and tactical skill saved their lives and secured the port for Christendom.  They would be forever in the Lionheart’s debt.

However this was all now in the past, but of course memories live on; as God be merciful, so they should.  On this particular day the inevitable, painful moment of  departure from the Holy Land beckoned.  Richard left Palestine for the first and last time.

The Third Crusade at sunset.

Richard has twice vanquished  Saladin,  his foe!

The Sultan’s reputation as military leader is at an all time low!

Richard prepares his army for the march to Jerusalem, all systems go!

Flushed with the warm glow of victory, Richard’s keen military antennae now concentrated its focus on Ascalon, which also served as a port for Jerusalem.  On October 1191 Richard set out for Jerusalem.  Down but certainly not out,  Saladin, a man of clear vision sensed as much and now sought to check the Lionheart’s plans of procedure.  The Sultan resolved to extract some particles of satisfaction from the jaws of defeat by destroying the walls of the city of Ascalon, the next item on Richards’s list as he advanced towards the prize of Jerusalem itself.  However, victory does not always bear a fruit that is sweet and a pleasure to eat.  It was this unpalatable fact that confronted Richard in October 1191.

With the advent of winter came the rains, and this served to hamper the crusaders progress. The unrelenting downpours made a swamp of the roads and rendered their food supplies an inedible, soaking, sopping  mush.  Foraging opportunities were minimal because Saladin had destroyed livestock and any other sources of sustenance that the crusaders might have availed themselves of.  Worst of all, the Saracens had fouled the wells which now yielded only a vile smelling, noxious, poisonous fluid.  All the while the crusaders had also to endure the stinging, sweeping attacks of the grinning Saracen mounted bowmen as they toiled footsore,  half-starved and delirious with thirst through the wind, rain and muck.

Every Islamic warrior carries his bow and off the arrows do go!

Our message to the crusaders, you will reap what you chose to sow!

The entire march was conducted amidst a storm of arrows and the resultant torrent of blood from pierced Christian flesh which turned the sand beneath their feet a grisly, slippery rouge.

‘Oh, the arrows are dispatched with the customary ping!

They hit their targets causing a most dreadful sting!

In this way we, the army of Islam will halt the ambitions of the Crusader King!’

This lethal onslaught from laughing, mounted Saracen bowmen accompanied by a relentless shower of torrential rain was a challenge which would sorely test the fortitude of the most dedicated of crusaders.  The dismal visuals,  punctuated by the cries of agony and howls of anguish from the assailed crusaders could not have had a more detrimental effect on the general morale of the army as a whole . How they must have longed for home and the smiles, and indeed even the frowns of familiar faces, the bustle and sound of well-known places.

It took the army almost two months to reach Beit Nuba, some twelve miles from Zion itself where Richard conferred with his commanders. It was at this point that Richard decided to resort to taking the diplomatic avenue.  The Lionheart had been in contact with Saladin through his brother al-Adil.  Richard suggested to the Sultan that his sister Joan and al Adil should marry in order to establish a new dynasty in Palestine.

‘Sally, what about your brother and Joan, my sister!

When al-Adil sees her, he won’t be able to resist her’!

Joan was not at all enthusiastic about the proposed union and the nuptials were never completed.

Seal of Joan of England.

Many of the crusaders now viewed the prospect of attempting to take Zion and securing it for Christendom in perpetuity as a hellish fantasy. As they hunkered down in their winter quarters, the crusaders concluded that even if they were able to successfully besiege the city, they would not be able to hold it permanently. Given the geographical features of the terrain, the Saracens would soon at some point be able to cut their supply lines with the coast. The conquest of Jerusalem, sacred to Christians, Muslims and Jews alike was simply a step too far.

Nevertheless Richard in the summer of 1192 marched once again on Jerusalem with great speed. This time Saladin thought that the city would fall to the Christians.  On his knees, the Sultan prayed more fervently that he had never done before.  However Saladin could not have known that divisions within the crusader camp had widened considerably.  Richard, the astute military strategist, courageous warrior of renown and most faithful of Christian crusaders was now prepared to talk terms.

The Christians march to Jaffa, along the Palestinian coast!

To take the ancient port is their oft-mentioned boast!

Saladin’s Saracens will harry them from the eastern side!

Thus ensuring that the invading infidels have a most uncomfortable ride!

