K

eeper of the Realm.  Yet rarely at home.

 

Richard Plantagenet became Richard I of England in 1189. England saw him for only seven months of his 10-year reign yet Richard managed to capture their hearts and their patronage even though England’s people paid dearly for what he saw as his right and their privilege.

By the Grace of God, King of the English, Duke of the Normandy, Gascony and Aquitaine, Count of Anjou and Nantes, Lord of Ireland and Cyprus and Overlord of Brittany… these are but a few of the titles Richard held. Even before his accession to the throne he was known as Richard the Lionheart or Cœur de Lion in recognition of his great military skills. One might think that being King of England would mean the most to him but from all indication, it didn’t. He was known to have said that England was “cold and always raining” and during his fund raising for his crusades, he was heard to declare “I would have sold London if I could find a buyer!”. Like most of the nobility of England, Richard didn’t speak English and saw no reason to learn it.