Richard I / Makers of History

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

26939

Title

Richard I / Makers of History

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

This historical narrative chronicles the life of Richard I, the Crusader, focusing on his boisterous character, his mother Eleanor of Aquitaine, his conquest of Cyprus, his imprisonment in Germany, and his eventual death. Written with strict adherence to historical truth, the text offers a vivid, unembellished account of the King's reckless ferocity, his devotion to the cross, and his tragic end, appealing to readers interested in medieval history and the complex figure of the Lion-Hearted.

Summary up to 500 words

Jacob Abbott's *Richard I*, part of the *Makers of History* series, presents a starkly realistic and unembellished account of King Richard the First, portraying him not as a saintly hero but as a fierce, reckless, and often cruel man. The narrative begins with Richard's turbulent childhood, marked by family feuds and the ambitious crusading spirit of his mother, Eleanor of Aquitaine. After his accession and coronation, Richard prepares for the Third Crusade, an expedition heavily influenced by Eleanor's desire for adventure and glory. The campaign quickly turns violent upon arrival in Cyprus, where Richard clashes with King Isaac Comnenus over wrecked English ships. Despite the legal precedent that wrecked goods belonged to the local sovereign, Richard's Norman sensibilities and desire for a pretext for war lead to a brutal conquest. He imprisons Isaac, subjugates the island, and sends the captive king to a Syrian dungeon, an act Abbott notes as a violation of honorable war laws. Richard's journey to the Holy Land is interrupted by his capture by Emperor Leopold of Germany. The text details the arduous effort required by England to raise a massive ransom, nearly a million dollars in modern value, to secure his release. Upon returning to England, Richard is crowned again but faces immediate rebellion from his brother John and conflict with Philip of France. The narrative shifts to depict Richard's moral decline; he abandons his wife, Berengaria, to a life of profligacy and drunkenness, ignoring the pleas of ecclesiastics. A brief illness prompts a temporary return to virtue, but he soon resumes his reckless ways. The story concludes with Richard's death in 1199. During a siege of the castle of Chaluz, he is struck by an arrow while hunting. In a final act of remorse, he attempts to remove the arrow, inadvertently worsening the wound. He dies in anguish and despair, having reigned for only ten years, most of which were spent outside England. Abbott emphasizes that Richard's character, known as the "lion-hearted," was defined by ferocity and a lack of the gentle spirit of the Gospel, making him a tragic figure whose glory consisted in his own brutal ferocity rather than true Christian virtue.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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data/epubs/pg26939.epub

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Categories

• Biography
• History