The crusaders, having being victorious at Acre in the first battle of the Third Crusade, now turned their gaze south towards Jerusalem.  Each and every man was engulfed with an overwhelming  sense of burning desire to defeat the Saracens and retake the city of Jerusalem for Christendom.

Their hearts, enthused with the passion inherent in their souls, ensured that their eyes remained constantly and resolutely on the prize!

Contemplate the figure below, a soldier armed with sword and shield!

Ready to stand and face the eastern enemy in the field!

To Christians, the epitome of the brave, honourable, unknown crusader!

But to the Muslims, a blasphemous,  crazed, insidious and rapacious invader!

I, with my fellows here and now do solemnly swear!

That we will enter the portals of that holy city so fair!

This much I, as a soldier of Christ am obliged to declare!

However, the sacred mission had to be proceeded through a process of stages.  No one understood this more clearly than the Lionheart himself and he acted accordingly.  On the 25th of August Richard led his army, some 15,000 strong, out of Acre for the 80 mile trek south to Jaffa, the port used by the city of Jerusalem.

The Lionheart leads the way.

The Lionheart saw that synchronization

was the key to successful organisation!

Each and every decision

would be characterised by strict military precision!

 Here Richard showed himself to be the great commander that he undoubtedly was.  Sticking close to the shore line, the army was protected by ranks of well armed infantry, ready to repel any attack from the land on their left. These included archers and crossbow men who, equipped with ample supplies of arrows would provide a sturdy defence of the crusader army. The fact that the crusaders were drawn from all of the corners of Christendom and spoke a variety of languages, meant that a linguistic misunderstanding in the heat of battle could prove fatal. This was an eventuality for which Richard had prepared. The king  took the precaution of organising the troops into  sections where they all spoke a common tongue.  This was a most prudent initiative, given that military success or disaster can depend on a swift mode of communication.

The Saracens deployed immensely effective hit and run techniques.  They would pelt the ranks of the crusaders with a veritable hailstorm of arrows which resulted in terrible casualties.  The knights were under strict orders from the Lionheart to keep formation and resist the temptation to break out and pursue their Islamic  tormentors.  Richard impressed upon his men the fact that a force which loses its formation will become confused and therefore rather more susceptible to attack.

Meanwhile the Christian supply ships sallied south in sight of their comrades on land.  The captains timed the speed of their vessels to the progress of the crusaders as they marched south. At midday the weary troops would halt and set up camp, as the intensity of the afternoon heat could cause heatstroke.  The crusader fleet would drop anchor,  supplies would be brought hither to land, and the wounded ferried aboard the waiting vessels.

The remaining hours of daylight would be spent securing a strongly defensive perimeter in the event of a Saracen attack.  As the darkness descended, the weary crusaders would take their rest underneath the galaxy of stars in preparation for the  rigours of the morrow.

‘Anyone got a clue about what is on the menu?

Barbaqued horse of course!

Mmm, tasty…… any chance of a little sauce?

None for the likes of me and you, but plenty for the select few’!

The Saracens often found that it was more effective to direct their aim at the horses rather than their mounted knights. This provided many a knight with an unexpected source of income as their steeds were their own personal property. The knight could now sell the horse’s carcase to the hungry crusades who were in need of  sustenance. The men had no choice but to pay the knight the high price demanded.

Richard, recognising the hungry soldiers dire need.

Moved by the amount these poor men paid for a morsel on which to feed!

Decided to pay for the carcase of each and every steed!

It was this development which illustrated the genuine generosity inherent in Richard’s character. Richard decided that he would give a horse from his own stable to any knight who donated the carcase of his steed to the soldiers free of charge.

Gosh! We’re getting free nosh!

Yeah, and without having to part with our hard earned dosh!

By early September the crusaders were a mere 25 miles from Jerusalem, something that troubled Saladin greatly and prompted him to act.

Saladin had discovered that dealing with the Lionheart was not a piece of  cake!

Richard’s success meant that the Sultan’s reputation for invincibility was now at stake!

To Saladin, this looked like a time for either make or break!

The battle of Arsuf.

Saladin decided to attack Richard at Arsuf, a mere 10 miles from Jerusalem.  The Sultan had some 30,000 troops under his command including the much-feared bowmen.  Richard was resolute in his determination to keep his army proceeding in formation.  Saladin was equally resolved to break the crusader pattern of defence.  Under the relentless barrage of arrows from Islamic lines, a large number of knights, tormented beyond measure broke formation and attacked the Saracen troops just as Saladin had hoped.

