Richard the Lionheart is one of the most famous of all kings worldwide. He is certainly amongst the most widely remembered of the English kings. When his father, Henry II died in 1189, Richard succeeded to a huge empire, stretching from the Pyrenees to the northern reaches of Scotland.
Richard reigned in a time when one of the primary roles of a ruler was that of the battle commander, and there is little doubt that he excelled in that role. It is for his excellence in that field that he is most widely remembered. Richard's claim to fame as a military commander mostly result from his participation in the Third Crusade.
During his ten year reign over England, Richard spent less than one (? wasn't much anyway ) year in England, and at the same time levied many taxes on his citizens, which he used to fight wars which were of little immediate concern to all but the upper echelons. Yet, as the Robin Hood legends attest, he seems to have been universally loved by the citizenry, who appear to have blamed his lieutenants, notably his brother John, for the taxes that were imposed upon them.
Richard had no children at the time of his death, in 1199, and was succeeded by his brother John.
timn_from_oz
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