King Richard I Timeline 1157-1199

King Richard I was born the third son of Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine at Oxford, England. The couple’s second son, William had died in 1156 but their first son, Henry, born in 1155 survived. Richard also had an elder sister, Matilda.

Richard’s brother, Geoffrey was born to Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine.

Little is known of Richard’s early life but it is likely he was educated at home by tutors. He was also schooled in horse-riding, use of weapons and military tactics.

Richard’s sister, Eleanor, was born to Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine at Domfront Castle, Normandy.

Richard was taken on a visit to Normandy by his mother.

Richard’s sister, Joan was born to Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine at Angers Castle, Anjou.

Richard’s brother John was born to Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine.

Richard was betrothed to Alys, daughter of Louis VII of France. During the ceremony Richard paid homage to the French king.

King Henry II became ill and decided to give his sons their inheritance so that they would be established in their lands before he died. Richard was given control of Aquitaine. His three brothers were also given land – Henry gained England and Normandy and Geoffrey gained Brittany. John who was four years old was not given any land.

Henry, Richard’s eldest brother, was crowned at Westminster Abbey in a move designed to ensure the succession. He became known as ‘The Young King’.

Richard and his mother left England for Aquitaine.

Richard was formally given the title Duke of Aquitaine and Count of Poitou.

Richard had become a great military tactician and had control of his own army which he used to put down rebellions in the French provinces granted to him by his father.

Richard joined forces with his brothers in rebellion against his father. The brothers wanted more freedom to rule their territories and had gained the support of the French king.

King Louis VII of France made peace with Henry II. Richard was deliberately excluded from the terms of the treaty which left him in a position of isolation.

Richard begged his father Henry II for forgiveness and Henry II complied.

King Henry II had an affair with Richard’s betrothed, Alys of France.

Richard was ordered by his father to punish those nobles of Aquitaine who had supported him against King Henry II.

There was a revolt against Richard’s rule in Aquitaine due to his ruthlessness in punishing the nobility for supporting him against King Henry II.

The revolt against Richard in Aquitaine ended after Richard took the castle of Taillebourg. His skill in securing the property led many to swear loyalty to him once again.

Tensions increased between Richard and his father after Richard refused to swear fealty to his brother Henry the Young King.

Richard’s brothers, Henry and Geoffrey, invaded Aquitaine. They hoped to defeat Richard and force him to swear fealty to Henry the Young King.

Henry the Young King died after contracting dysentery. His death meant Richard was now heir to the throne.

King Henry II demanded that Richard give Aquitaine to his brother John but Richard refused.

Richard made an alliance with Philip of France to strengthen his position.

Richard broke his betrothal to Alys of France on the grounds that she had become his father’s mistress. He then became betrothed to Berengaria of Navarre.

Henry’s son, Richard, began a new campaign against his father.

Henry and Richard reached agreement and Henry agreed that Richard should be his heir.

King Henry II died and Richard became King Richard I of England.

Richard became Duke of Normandy.

Richard was determined to go on crusade to Jerusalem and began using treasury money to finance this venture.

Richard was crowned King of England at Westminster Abbey.

King Richard I and Phillip II of France embarked on the Third Crusade to the Holy land. He left his Chancellor, William Longchamp, and his Chief Justicar Hugh de Puiset in control of England.

Richard and Phillip II reached Sicily.

Richard sent his mother, Eleanor of Aquitaine, to escort his betrothed, Berengaria of Navarre, to Messina, Sicily where they would be married.

Berengaria and Eleanor of Aquitaine joined Richard in Messina, Sicily. However, when they arrived it was Lent and the marriage could not be celebrated.

Richard sent Berengaria, accompanied by his sister Joan, on a ship to the Holy Land. Unfortunately, the ship was caught in a storm and landed in Cyprus.

King Richard I and Phillip II conquered Cyprus and rescued Berengaria and Joan.

Richard married Berengaria of Navarre in St George’s chapel, Limassol, Cyprus.

Richard and the Third Crusade reached Acre and placed it under siege.

Acre fell to the Crusaders.

Phillip had disagreed with Richard over spoils of war and abandoned the Crusade and returned to France.

King Richard I had decided to continue the Crusade alone and agreed terms with Saladin. The deal included an exchange of prisoners but Richard mistrusted Saladin and ordered the massacre of all Muslim prisoners.

Battle of Arsuf
Richard defeated Saladin at this battle.

In England, Richard’s younger brother, John, managed to overthrow William Longchamp and took control of England.

Richard took control of Jaffa.

Richard reached the outskirts of Jerusalem but by this point his army was depleted and in need of reinforcements and supplies.

Battle of Jaffa
Richard scored a decisive victory over Saladin.

Treaty of Jaffa
Unable to take Jerusalem, Richard negotiated a three-year truce with Saladin that stipulated that Christians should be granted access to the Holy City at all times.

Having heard the news that his brother John, who had been left in control of England, was plotting to take the throne from him, Richard decided to return home.

Richard was captured by Duke Leopold V of Austria and held to ransom.

Richard was transferred to the custody of Holy Roman Emperor, Henry VI. He was placed in Trifels Castle. A ransom of 150,000 marks was demanded for the release of the English King. This was a huge sum of money, at least double the annual income of the Crown.

The ransom money was paid and Richard returned to England. His brother, John, who had taken control of the country took refuge in Nottingham Castle. On hearing of his brother’s actions Richard lay siege to Nottingham Castle.

In order to show that he was the true King of England Richard was crowned for the second time.

Having secured his position in England Richard left England to go and reclaim land in Normandy that had been taken by Philip II while Richard had been held captive.

Battle of Freteval
King Richard I was victorious in this battle and was able to reclaim his lands in Normandy.

Treaty of Louviers
This treaty secured peace between England and France. France was given control of the strip of land known as the Vexin.

The treaty with France, agreed in 1195, broke down when English troops re-occupied the Vexin.

Battle of Gisors
This battle saw the English victorious over the French.

King Richard I went to Limoges to suppress a riot

Richard was shot by a crossbowman While walking round the castle of Chalus. Although the bolt was removed it was not cleanly done and the wound quickly festered.

King Richard I died. He was succeeded by his younger brother, John.