Seeing this, Richard was incandescent with rage but also overwhelmed with worry. What to do?

Saracens and crusaders engage in battle.

There was no alternative but to attack.  Richard divided his forces into two and took the offensive. The Saracens buckled under the sheer ferocity of the onslaught and began to flee from the field.  Saladin’s strategy had failed due to the superior generalship of the Lionheart.  In the wake of this defeat, Saladin withdrew from Jaffa, although he did raze the city’s walls before doing so.  This presenting a great problem, Richard resolved to raise the walls as swiftly as possible.  Richard had won a major victory and he was now the  undisputed ‘Gaffer’ of Jaffa.

‘To Palestine we will sail!

This is a mission which with God’s help we cannot fail!

I have an almighty , dedicated, Christian military host!

With these true men  I will disembark on the Palestinian coast!’

So far so good!  Richard’s conquest of Cyprus would provide him with a vital base close to Palestine for supplies of both men and materials en-route from Europe.  Indeed, Richard’s initial foray as a crusader would prove to be very successful.  Richard’s first blood against the Saracens was an important one and it happened at sea by sheer chance.  The crusaders sank a large Saracen supply ship that they encountered on the ocean whilst sailing to Palestine.

‘The crusader ship whilst on its holy trip, did cause a vital Saracen ship to take an almighty dip!

Richard’s men sent the vessel to the ocean floor, thereby inflicting on Saladin a  wound which he felt sour and sore!’

Therefore Richard’s reputation preceded him and would be consolidated when he stepped on to dry land near Acre on June 8th 1191.  Acre was a Muslim stronghold located in what is now northern Israel.

The crusaders projected plan for a path of progress.

Acre had been a vital port for centuries and was already under siege by the Frankish crusaders. The Frankish besiegers were overjoyed at Richard’s arrival as their hope of capturing Acre had proved to be an agonisingly elusive one.  The forces defending Acre were the cream of Saladin’s army and indeed had been personally selected by him for the task.  Richard pitched his camp north of Acre, as Philip Augustus had already established himself to the east of the city.

The siege of Acre.

Saladin had come across a good many crusaders, but this most astute of Islam’s warriors would soon recognise and eventually acknowledge that Richard was somewhat different from the rest of the Christian military ensemble.

Salah al-Din Yusuf (Righteousness of the Faith).

At first the prospects of a crusader victory appeared somewhat slim.  The garrison defending Acre were a crack outfit endowed with impeccable military and religious credentials; the latter being every bit as important as the former as far as Saladin was concerned. The plight of the besieging Franks was an unfortunate one.  The harsh winter of 1190/91  and an outbreak of disease had reduced the size of their  army quite considerably. Those still standing were being sustained by a diet of putrid horse flesh and sewage infused drinking water, a form of sustenance hardly calculated to enhance military performance.  There was also the uncomfortable fact that Saladin had positioned his formidable forces a mere six miles away ready to attack the Christians whenever the opportunity arose.  As a result, the crusader besiegers of Acre were themselves besieged by Saladin who kept his army at a convenient distance.  To make matters worse, illness dogged both Richard and Philip Augustus early on on, but this did not stop the Lionheart from assuming overall military command.  It is not unreasonable to imagine Richard being ferried around the city’s perimeter on a stretcher in order to plan the next move in the long siege.

‘Despite a really debilitating illness, Dick proved himself to be a hardy old stick!’

Throughout June and into July the crusaders attacked the city with catapults, siege machines and sappers working away at the foundations of the wall.  The forces under Philip Augustus concentrated their catapult on the city’s famous Cursed Tower.  As massive stones shipped by Richard from Sicily, courtesy of… well, “thank you, Tancrad” were catapulted into the city, infantry attempted to reach the battlements with scaling ladders.

Acre’s defences as they are today.

The siege engines made breaches in the walls, but when this occurred the defenders used smoke signals to alert Saladin’s forces who would then attack the crusaders from the rear and flanks. This allowed the garrison time to repair the damage while the Christians were preoccupied with fending off the attack from Saladin.

