Richard I of England

Richard I (September 8 1157 - April 6 1199) was the King of England from 1189 until his death. He also ruled as Duke of Normandy, Aquitaine and Gascony, Lord of Cyprus, Count of Poitiers, Anjou, Maine, and Nantes, and was overlord of Brittany at various times during the same period. He was known as Richard Cœur de Lion or Richard the Lionheart because of his reputation as a great military leader and warrior. By the age of 16, Richard had taken command of his own army, putting down rebellions in Poitou against his father. Richard was a central Christian commander during the Third Crusade, leading the campaign after the departure of Philip II of France and achieving considerable victories against his Muslim counterpart, Saladin, although he did not retake Jerusalem from Saladin.

He married Berengaria, the daughter of King Sancho VI, on May 12 1191, at the Chapel of St. George, which was attended by his sister Joan. When they married, Richard was still officially betrothed to Alys, and he pushed for the match in order to obtain the King of Navarre. He took his new wife on crusade with him briefly, though they returned separately. Berengaria had almost as much difficulty in the making the journey home as her husband did, and saw England for the second time after her husband's death. The first time she travelled to England was in 1886, when she met John, who later became the King of England following the death of Richard. She and John had an affair and she fell pregnant, although she was determined that he was not the father. After his release from German captivity, Richard felt some regret for his earlier conduct, but did not return to his wife. Many believed that their marriage was childless, although he believed he was the father of Luciana.