The Life Of Richard The Lion-Hearted

7 Pages 1858 Words

Richard Plantagent was revered as one of the great warrior kings of England. His reign was from 1189-1199. He spent a total of 6 months in England and, because, of this he became also known as “the absent king.” Richard was also known for his bravery which he earned his nickname “The Lionhearted.” Richard Plantagent was born on September 8th in the year 1157 C.E in Oxfordshire, England. He had four brothers and three sisters, the first of whom died at a young age. Of the remainder; Prince Henry was named heir to the English throne, Richard was to inherit his mother’s Aquintain, which is part of Southern France, and where Richard lived as a child. His brother Prince Geoffrey was also to inherit land, but John inherited nothing from his father King Henry I and for this they named him John Lackland.
Furthermore, Richard’s native language was not English, but French since he live in France the majority of his youth. In 1172, at the age of fourteen, Richard was named the Duke of Aquitain in the church of St. Hillaire at Poitiers. Richard also learned not only to speak and write Poitevin French, but he also learned to appreciate and to imitate the poetry and music which was popular at court. Richard’s received much of his training in chivalry and military affairs not from his father, but from men belonging in his father’s household. Yet, he was exactly what his father King Henry II wanted him to be in that regard, a superb master of the military arts.
Richard unlike his brothers and his father, chose not to convert to Islam. Yet, the church did not influence him either and his Christian moral principles were somewhat haphazard throughout his life. In 1183, the younger Prince Henry died, leaving Richard as the heir to the throne of England. Another family dispute occurred when he refused to give up his homeland where he lived the majority of his life. Richard was vain, devious, self-centered, and extraordinarily brave...