Nevertheless, the garrison were feeling the strain and on July 7th they requested immediate help from Saladin, warning him that they would surrender if it was not forthcoming.  Unfortunately, no such undertaking was given by the Sultan and the garrison commanders reluctantly asked  the crusaders for terms of surrender on July12th 1191.  The garrison were assured that their lives and that of their families would be spared.  Of course nothing in life is free and many of them were to be ransomed and others were to be exchanged for Christians held captive by Saladin.  In addition, Saladin promised to hand over the ‘True Cross’ upon which Christ had been crucified as part of the settlement.

The siege was now over, but the appalling bloodshed was not.  The surrender was finalised with an unusually high degree of unpleasantness wrought by both protagonists.  Whether this was the fault of Richard, or of Saladin, or indeed was the responsibility of each, has been debated down the centuries.

The city of Acre now taken, Richard was eager to march south to Jaffa and wished to conclude the surrender settlement as swiftly as possible.  However, Sultan Saladin did not as promised hand over the ‘True Cross’ and it appears that he was in no rush to exchange prisoners, or pay the ransoms.  Richard believed that this tardiness was a deliberate ploy to delay the crusaders journey south, and took the view that time was more important than money or lives.  The Lionheart decided to take extreme action.

‘These two warrior princes so clever, mighty and grand!

Their lasting legacy at Acre was to leave a surfeit of blood in the sand!’

On August 20th, Richard had around 2,700 prisoners marched into sight of Saladin’s forces and  slaughtered.  The victims included women and children, who with their menfolk were roped together and killed with a good deal of cruelty.  The savagery wrought was not only physical but had a psychological aspect as well. The victims were forced to watch as their loved ones were put to the sword before they too suffered the same fate. As many of the victims would have swallowed their gold and silver, the soldiers cut their stomachs open before tossing their bodies on to bonfires specifically constructed for their disposal.  Observing the butchery from his vantage point some distance away, the Sultan resolved to return the compliment in kind. The Christian prisoners that he held were similarly dispatched shortly afterwards.

An image of the execution of the prisoners from 1491, some three hundred years later. The Lionheart watches from left.

This particular episode concluded, Richard departed for Jaffa on August 25th.

Richard having little faith in Tancred’s ability to behave himself had taken the precaution of taking Joan with him.  As the ship left Messina, Richard, standing on deck, surveyed the calm Mediterranean waters and reflected on his first mission on foreign soil.

The king felt a sense of ‘mission accomplished’ but there were some lingering feelings of possible regret.  With his faithful retainer Ranulf at his side, Richard, squinting into the horizon tugged at his beard and said:

‘You know Ranulf, I really had to stop and put that bounder, Tancrad in his place. I really had!’

‘Verily sire, these Sicilian characters are a very slippery commodity. His conduct towards the Princess Joan was an act of  intolerable indecency. ‘Tis good that he was hurt where it hurts most, the purse.’ The funds extracted from his foul paws will be put to good use and all in the name of God’!

‘Yes, Ranulf, you speak with wisdom. However I am still a little troubled at my behaviour towards the Princess Alice. I was brought up to be a chivalrous knight, but I was a little less than gallant towards Philip Augustus’ sister. But when I looked upon her countenance ….I ..I saw…….’

‘The face of a dog, sire.

‘I fear that you are right, Ranulf.  I know that a prince cannot marry for love and goodness knows, mistresses there are aplenty, and of them good use can and does be made. However it must always  be remembered that a king  does have a duty to produce an heir, and…..but my God, there are limits! It would have required an effort of truly herculean dimensions!’

‘No night would have been dark enough, sire, nor the interior decor of any boudoir  black enough to facilitate the satisfactory conclusion of the required deed. As you so rightly say, sire, duty does have limits but these do not stretch to infinity.’ 

‘Never a truer word spoken, Ranulf!’ King Philip Augustus was somewhat indignant at the hurt caused to his sister, the lady Alice but thankfully he was mollified by the 10, 000 marks that I gave him in compensation.’

‘ T’was money well spent, sire. Gold and silver never served a better purpose. In any case it was coins squeezed out of that wretched Sicilian cur, Tancred, which remedied the unfortunate situation!’

‘By God’s teeth, Ranulf, your words ring with the truth of the almighty. Tis done, we to the Holy Land, and God speed!’

One potential bride down, but another appears Richard’s mother, the redoubtable Eleanor had been indulging in the age old practice of match making.

Eleanor of Acquitaine.

