Royalty · 1157–1199
Born: 8 September 1157 · Died: 6 April 1199 · Age: 41
King of England known as the Lionheart who led the Third Crusade against Saladin and spent little of his reign in England
Did you know?Despite ruling England for a decade, he spent very little time in the country and likely spoke very little English.
Richard I, the Lionheart, spent only about six months of his ten-year reign in England. He was the son of Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine, and grew up mostly in her lands in France. He rebelled against his father, and then succeeded him in 1189. He soon left on the Third Crusade, where he won battles against Saladin but did not take Jerusalem. On the way home he was captured and held by the Holy Roman Emperor. England paid a huge ransom to free him. He died from a crossbow wound in France.
Richard I (8 September 1157 – 6 April 1199), known as Richard the Lionheart or Richard Cœur de Lion (Old Norman French: Quor de Lion) because of his reputation as a great military leader and warrior, was King of England from 1189 until his death in 1199.
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Profile
King of England, 1157–1199
Richard I was born in Oxford on 8 September 1157.
He became King of England in 1189.
He fought in the Third Crusade against Saladin.
He died in Châlus, France, on 6 April 1199, aged 41.
Career highlights
Did you know?He spoke French and Occitan, and probably very little English.
Questions people ask
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