Summary Richard I - Thematic Revision Notes, British History (OCR A-level)
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Course
Unit 3 (H505)
Institution
OCR
Detailed revision notes on the reign of Richard I, structured thematically. Created for the OCR A-level History course, Y303/01 'English Government and the Church ', but provide a general overview of Richard I's reign with key thematic information. Suitable background information for the 'interpret...
INTERPRETATIONS QUESTIONS – RICHARD I
VIEWS OF HIS REIGN
Tarnished reputation as king of England – Victorian view of Richard
(historians such as Stubbs)
spent less than 6 months of his 10 year reign in England
- This could indicate a lack of care shown towards his subjects
- Claimed to have exclaimed in 1189-90 “I would sell London if I could find a buyer”
(frantically raising money for the Crusade)
Richard was heedless of his English responsibilities
- Between 1194-1199 Richard was in France
- England’s resources were plundered on an unprecedented scale to meet the cost of
his campaigns against King Philip ii. Lost the work henry ii had done
When Richard died in 1199
- England was on the verge of financial exhaustion
- His continental lands remained vulnerable to French attack
Richard was no less interested in the government of England than Henry II or John
(historians such as Gillingham)
Richard did make reasonable arrangements for the supervision of his kingdom during his
crusade
- The crusade was also Richard’s duty, felt obliged to liberate the holy land
The second half of Richard’s reign under Hubert Walter
- This was a crucial period in the development of England’s governmental institutions
- If Richard is viewed as the ruler of the Angevin Empire rather than just king of
England, his attitude is more easily explained
Key Facts
Reign: 1189-1199
- Richard acknowledged count of Anjou, installed as duke of Normandy, crowned king.
- Determined to depart on crusade as soon as possible, was in need of funds.
Spent less than 6 months of his 10 year reign in England, mostly after his coronation
1190-1194 Third crusade and captivity
- March 1194: Richard returns to England
- Leaves in May, never to return again
- Spends last 5 years of his life in France trying to recover the lands which had been
taken from him by Philip ii during his captivity
1194-1199 War with Philip ii (Entire 2nd half of his reign is spent abroad)
, Richard as a king
Crusades
Excellent general and expertise in siege warfare
- Maintained discipline of a crusader as the army marched from Acre to Jaffa in 1191
Inspiring leader
- Foiled Saladin’s attempt to take Jaffa wading ashore from the sea in 1192
Skilled and patient diplomat
- Negotiations with Saladin lasted about a year Oct 1191-Sept 1192
Cold and ruthless warrior
- Ordered massacre of 3000 prisoners taken at Acre after their ransom was delayed
Kingly authority post 1194
Richard is recrowned, John and supporters lost their lands. Richard is gaining authority again
and making up for the losses incurred to Philip during his absence
Richard had money to hire the best mercenary captains
- Mercadier, Louvart, Algais
- Effectively building up pressure on Philip, forcing him to make concessions
Great diplomacy, patience
- Constructed an extensive and effective ring of alliances to hem Philip ii in
- ‘feudal diplomacy’
Richard campaigns in Normandy
- Demonstrates great military skill
- By 1199 he has mostly restored the position he was in in 1189
- Normandy was still however greatly weakened
Other issues in the angevin empire that Richard had to deal with
- Barons of his land in southern France remained troublesome, and Philip ii made
matters more difficult for him
- April 1198, viscount of Limoges allies with king Philip ii and in the following year
Richard goes south to discipline him and the count of Angoulême
- End of march 1199: Richard began the siege of the viscount of Limoges’s castle at
Châlus-Chabrol. He is killed from a wound in this siege.
Finances
Henry II had left a full treasury in his legacy: estimates between 100,000 marks and 900,000
marks. Richard’s priority was to raise as much money as possible.
Heavy taxation caused discontent under Longchamps. Raising money for his master Richard
by any means possible.
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