Richard the Lionheart

Richard I was King of England from 1189 to 1199.He was the third son of Henry II. He
twice rebelled against his father before he became King of England in 1189, but based
himself in his Duchy in Aquitaine inherited from his mother Eleanor. He spent only six
months of his reign in England and spoke only French. He appointed William Longchamp
as Chancellor of England during his absence but he was overthrown by Richards
brother John.

Richard acquired a reputation as a leader and warrior becoming known as Richard The
Lion Heart or Coeur de Lion. His experience in warfare came from controlling
rebellions in Poitou in the 1170s and against his father, Henry II, in 1183. He took up
Henry's plans to recover Jerusalem on his accession in 1189 and set out to establish bases
for crusades in Sicily in 1190 and Cyprus, which he took in 1191. Engaging in the siege of
Acre, which he brought to a swift conclusion, he set off down the coast to Jaffa, conducting
a fighting march against Saladin.

In the third Crusade 119192 he won victories at Cyprus, Acre, and Arsuf (against
Saladin), but failed to recover Jerusalem. While returning overland he was captured by
the Duke of Austria, who handed him over to the emperor Henry VI. He was held
prisoner until a large ransom was raised.

On his release he returned briefly to England, where his brother John had been ruling in
his stead. His later years were spent in warfare in France, where he was killed by a
crossbow bolt while besieging Chlus-Chabrol in 1199. He left no heir.

Ivanhoe
Ivanhoe is a historical novel by Sir Walter Scott, first published in 1820 in three volumes.It
has been credited for increasing interest in romance and medievalism.

The protagonist is Wilfred of Ivanhoe, son of Cedric, who had been disinherited by his father
for two reasons: because of his allegiance to Richard, the exiled King of England, and because
of his romantic interest in Rowena, ward of Cedric, whom Cedric intended as bride to
Athelstane, a descendant of Saxon royalty. In the guise of the Disinherited Knight, Ivanhoe
wins the tournament at Ashby-de-la-Zouche with the aid of the Black Knight and crowns
Rowena his Queen of Beauty and Love. He suffers severe wounds in the contest. On the way
home from the tournament the Saxon party, together with the Jews and the wounded Ivanhoe,
are captured by De Bracy, who fancies Rowena as his wife. They are taken to the castle of
Front-de-Boeuf and imprisoned there. The Black Knight, Locksley and his band, Cedric, and
others attack the castle and, with the help of Ulrica, an old Saxon witch, succeed in freeing the
prisoners.
In the end, The Black Knight reveals himself as King Richard and Ivanhoe and Rowena are
married.