Richard the Lionheart, also known as Richard I, was a crusader king and the son of King Henry II and Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine. He spent most of his reign away from England, focusing on military campaigns in the Holy Land and Europe. His relationship with his brother, King John, was marked by conflicts over power, and he also clashed with his father, King Henry II, for control within the Angevin Empire. These events shaped his legacy as a formidable historical figure.1. He Was His Mothers Favorite SonEleanor of Aquitaine, by Frederick Sandy, 1858. Source: National Museum of WalesRichard the Lionheart was a mighty warrior king who deeply loved and respected his mother. He was the third eldest surviving son of Henry II and his queen, Eleanor of Aquitaine.Eleanor of Aquitaine was among the most intriguing women in the European Middle Ages. Her life story is filled with intrigue, scandal, and betrayal. Eleanor was the Duchess of Aquitaine in her own right; her father had no surviving sons when he died so Eleanor inherited her fathers vast duchy. Immediately following her fathers death, Eleanor was married at 15 years old to the future Louis VII of France. Its been suggested that these two had very different personalities that clashed often. After 15 years of marriage that produced only two daughters, Eleanor and Louis annulled their marriage.A short time later, two months after the annulment, Eleanor married the young Henry Plantagenet, Duke of Normandy who would become King Henry II of England. Henry and Eleanor would have at least eight children, five sons, and three daughters; Richard was Eleanors favorite child.Why was Richard Eleanors favorite son? Perhaps he complained less as a child during nap time. Or, perhaps even when he was a young child, Eleanor knew that Richard would grow to be a legendary individual. Whatever the reasons were, Richard was selected to take over Eleanors powerful duchy of Aquitaine after she died.Richard I, by Merry-Joseph Blondel, 1841. Source: Wikimedia CommonsWhen Richard was still a child, Eleanor took him to Aquitaine to begin his training as overlord of the great Duchy of Aquitaine. Richard took on the responsibility of his mothers duchy with great care and reverenceafter all, the duchy controlled a significantly large portion of France, even more than the French king.Throughout Richards reign as king, Eleanor often served as Regent of England for him while he was away fighting the Crusades. Eleanor also played a crucial role in fundraising the kings ransom when Richard was imprisoned on his way back from the Crusades. Richards mother even went to Navarre to fetch his future wife, Berengaria, and brought her to Richard so that the two could be married while Richard was fighting on the Crusades.It was Eleanor, not Berengaria, who was by Richards side as he lay dying from an arrow wound. Eleanor would outlive almost all of her children, including her favorite son Richard the Lionheart.2. He Was Friends With Philip II Until He REALLY WasntPhilippe II Augustus, 1800-1900. Source: The LouvreWhile still the Duke of Aquitaine, Richard formed a strong friendship with the newly crowned king of France, Philip II, also known as Philip Augustus. The two men were effectively family; Richards mother, Eleanor of Aquitaine, was once married to Philips father, Louis VII; Philip of course was born to another of Louis VIIs wives. The connections did not stop there; Richard was engaged to Philips sister, Alys for many years; to Philips annoyance, however, the union was never completed. It was not just the maternal side that had connections either, the young mens fathers, Henry II and Louis VII were also connected in various ways. The most prominent would be that both kings had married the same woman, Eleanor; and both men controlled vast tracts of territory in France.Despite, or perhaps because of these close family ties, Philip and Richard essentially grew up together. Both men had mutual respect for one another, both personally and in battle.However, this friendship spectacularly fell apart during their joint effort in the Third Crusade.Richard I and Philip II receiving the keys of Acre, from Grandes Chroniques de France, 1375-80. Source: BnFRichard was a big, brash individual who took after his father in his decisive battle strategies, and a tendency to show off toward others. Like his father before him, Philip II did not find this behavior appealing; he found it annoying. This annoyance would soon develop into personal rivalries and political disagreements that would destroy their friendship for good.Philips jealousy of Richards success during the crusade, along with Richards natural charisma and popularity with the soldiers, planted the seeds for their rivalries. Throughout the Third Crusade, Philip dealt with Richards boarish behavior for years. Richard always seemed to steal the spotlight away from Philip, and after a while, Philip was ready to leave.After falling ill, Philip decided he had had enough and was ready to return to France. However, he had an alternative motive. Philip began scheming with Richards younger brother, John, when he returned to France. Together, they divided up the Plantagenet Empire, which Richard and Johns father had worked a lifetime to build and control. Once Richard learned of what was happening to his kingdom, he raced home, or tried to, before he was imprisoned by Duke Leopold of Austria for a year or so.After Richard was back in England, he spent the rest of his reign reconquering his French lands from Philip and his brother John. This was no small feat as John had practically given away a large portion of the family empire to Philip. This type of betrayal from Philip severed the bond that he and Richard shared and caused continual upheaval between France and England for centuries.3. His Brother John Almost Cost Richard His KingdomKing John on a stag hunt, 14th century. Source: The British LibraryThe name King John is synonymous with words such as, coward, untrustworthy, careless, and terrible. King John may be one of the worst rulers of England, but he may also be one of the best known. John was the youngest son of Queen Eleanor and King Henry II. Despite his reputation, John