Although the bolt was removed and the wound was treated, infection set in, and Richard fell ill. He kept to his tent and limited visitors to keep the news from getting out, but he knew what was happening. Richard the Lionheart died on April 6, Richard was buried according to his instructions.
Crowned and clothed in royal regalia, his body was entombed at Fontevraud, at the feet of his father; his heart was buried at Rouen, with his brother Henry; and his brain and entrails went to an abbey at Charroux, on the border of Poitous and Limousin.
Even before he was laid to rest, rumors and legends sprang up that would follow Richard the Lionheart into history. Over the centuries, the view of Richard the Lionheart held by historians has undergone some notable changes.
Once considered one of England's greatest kings by virtue of his deeds in the Holy Land and his chivalrous reputation, in recent years Richard has been criticized for his absence from his kingdom and his incessant engagement in warfare.
This change is more a reflection of modern sensibilities than it is of any new evidence uncovered about the man. Richard spent little time in England, it is true; but his English subjects admired his efforts in the east and his warrior ethic. He didn't speak much, if any, English; but then, neither had any monarch of England since the Norman Conquest. It's also important to remember that Richard was more than the king of England; he had lands in France and political interests elsewhere in Europe.
His actions reflected these diverse interests, and, though he didn't always succeed, he usually attempted to do what was best for all his concerns, not just England. He did what he could to leave the country in good hands, and while things sometimes went awry, for the most part, England flourished during his reign.
There remain some things we don't know about Richard the Lionheart, beginning with what he really looked like. The popular description of him as elegantly built, with long, supple, straight limbs and hair a color between red and gold, was first written nearly twenty years after Richard's death, when the late king had already been lionized. The only contemporary description that exists indicates that he was taller than average.
Because he displayed such prowess with the sword, he could have been muscular, but by the time of his death he may have put on weight, since the removal of the crossbow bolt was reportedly complicated by fat.
Then there's the question of Richard's sexuality. This complex issue boils down to one salient point: there is no irrefutable proof to support or contradict the assertion that Richard was a homosexual. Each piece of evidence can be, and has been, interpreted in more than one way, so every scholar can feel free to draw whatever conclusion suits him.
Whichever Richard's preference was, it apparently had no bearing on his ability as a military leader or a king. There are some things we do know about Richard. He was very fond of music, though he never played an instrument himself, and he wrote songs as well as poems. He reportedly displayed a quick wit and a playful sense of humor. He saw the value of tournaments as preparation for war, and although he rarely participated himself, he designated five sites in England as official tournament locations, and appointed a "director of tournaments" and a collector of fees.
This was in opposition to numerous decrees of the Church; but Richard was a devout Christian, and diligently attended mass, evidently enjoying it. Richard made many enemies, especially through his actions in the Holy Land, where he insulted and quarreled with his allies even more than his foes. Yet he apparently had a great deal of personal charisma, and could inspire intense loyalty.
Though renowned for his chivalry, as a man of his times he did not extend that chivalry to the lower classes; but he was at ease with his servants and followers. Although he was talented at acquiring funds and valuables, in keeping with the tenets of chivalry he was also notably generous.
He could be hot-tempered, arrogant, self-centered and impatient, but there are many stories of his kindness, insight and goodheartedness. In the final analysis, Richard's reputation as an extraordinary general endures, and his stature as an international figure stands tall. While he cannot measure up to the heroic character early admirers depicted him as, few people could. Once we view Richard as a real person, with real foibles and quirks, real strengths and weaknesses, he may be less admirable, but he is more complex, more human, and much more interesting.
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Develop and improve products. List of Partners vendors. Share Flipboard Email. Melissa Snell. History Expert. Melissa Snell is a historical researcher and writer specializing in the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. Featured Video. Cite this Article Format. Born , Richard earned a number of titles as a relatively young man.
There exists considerable medieval folklore and legend surrounding King Richard I. Today, there remains a fascination of Richard who is often portrayed as a good king. These leadership traits are similar to many others documented here. He immersed himself into the sophisticated, refined culture of Aquitaine, profoundly influenced by courtly love, troubadour culture of southern France, and medieval chivalry. He wrote songs and poems in Occitan, although there are no surviving materials nowadays, except for one of his songs he composed during his captivity in Austria.
He did not speak and practice English, so Norman-French and Occitan became his languages of preference and habit. Young Richard could be considered the great model of a chivalrous knight.
He loved to conduct the choir in his chapel, and he composed ballads in the style of the courtly troubadours of Aquitaine, where he grew up and which he always considered his home. Richard experienced his first battles when he, already Duke of Aquitaine, and his brothers — Henry the Young King and Geoffrey — rebelled against their father in Though a successor to his parent, Henry the Young King nevertheless was not allowed to exercise real power and was not given as many lands as he craved, so he was eager to fight against the old monarch.
Richard and his brothers begged Henry II for forgiveness and were reconciled with him. In the end, Henry emerged victorious. He won on the continent partly because he captured Eleanor at an early stage in the war, and partly because, as the richest king in western Europe, he had the cash resources which enabled him to hire mercenaries — usually known as Brabangons or routiers — on a scale which his enemies could not match.
In Britain he owed his victory to the capture of the king of Scots in Until the midth century, nobody seriously considered the Lionheart homosexual. Then an assumption was made that Richard liked sleeping with men, and it was based on the 3 ideas. Firstly, Richard had no legitimate children in his marriage to Berengaria of Navarre. He did not sire many bastards either, unlike his father, Henry, and his younger brother, John.
His only known illegitimate son was Philippe of Cognac. Secondly, Richard seems to not have been interested in getting married and deserted his wife afterhis return from the Crusade. Homosexual monarchs such as King Edward II of England and probably King James I of England were married and had children, for producing an heir and securing dynastic succession was vitally important.
Actually, Richard was quite fond of Berengaria and wanted to marry her. Maybe he was not in love with his wife, but he did not object to the match. There is no proof that Richard and Philippe were lovers, and I doubt that it is true. They were reported to have shared a bed when Richard paid homage to Philippe in November In the Middle Ages, many men, even heterosexual, shared a bed to keep warmth in cold castles and houses. Besides, Philippe and Richard could sleep in the same bed to show their unity against King Henry.
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