Richard

in English history, the name of three kings.

RICHARD I (1157-1199), was born at Oxford. His father was Henry II; his mother Eleanor of Aquitaine. He was crowned king at Westminster in 1189, but he spent a small part of his life in England. Much of his time was spent in France, where he had extensive possessions. As soon as he became king of England he raised money by all practicable means and led the Crusade against Saladin, with whom he finally concluded a truce. He met his death from an arrow wound received while storming the castle of a rebellious vassal in France. This is the king known as Richard the Lion Hearted. He is the Richard of Sir Walter Scott's Ivanhoe and The Talisman; also of Hewlett's Richard Yea-and-Nay. For an account of his imprisonment on the way home from the Crusades, see article on BLONDEL, the minstrel.