was still considered the favorite son of King Henry II while he was alive.Johns true colors would show after the old kings death. John was known for his sneaky and untrustworthy ways; he was arrogant and power-hungry, and as his brother, Richard knew this. Therefore, when Richard departed for the Third Crusade, he entrusted the governance of England not to his brother John but to William Longchamp, who served as the chancellor and regent, ensuring that John did not wield power while Richard was away. Talk about trust issues.The Angevin Empire in France in 1154. Source: Wikimedia CommonsNevertheless, Johns lust for power and control led him to undermine Richards authority during the kings absence. Johns treacherous move was to align with Philip II of France once the French king returned from the Third Crusade. This strategic maneuver led to the partition of the Plantagenet Empire, ultimately resulting in a substantial portion of the empire falling under French control, and leading to centuries of land disputes between the two countries.Upon his return to England, Richard devoted the remainder of his reign to the arduous task of reclaiming and restoring the lands that John had bestowed upon his allies and supporters during Richards absence. Richard forgave John for his betrayal, but only because Richard knew how weak-willed his brother was. Richard essentially told John it wasnt his fault because he was a child that no one was looking after and forgave him primarily because he knew that John was weak. Little did Richard know what John would become once he inherited the English crown.4. He Had a Strained Relationship With His Father, King Henry IIKing Henry II and his children, 1301-40. Source: The British LibraryHenry II is known for many of his accomplishments, qualities, and actions, including his creation of the Plantagenet Empire, his creation of a council of ordinary men to combat the nobles, and his dealings with the Archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas Beckett. He was also known for his qualities such as decisiveness, boldness, and leadership. However, a quality that Henry II is not known for is fatherhood.While Henry certainly fathered many children during his life, when it came to raising children, this was a task that Henry was not involved in. Henry was cold and calculating towards his children; he used them as bargaining chips for his power games across Europe. This control reached over to Eleanors Duchy of Aquitaine. Even though it was technically under her control, Henry was the one who handled everything, much to Eleanor and soon Richards annoyance.Effigies of Henry II and Eleanor, Fontevraud Abbey, France, 13th century. Source: Wikimedia CommonsA few years after Eleanor had taken young Richard in order to train him to take over Aquitaine, mother and son learned that Henry had done something unforgivable: Henry had sold part of Aquitaine without consulting either Eleanor or Richard, to strengthen a political alliance. Richard expected to have the entire duchy under his control once his mother passed and was furious that Henry had given away part of his inheritance without consulting him.When he learned of his fathers actions, Richard was outraged. He was determined to seek revenge, which may be why he joined his brothers in revolt against their father in 1173-1174. This first rebellion of fathers against sons was known as The War Without Love.Fast-forward a few years, and in the late 1180s, Richard once again rebelled against his father, this time with Philip IIs help. The reason for this rebellion was Henrys reluctance to name an heir to the kingdom. Henry had just two sons alive, Richard and John. Richard was concerned that Henry would choose his favorite son, John, as his heir, and this was something that Richard could not abide by. So Richard again went to war with his father.This last rebellion took its toll on old Henry II, who died in 1189 when he was in his 50s, still a young man but weakened by decades of war and ruling. When Richard was notified of his fathers death he said a curt goodbye over his fathers body and then moved quickly to solidify his position as the new King of England. Nevertheless, Richard still ensured that his father had a proper funeral as king and he organized a grand ceremony for Henry at Fontevraud Abbey in Anjou where both Henry and Richard are buried.5. He Was a Fierce CrusaderRichard the Lionheart outside Parliament, photo by Mattbuck. Source: Wikimedia CommonsRichard the Lionheart is predominantly known for his leadership during the Third Crusade; he was courageous and triumphant. His military acumen, strategic ingenuity, and compelling oratory skills were widely acknowledged by his soldiers and back in England. Richard actively engaged in combat alongside his soldiers, fostering unwavering loyalty among them. His most noteworthy feats during the Third Crusade were the Siege of Acre and the Battle of Arsuf.The conquest of Acre and the decisive victory over Saladin, the Muslim ruler of the Holy Land at the Battle of Arsuf, solidified Richards enduring legacy as the Lionheart.Although he did not reconquer Jerusalem for Christianity, Richard was praised for his practical approach to diplomacy with Saladin. This diplomacy demonstrated Richards understanding of the broader political and military context. Richard saw that Christians had secure access to the Holy Land, ensuring that Christians could embark on pilgrimages to the area.The narratives of his triumphant endeavors were brought back to England by his devoted crusaders, significantly contributing to the lore surrounding his exceptional leadership. Thus it was perhaps his courageous diplomacy that fueled his legacy rather than his fighting skills in battle.The Third Crusade no doubt shaped and influenced Richard and his outlook on kingship. He learned how to conquer, fight, and persevere in the face of hardship, something that his younger brother John may have never learned. Richards time as King of England may have been short, and, indeed, Richard did not spend much time in his kingdom, but his time spent fighting the Third Crusade, and his dedication and loyalty to his soldiers, ensured his story would be renowned for centuries.