Richard the Lion Heart

In 1187, Turks led by Saladin took Jerusalem and Acre from the Christians. This made the pope call for a new Crusade. King Richard I of England took the cross. (He was so brave that men called him the Lion Heart.)

Richard reached the Holy Land in 1191. He, King Philip of France, and Duke Leopold of Austria joined the army trying to take Acre. Their catapults threw huge stones at the city walls. The miners dug tunnels underneath. Soldiers fought from siege-towers. Both kings, and most of their men, were ill with fever.

At last, the Turks in Acre gave in. Richard and Philip put their flags on the city walls. But when Leopold did the same, Richard threw the Austrian flag into the moat. Leopold was deeply hurt, and left for home. A short while later, Philip of France set sail too.

Richard stayed, and nearly reached Jerusalem. But he had too few men to take it, and had to turn back. He and Saladin made peace. The Turks kept Jerusalem, but Christian pilgrims could visit it.

Richard set out for England. On his way, he was seized in Austria by Duke Leopold. He was held captive for more than a year. The English had to pay a ransom of £ 100,000 to buy freedom for their king.

Walter Robson: Medieval Britain; Oxford University Press, 1991/2000, page 27