Eleanor (Bonny Mama) had joined her favourite son in Sicily, but she did not arrive unaccompanied.  Bonny Mama had with her a nuptial package for Richard, Berengaria of Navarre.  The Princess had a comely appearance, and the Lionheart purred with satisfaction.

‘It’s going to be a great spring !

Bonny Mama has done an incredible thing!

She has introduced me to a really great girl

With whom I will dance the holy nuptial twirl!’

We will wed in Cyprus with a feast, where we will all wine and dine!

Followed by an action packed honeymoon in ancient, sunny Palestine!

This sounds good and everything will be fine!’

Berengaria of Navarre.

There was however a hitch which proved to be a blessing in disguise. The area was hit by a storm which shipwrecked a number of the fleet on to the shores of Cyprus. The ruler, Isaac Comnenus imprisoned the survivors, and worse still would not grant free passage to the ship carrying the King’s fiancee, Berengaria, and sister Joan into the harbour in Cyprus. They were left in the waters outside of the island bereft of essential supplies. Was this any way to treat women of royal blood? This was an impertinence unheard of!  What was it with these Mediterranean princes? Tancred had been bad enough but this fellow, Isaac, was if anything worse.  Richard resolved to terminate Isaac’s command.

The crusader army very quickly conquered the island and Isaac was soon captured. This had two important consequences. Firstly, it meant that Richard had the pick of any of the plum venues that the island had to offer in which to hold his marriage to Berengaria. This, as befits its importance promised to be a most sumptuous affair and it most certainly was. Secondly, the island’s position in the eastern Mediterranean made it of great strategic significance as a launching pad for conducting military operations in the middle east. Indeed successive English/British governments would hold the island for centuries for this very reason.

The pleasantries of the nuptials most pleasantly concluded and the island safely secured for his own strategic interests, Richard set sail for the Holy Land.

‘I gotta say! Thanks dad!

I was not always a good lad!

There were times when I acted awful bad and made you feel sad!

But!  Right now you! Yes you,  have made me feel, well  so, so real  glad!

With the Saladin Tithe, you left with me one mighty purse!

With that I will go to the Holy Land and remove this dreadful curse!’

 Henry II’s  ‘Saladin Tithe’ had brought in much needed revenue for Richard’s proposed middle eastern military project.  However, as countless leaders of every nationality have discovered, foreign affairs have an irritating  habit of throwing up expenses of a totally unexpected and extremely costly nature.  As the talented military commander that he was, Richard was only too aware of this, so he decided that there was to be no taking of chances.  On this one he had to be sure.  So, what to do?  The newly crowned king raised funds through a massive sell-off of castles, titles and lands with which to augment the ‘Saladin Tithe.’  In fact, he is reputed to have said:

‘I would sell London if I could find a buyer.’

By the following year, Richard had assembled a large army and a huge fleet with which to convey his forces to Palestine.

Richard and his occasional ally, King Philip Augustus, decided to make the crusade a joint venture.  However, a certain frostiness had latterly crept into their relationship.  The French king had asked for some lands from Richard that he believed were rightfully his.  Richard did not agree and ensured that the defences in the disputed territories were strengthened in order to repel any attack which might come from the French crown.

Philip Augustus being crowned in the presence of Richard’s father, Henry II.

At this time, Richard was betrothed to Philip Augustus’s sister, Alice.  One  might think that this fact would have engendered a little chuminess between the two monarchs. I n the long run it would prove to be the source of further conflict.

In July 1190, Richard’s grand army sailed from England and the governance of the kingdom was assigned to the capable William de Longchamp for the duration of the royal absence.

‘Richard with his great military host would travel east!

There in the Holy Land they would slay the infidel beast!

This noble deed was to be done in God’s name!

Failure to do so would bring unspeakable shame!

Victory there would ensure the Lionheart’s eternal fame!’

 

Richard’s army would travel by sea to the eastern Mediterranean because it would be quicker than by following the overland route.  Nevertheless the voyage would mean a large number of men living at very close quarters enduring the rigours of intense heat, maggot-ridden food, stagnant drinking water and debilitating seasickness.  Under such conditions, tempers will inevitably become frayed.  Richard was determined to keep discipline tight and misdemeanours  to an absolute minimum.

Richard’s fleet on the high seas en route for Palestine.

By all accounts this particular Mediterranean cruise went off without a hitch.  The punishment for slaying a fellow crusader was to be tied to the victim’s body and then cast overboard.

