Richard the Lionheart: The Crusader King of England

One of medieval England's most famous kings, Richard I, is a controversial figure who has been seen as both a great warrior and a poor king. This reassessment by W. B. Bartlett reveals a compelling new portrait of the Lionheart, showing him to be remarkable and a man let down by those around him, including his brother John and the duplicitous French king Philip. His character's foibles are also exposed, including his complicated relationships with the key women in his life, particularly his mother, Eleanor of Aquitaine, and his wife, Berengaria. This is a new Richard for the twenty-first century, and a re-evaluation of the life story of one of medieval Europe's greatest personalities.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 416 pages
Publication date: 15 April 2019
Publisher: Amberley Publishing

While Richard I is one of medieval England's most famous kings, he is also the most controversial. He has been variously considered a great warrior but a poor king, a man driven by the quest for fame and glory but also lacking in self-discipline and prone to throwing away the short-term advantages that his military successes brought him. In this reassessment, W. B. Bartlett looks at his deeds and achievements in a new light. The result is a compelling new portrait of "the Lionheart," which shows that the king is every bit as remarkable as his medieval contemporaries found him to be. This includes his Muslim enemies, who spoke of him as their most dangerous and gallant opponent. It shows him to be a man badly let down by some of those around him, especially his brother John and the duplicitous French king Philip. The foibles of his character are also exposed to the full, including his complicated relationships with the key women in his life, especially the imposing contemporary figure of his mother, Eleanor of Aquitaine, and his wife, Berengaria, with whom he failed to produce an heir, leading to later suggestions of homosexuality. This is a new Richard, one for the twenty-first century, and a re-evaluation of the life story of one of the greatest personalities of medieval Europe.

While Richard I is one of medieval England's most famous kings, he is also the most controversial. He has been variously considered a great warrior but a poor king, a man driven by the quest for fame and glory but also lacking in self-discipline and prone to throwing away the short-term advantages that his military successes brought him. In this reassessment, W. B. Bartlett looks at his deeds and achievements in a new light. The result is a compelling new portrait of "the Lionheart," which shows that the king is every bit as remarkable as his medieval contemporaries found him to be. This includes his Muslim enemies, who spoke of him as their most dangerous and gallant opponent. It shows him to be a man badly let down by some of those around him, especially his brother John and the duplicitous French king Philip. The foibles of his character are also exposed to the full, including his complicated relationships with the key women in his life, especially the imposing contemporary figure of his mother, Eleanor of Aquitaine, and his wife, Berengaria, with whom he failed to produce an heir, leading to later suggestions of homosexuality. This is a new Richard, one for the twenty-first century, and a re-evaluation of the life story of one of the greatest personalities of medieval Europe.

Weight: 360g
Dimension: 193 x 133 x 28 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781445689470