Last time we talked about the anti-Semitism that broke out in England around the time that Richard I of England first became king and prepared to go on his crusade in the years 1189-1190. We said that Richard decried the persecution of Jews and issued proclamations protecting them and defining capital crimes against them. The Jews had been in England for less than a century. They came with the Normans at William’s conquest and most of those who came were financiers. Richard also was the king not only of Normandy, but also had a claim to the French throne. It seemed that when he turned his attention from England, persecution broke out. Richard was not much of a king to the English: he didn’t spend much time or attention on it. And his narcissism parading as piety nearly bankrupted the nation. That story is closely related to the legend of how he got his nickname, Coeur de Lion, Lionheart. Here’s the story:

On his way back from campaigning for 16 months in the Holy Land during the third Crusade, 1189-92 (failed to take Jerusalem, the objective), Richard was captured by Leopold, duke of Austria, and held for ransom in the dungeon of Castle Durnstein. He had been warned not to go through Austria, but his head was apparently in the clouds.

Popularity: 4% [?]

Related posts:

1. History Video Blog #25 Climbing Clifford's Tower...
2. History Video Blog #28 Why was Richard called Lion heart?...
3. History Video Blog #26 The tragedy of Clifford's Tower....
4. History Video Blog #5 King Canute commands the sea....
5. History Video Blog #22 The Defenestration of Prague....