Villains and Virgins History Podcast
Richard the Lionheart and the Kings Crusade
March 9, 20261h 44m · 16,650 words
Show notes
Richard the Lionheart is one of the most famous English kings and he made his reputation on the Third Crusade. In this episode we take a closer look at the man behind the legend. His mother was the famous Eleanor of Aquitaine, and his father was the easily angered Henry II. Richard's early career as a feudal enforcer made him an expert in siege warfare.
Highlighted moments
Subduing rebellious vassals was done at sword point and with fire. And so you have to think of Richard as being like an enforcer. Almost a mob enforcer is the analogy that I can give you.
“they make a deal that they're going to go on crusade together they're both going to be gone for the same amount of time they're going to remain in each other's company they're going to treat each other like brothers while they're on crusade and they're going to split any spoils or plunder they acquire 50-50”
“faced with this desperate situation the men in this tower decide that the most merciful thing that they can do would be to kill their own wives and daughters because their reasoning is they're going to die anyway better to not have them gang raped and tortured first”
“he then writes letters to the pope and he says clearly this greek in constantinople this isaac angelos emperor guy is not to be trusted i would like to have your authorization as pope to do a crusade against the emperor and to take constantinople”
Transcript
Transcript not available for this episode yet.
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