 The first stop of significance would be in Messina in Sicily. It concerned his favourite sister Joan, who was the widow of William II, King of Sicily.

‘Hello, Joan my sis!

You, I really do miss!’

I just can’t wait to give you an affectionate, brotherly kiss!’

Here Richard had business of a most personal nature.  The new king, Tancred  had treated Joan in the most appalling manner, keeping her as a prisoner.  The Lionheart was extremely close to Joan, so recriminations were inevitable.

Tancred, King of Sicily.

‘You have been bad to my lovely sister Joan!

Keeping her locked up, confined, all alone!

For this, I am sure going to make you moan and groan!

It might even mean you losing your lousy Sicilian throne!’

Joan of England

Richard’s presence precipitated Joan’s immediate release from confinement.  Now Richard made Tancred pay a hefty price for his ungallant conduct towards his sister, and this provided further resources with which to fight the Saracens.

‘ Your Sister! Your sister!

She! She’s your skin and blister!’

The Lionheart now behaved in a considerably less than gallant fashion towards the sister of Philip Augustus to whom he had long been betrothed.  He informed Philip that he was breaking off the engagement to Alice, as he had found a rather more suitable bridal proposition.

‘Sorry Phil, but sister Alice can never live as queen in my royal palace!

I do not wish to appear callous,

So please do not react with any act of malice!

You know,  just as we sweeten bitter offerings with a little honey!

So likewise please, in good faith accept this gift of money!’

The French king was outraged at this insult to his sister, but the forces under his command were no match for those at the Lionheart’s disposal.  Richard softened the blow by giving Philip 10,000 marks to compensate for his lack of gallantry.  Philip had no choice but to reluctantly agree. Thereafter, the relationship between the two monarchs would be characterised by an almost tangible coolness.

His business in Sicily completed, Richard departed the island on March 30th 1191.

The first of the Plantagenets, Henry now lies in the tomb!

The throne passes to his son, Richard, fruit of Eleanor’s womb!’

Henry died harbouring an extremely low opinion of Richard. At their last meeting the dying king was said to have cursed his heir for what he regarded as a gross betrayal.  Father and son were never to be reconciled. Nonetheless Richard went to pay his respects to the late monarch who was lying in state at Chinon.  There had been so much anger and anguish between the two, perhaps Richard could make some token of reconciliation with his father by some act of atonement as the old man lay dead. The gesture was to be rebuffed in a most unexpected and really quite disturbing manner!

‘Alas as everyone knows

The true sign would come through Henry’s  nose’

The moment Richard walked into the chamber where the body had been laid out, blood suddenly began to flood from the dead king’s nostrils. This was taken by contemporaries as a final sign of great odium by the dead towards the living as they themselves entered the afterlife.

‘ There are occasions when an expression of hate!

From those whom, so recently, were rendered late!

May verily serve to set an uneven record straight!’

However Richard was concerned only with matters of an earthly nature and to this end he moved swiftly. Protocol and practicality dictated that the ancient city of Rouen would be the first port of call.  Here, Richard would be invested as Duke of Normandy.

The arms of the Duchy of Normandy.

Richard then proceeded to England, the veritable jewel in his newly acquired crown, for his coronation.  The Lionheart was crowned King of England in Westminster Abbey on September 3rd 1189.  It was a momentous occasion and the first coronation in living memory.  The last had been his own father’s coronation in 1154.  Perhaps Richard thought of the coronation of that other great warrior, his great-great grandfather, William the Conqueror, whose grand coronation at the Abbey had been marred by sudden violence.  Unfortunately for Richard, his  great day at Westminster, just as William’s was,  would also be spoilt by some quite unexpected unpleasantness.

                                                       Prince Dickie becomes King Richard.

The figure of Richard, with his great height and his noble, military bearing must have enthralled those fortunate enough to be present.  The solemnities of the ceremony completed the new king, resplendent in his coronation robes, followed by his fawning entourage, moved in joyous procession to the elaborately decorated banqueting hall.  There within the tapestry adorned walls,  the dignitaries sat down to a sumptuous banquet for which no expense had been spared. As they feasted on course after endless course, they were entertained by the very finest of musicians and by singers of whom it is said, their voices constituted a true heavenly choir.

However the dulcet tones and exquisite harmonies from within the banqueting hall were soon drowned out by the sounds of the most appalling violence from outside!

