Richard I

King Richard I of England lived September 8, 1157 – April 6, 1199. He was King of England from 1189 to 1199. Some consider him a great and very popular king despite the fact that he did not accomplish much for his people as he was away from England for most of his reign. He is an important figure in many stories about the crusades such as Sir Walter Scott's "The Talisman" and was the main leader for the Third Crusade where his forces performed admirably against Saladin.

He was from the Royal House of Plantagenet, although this name was not adopted until later. At the time his Father (King Henry II) and brother (King John) were collectively known as the House of Anjou (or the Angevins) as they descended from Count Geoffrey of Anjou, (whose nickname was Plantagenet, from the sprig of 'planta genesta', a type of broom, worn as the family emblem) who married the Empress Matilda, (aka Maud) daughter of the English King Henry I, who fought her cousin King Stephen, for the English throne. The treaty which ended this struggle saw her cede the throne to Stephen in return for her son (King Henry II) being made his heir.

King Richard was known as Couer de Lion (the Lionheart). At this time, the English court was almost entirely French in character and language, being directly descended from King William the Duke of Normany and including the lands of Anjou and Aquitaine in modern day France. Indeed, the largest land holder in France, was King Richard. He spoke no English - his native tongue was the regional dialect French of Poitou. His body was buried in Poitou, and his heart in Rouen Cathedral in his ancestral Normandy.

It is sometimes recorded that King Richard was homosexual, but there exists much debate on this issue, and little direct evidence. This seems unlikely as whilst away fighting Crusades he was accused of raping women and although he showed little interest in his wife and Queen, she was deeply in love with him. He also acknowledged fathering an illegitimate son from before his marriage.

The British monarchy website makes no mention of his homosexuality http://www.royal.gov.uk/output/Page60.asp His sexuality may be argued, but he is known as a complex character, who on one hand enjoyed the rough male companionship of the military, and spent most of his reign under arms; whilst at the same time being accomplished in the arts of the troubadours with their focus on courtly love.

He died from an infected arrow wound inflicted during a siege of a minor castle in France.