The Tah Mahal

King Richard I

(Richard The Lion-Hearted)

He was King of england from 1189 to 1199, Richard like to be called "Lionheart" for his fighting skill and bravery. Richard was crowned king on the 3 September. He joined the Third Crusade in 1190, campaigning in the Holy Land, he conquered Messina and Cyprus and then fought to a truce with the Muslim commander Saladin. During this time his brother John connived with Phillip II of France to usurp Richard's throne. Hearing of the plot, Richard tried to return to England but was waylaid in Austria and imprisoned by the Holy Roman Emperor Henry VI. Richard finally returned to England in 1194 to defeat John and regain control of the throne.

Born in Oxford on September 8, 1157, the third son of King Henry II of England and Eleanor of Aquitaine, Richard, preferred the adventure of military operations to the duties of the court. Acknowledged as the duke of Aquitaine (southwestern France) in 1172, Richard joined his brothers in a revolt against their father. Although the rebellion failed, Richard's father allowed him to maintain his position.

From 1175 to 1186, Richard added to his growing reputation as a brave warrior and brilliant organizer by quelling numerous internal revolts. One of his more famous exploits during this period was the capture of what was through to be the impregnable, heavily fortified castle of Taillebourg in Saintonge in 1179. Following the death of his older brother in 1183 and familial infighting, Richard became the heir to his father's crown.

As a result, when Henry II died in 1189, Richard succeeded the thrones of both Normandy and England. King Richard showed little interest in ruling either of his kingdoms; in fact, he spent only six months in England during the next ten years. He did appreciate, however, the riches the crown provided his to form an army to join