The leaders of the local Jewish community had come to present Richard with gifts on his coronation but were denied entry into the royal presence. The crowds of Londoners gathered at the entrance took this as a cue to attack the unfortunate deputation and a number of the Jews were killed.  Richard was furious that his coronation celebrations had been spoilt in this way and immediately had some of the rioters executed. How dare these Londoners select the day of his coronation as a time to vent their fury on the indigenous Jewish community! Why had they not selected another less distinguished occasion to misbehave? Their timing was appalling and the whole thing really quite distracting to the guests enjoying the wonderful royal festivities.  It appears that Richard might have been more annoyed by the timing of the anti-semitic violence rather than the murders themselves.

‘After King Richard’s ceremony of royal coronation,

In the wake of the nation’s passionate acclamation!

These violent wretches had the poor manners to spoil the grand coronation meal!

For this Richard, made them from a gallows high, dance a final deadly reel!’ 

The incident appears to have ignited a foul storm of anti-semitic fury, which resulted in deadly pogroms that occurred as far north as the city of York.  Below is an image from the age showing the violence visited upon the Jewish people.

A contemporary image of the Jewish people being persecuted in medieval England.

Unlike his regal predecessors, Richard’s immediate ambitions lay far beyond the borders of his own lands or even that of his neighbours.  In 1187 an event occurred which shook the whole of Christendom to its very foundations.

The forces of Islam under the leadership of the Kurdish warrior, Saladin had overrun the Crusader states in Palestine and had captured the holy city of Jerusalem.  It is impossible for us now, to fathom the depths of consternation felt by Christians at what they regarded as a catastrophe of unimaginable dimensions.

The medieval city of Jerusalem

Richard regarded it his moral, religious and even spiritual duty to see that the Holy Land be wrestled from the armies of Islam and delivered back to Christendom.  He announced that he would take up the cross and wasted no time in preparing an army for an invasion of the middle east.  Indeed within a year Richard had departed for Palestine.  His speedy departure was facilitated somewhat less by his own logistical competence, but rather more by the prescience of his late father, Henry II.

When the Muslims had taken Jerusalem, Henry was still king and he too had declared his intention to join a crusade.  With a view to paying for this large undertaking, the old king had levied a tax, the ‘Saladin Tithe’ across his empire.  Henry had not lived to carry out his plan so the money lay unspent.  Above all things, Richard sought glory as a Christian warrior and his unlamented father, through his fiscal prudence had provided him with the means with which to achieve it.

The Third Crusade had begun.

Despite the formidable alliance arrayed against him, King Henry II would prevail.  A lesser man might have sued for peace but not the great-grandson of the Conqueror.  Henry conducted an extremely successful campaign, deploying an effective defensive strategy, decisively beating the Bretons and his nemesis, Louis, the King of France in the French theatre.  He skilfully defeated the opposition in England where the Scot, King William the Lion was attempting to expand his territory.

William I of Scotland

‘In England, the Scottish Lion decided that he would roam!

He wished to make the land of Northumbria part of his regal home!

His intentions were ignoble and foul!

Into battle, he led his men with a fearsome growl!

Captured at Alnwick by an English knight’s equestrian trick!

He was tied by the feet and dragged at the rear of a horse, enduring many a kick!’

The proud King of Scotland’s lofty ambitions would end in ignominious captivity.  The ‘Lion of Scotland’ was quite literally done with roaming; he was packed off over the channel to Henry’s castle at Falaise in Normandy where he was caged for five months.

The castle at Falaise.

Henry had won a momentous victory which established his hegemony across the continent. Although the rebellion was over, the brood were still brooding.

‘The eldest son, his father’s pride and joy!

Found that the life of a powerless king did fearfully cloy!

He demanded of his father what he thought was his by right!

He gathered his forces and proceeded to take up the fight!’

The eldest of the litter, young Henry, would simply not lie still and in 1183 got up on his hind legs to claw at his father once again. The ‘Young King’ rebelled again and during the course of his destructive tantrum, he plundered the rich shrine at Rocamadour.  The reason for this apparent sacrilege was not engendered by a desire to defile, but by the dire necessity to pay his mercenaries.  This being done, he then  then fell gravely ill with dysentery.

The shrine of the Black Virgin at Rocamadour.

