Historical
Military art print of Richard the Lion
Heart by world renowned military artist Chris Collingwood.
Death of Richard
The Lion heart (Coeur-de-Lion) Richard
of the Lion heart is a type of the Knight errant who has made captive the
imagination of posterity. His passion for adventure carried him into many
lands and his courage and prowess in ware were so great that a century
after his death Saracen mothers stilled the cry of their children by the
terror of his name. England it is said, owes him nothing but barren fame
and blood-stained laurels. his lust for conquest may have drained the
country of its wealth, yet his chief exploit-the Crusade to free the
Holy Sepulchre, had the fervent support of his subjects and all Christendom
like Cromwell, he made the name of England feared and respected aboard.
fate surely was in the mood for irony , in an obscure quarrel, the warrior
who had faced the hosts of Saladin and had carried the sword and fire
though France and had escaped the prison of his enemies sand the plot's by
his brother John. Ever in the need to raise money for war, Richard
demanded a treasure that had been found at Chaluz. The owner of the castle,
a vassal of Richards enemy, the viscount of Limoges, offered part of the
treasure but would not give it all up. This refusal the King, a strict
disciplinarian, looked upon it as an act of rebellion. he laid siege to
the castle, rejecting all proposals to surrender on terms. The situation
of Chaluz 3was strong but the means of defense were small. Richard was
riding round the outer wall's to discover a weak point for his assault
when a arrow from a long bow struck him in the shoulder. Enraged at this
wound the King's men stormed the castle, carried it with sword and lance
and hange3d the defenders. the sole survivor was the archer was the archer
who had fired the fateful bolt. Him Richard with th4e generosity of a
brave soldier, pardoned on his death bed, for the wound being treated by
an unskillful surgeon proved fatal. Marchadie, who had not the nobility of
soul of his master, caused the archer to be flayed alive. Whatever his
faults as a ruler Richard -Coeur -de Lion will always be one of the
most romantic heroes in British history. (text
from British Battles 1898)
