Richard I - The Truth Not the Myth Quiz

Answer: In Oxford in England

Richard was born the 8th September, 1157 at Beaumont Palace in Oxford. Thus, in spite of not speaking a word of English, Richard was at least born in the country.

Answer: Seven - four brothers and three sisters.

The eight children of Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine were William (who died young), Henry, Matilda, Geoffrey, Eleanor, Joan, John and, of course, Richard himself. The legends tend to focus on Richard and John, though Geoffrey's son, Arthur, is often included when King John becomes king.

Answer: Poitiers

Though Richard's reputation is largely based on his exploits during war-time, he actually preferred the company of his sophisticated and well-educated mother in Aquitaine to that of his belligerent father who was always on the move. This didn't stop Richard from becoming the sort of man who seemed to look anywhere for an opportunity to fight.

Answer: His father - Henry II

The campaign was in fact a revolt by the brothers against the will of their father and the way he insisted they should run their parts of his larger kingdom. It seems odd that Richard's reputation should remain so high after betraying the trust of the one who gave him life and who was his king. He was more than once a traitor.

Answer: Henry's nose suddenly began to bleed.

Howden and Giraldus both report this incident. To them contemporary people would have assumed that this indicated that Richard was guilty of killing his father. That Richard may have contributed to his father's death is certainly probable for he had combined with the France king in a final rebellion. On the other hand John, Henry II's favourite son, probably caused his father more grief when he too was found to be numbered amongst the rebels.

Answer: 31

Richard was born on the 8th September, 1157 and was crowned on the 2nd September, 1189. Thus he was 31 years of age and only just short of being 32. Two older brothers had died before he, the third son, came to the throne. His brother Henry had actually been crowned as King of England but this was done by the Archbishop of York rather than that of Canterbury and Henry II had tried to give this son this minor kingdom whilst he considered himself the King of several kingdoms.

The "young king" was not recognised by the Pope nor any of the important European monarchs. Thus when young Henry died Henry II was forced to recognise Richard, whom he did not like or trust, as his heir.

Answer: The slaughter of a large number of Jews.

Richard was probably partly responsible for the massacre that took place. It is reported that in the strongest terms he encouraged his subjects to turn away the unbelievers from the ceremony. This was interpreted as a license for attacking the Jews and their property in London.

Answer: Less than 1 year

Some sources say that he spent no more than 6 months in England. Others report that is was 10 months. All agree that it was certainly less than a year. The truth is that he had no love for England and a great deal of love for those areas of France which he considered his home.

Answer: London

The only thing that appealed to Richard about England was the money that he could raise by taxing his people or by selling his estates. There is no evidence whatsoever of concern for any of his subjects.

Answer: The Third Crusade

Some historians report that Richard I went on the Third Crusade as a result of a promise that he made to his dying father. He won several victories but never did capture Jerusalem. His reputation as a fierce fighter was certainly enhanced at this time.

Answer: His mother's - Eleanor of Aquitaine

The marriage took place on the 12th May at Limassol in Cyprus. The lands of Navarre were adjacent to those of Aquitaine, the part of Richard's own lands that he most loved. In spite of this marriage Richard and Berengaria had no children and Richard only lived openly with his wife when a charge of sodomy was brought against him.

Answer: He ordered them to be massacred.

The numbers given for this act of slaughter were 2,700. The fact that the victims had surrendered rather than been taken prisoner during the battle made this crime seem even worse. It is suggested that Richard I lost his patience over the negotiations and ordered the men, women and children to be butchered in full sight of the opposing army of Saladin.

In contrast Saladin enjoyed a reputation for treating his prisoners well.

Answer: His nephew Arthur

In spite of this nomination Richard actually left England to be run by William Longchamp, Bishop of Ely. He was another Frenchman much hated by most of the people of England. Longchamp operated under the supervision of Richard's mother, Eleanor of Aquitaine. Before he died Richard nominated John as his heir in spite of Arthur's better claim through an elder brother. Thus he caused the succession to be disputed once again.

Answer: He wanted to claim some gold that a peasant had dug up.

Richard's motivation on this occasion seems to have been greed. The peasant had passed the gold to his immediate overlord and Richard had demanded that it be passed on to him. It was a trivial way for a king to die. Typically Richard carried it off in great style by pardoning the man who had fired the fatal crossbow bolt.

Answer: At Fontrevault near his father.

His body was buried at Fontrevault but his heart was removed from his corpse and buried in Rouen. The building of Chateau Gaillard was just one of the ways he had found of costing his country a fortune. His captivity in Austria meant that a ransom equivalent to £12 million in modern money had to be screwed out of the people of England for a man who showed no affection at all for the country.