Realising that death was near and thus his ambitions at an end, young Henry became racked with contrition and sent word to his father to come for one last visit of reconciliation. The young man requested that he be laid on a bed of ashes with stones laid at his head.

‘Ashes to ashes!

‘Dust to dust’!

This was the mark of the penitent, a stance that his father had himself adopted after the death of Thomas Beckett.  Young Henry felt that, given the considerably less than satisfactory circumstances, this was the only possible manner in which to greet his father.

Alas, the old king suspected a trap and declined his son’s invitation to visit, but nevertheless he sent him a sapphire ring once worn by his grandfather, Henry I as a sign of forgiveness.  Young Henry died on June 11th 1183 and by doing so he united his parents, the ill-matched Henry and Queen Eleanor.  They who had quarrelled fiercely for so very long, heartbroken and languishing a great distance apart, they were nonetheless totally united in an all-consuming grief at the death of their son.

The final days.

Henry’s problems with his sons were far from over. His unloved son, the treacherous Geoffrey was killed on August 19th 1186 in Paris aged twenty-seven.  The unfortunate prince had become unseated during a jousting tournament and was trampled to death underneath the hooves of the horses.

Knights Jousting.

There was speculation that Geoffrey was not in Paris solely for purposes of a sporting nature. It has been suggested that he was visiting the King of France, Philip Augustus with a view to hatching yet another plot against his father.  Geoffrey’s untimely passing appears to have engendered little, if any mourning at the the family home, Chateau  Chinon where life continued curiously uninterrupted.  Geoffrey’s wife would be delivered of a son some six months after the fateful tournament.

Then there were but two!

This of course left two sons, heirs legitimised by virtue of the the sanctity of marriage. These were the thirty-two year old accomplished warrior and proven ruler of Aquitaine, Richard and his younger brother, the callow inexperienced youth, John aged nineteen.

Henry and Eleanor’s children, as they were.

All of the boys died young and the youngest, John would live the longest.

Endgame

Despite his father’s efforts, Richard had not been rehabilitated after the debacle of the ‘Great Rebellion of 1173’ and there had been further trouble following the death of the ‘Young King, ‘ Henry .

Richard in familiar mode.

It was now in 1189 that matters came to a head and the long saga of family feuding would come to a sad end.  With his older brother dead, Richard regarded himself as the sole heir to his father’s vast empire.  King Louis VII had also died and his son Philip Augustus had ascended to the throne of France.  The cast may have altered a little but the drama continued unabated. Richard now began to have reason to suspect that his father intended to disinherit him in favour of brother John. He was encouraged in this line of thinking by the King of France.  Philip wished to manipulate the family feud with a view to eventually incorporating the Angevin Empire into the kingdom of France.

Richard now demanded full acknowledgement of his rights as heir to the Angevin Empire but was rebuffed by Henry.  The son now decided on action and was enthusiastically supported by Philip.

Whilst having been stricken with sickness at his home town of Le Mans, Henry was faced with an attack from Richard aided by Philip.  In an attempt to counter their advance, Henry had the buildings outside of Le Mans set alight.  Unfortunately for Henry, at a most inopportune moment the wind changed, and the flames began to engulf the town itself.  Henry had no choice but to flee and from his vantage point on a nearby hill watched helplessly as his beloved birthplace was devoured by fire.

Already physically unwell, the episode at Le Mans had served to greatly undermine his emotional state and Henry agreed to a parley at Tours.  Here the old king, so sick that he could scarcely stand, met with his son for the last time. It was hardly a joyous reunion and Henry did not conceal his feelings of resentment towards Richard.  Nevertheless, he conceded all of his son’s demands albeit through gritted teeth.

His strength rapidly slipping, his mind shrouded in sorrow and harbouring notions of vengeance, Henry retreated to his sanctuary at Chinon. There in its hallowed halls, Henry lay supine and took stock of this veritable wheel of misfortune which had trapped him in a ghastly circle of unimaginable misery.  Perhaps he comforted himself with the thought that no further ill could possibly befall him. However, in this he was mistaken.

 

Here in his darkest hour he learnt that his youngest and favourite son, John had also deserted him. This would prove to be the cruellest and quite likely the mortal blow. The old king turned his face to the wall and uttered:

‘I care no longer for myself or anything else in this world.’

Henry would die on July 6th 1189 aged 56.  He was buried at the Abbey of Fontevrault close to Chinon where Eleanor and Richard would later join him.