Richard the Lionheart: The Greatest King of England? | Medieval History Documentary

Is Richard the Lionheart England's greatest king? Or its worst?
Richard I was a soldier all his life, fighting against rebels in the ancestral lands of his mother, Eleanor of Aquitaine. His father Henry II never expected Richard to be King of England and Richard rebelled against him more than once.
Richard is accused of not caring about England, preferring instead to run off to the Third Crusade to face Saladin in battles to save Acre and Jerusalem and the other Crusader States. After all, his greatest achievement is arguably the Battle of Arsuf, thousands of miles away from England.
But are these accusations fair or accurate? Is Richard merely England's crusader king?
This medieval history documentary covers his whole life and separates the history from the legend that is Richard the Lionheart.
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Chapters
0:00 Introduction
0:53 Richard's Birth
2:22 Video Sponsorship
3:33 Richard's Youth
14:53 Heir to the Throne
24:05 King Richard
33:32 Conquering Cyprus
39:15 Siege of Acre
47:29 Battle of Arsuf
53:00 End of the Third Crusade
57:06 Imprisoned
1:01:58 Richard's Revenge
1:07:26 The Death of Richard the Lionheart
1:09:16 Richard's Legend

[@DanDavisHistory]

Thanks for watching. Please do hit "like" on the video, it really helps me out. See more epic historical biographies in my Medieval History Playlist: kzbin.info/aero/PLUyGT3KDxwC_Jh59Fp5aU5Fzj0oUXUkEJ

[@Boreasthenorthwind]

I’d love to see one about Edward the Black Prince.

[@DanDavisHistory]

Thank you - I love the early Hundred Years War era. The Crecy to Poitiers period is in my book Vampire Knight. The glory and success of the father and son ended in decline, illness, and ignominy which is quite the tragic story arc.

[@andydavis8437]

Yes Black Prince. Dan where is his legendary Black Armour kept today

[@C05597641]

Sounds like the elites back then were educated anf free enough to make up their own minds on how they felt about religion.

[@Nathaniel_F]

Genghis Khan.

[@sharonkaczorowski8690]

William Marshall himself had been a superstar knight. The combination of William and Richard must had scared the bejeesus out of their enemies.

[@iann23]

"Laws and customs don't mean anything, if those with the power choose to ignore them." still true a thousand years later.

[@ALegendthateatslunchatam]

Him jumping off a boat first and charged into Saladin's army during third crusade was truly unforgettable

[@Maher49]

very true , I was there when he took that jump and I remember that he farted when hit the ground.

[@SageSegsPaths]

It's true. Him jumping off the boat charging into Saladin's army was one of the all time. Truly a tale to be told for centuries.

[@escanor3699]

@@Maher49 that’s nice But Muhammad is pedo tho

[@ulfricstormcloak8241]

Very true. It was an honour for me to fight along with him that day ,and make it alive.

[@carywest9256]

So, are you a legend in your own mind? Just Wondering Aloud as lan Anderson sings on his masterpiece Aqualung.

[@chainmbl4257]

Imagine what Richard could have achieved if he had competent allies

[@justinaysien1204]

So munch indeed

[@fostersstubbyasmr9557]

Too much aha god had to nerf him

[@majorbob7211]

The guy died in a sad incident, he should have been a little more cautious

[@antoniofuller2331]

Strongest soldier. A God on the battlefield

[@internationalreceipes]

@@antoniofuller2331 Strong soldier, bad in governing his country

[@stevendepauw3742]

There is a saying in Dutch/Flemish "De beste stuurlui staan aan wal", this means that the "best and most insightful" people judge your from afar. Like in the comments, they always know better, yet have 0 knowledge or experience. But you made a great video as a response and i loved watching it ^.^

[@user-jx7pl9hp6i]

Oh baby I'm gonna get comfy with this one. You are the best history-based channel on youtube right now, Dan! Top content.

[@DanDavisHistory]

Wow, thank you very much, very kind of you. I hope you enjoy the video.

[@mambojambo4870]

Second that

[@DanDavisHistory]

Thank you!

[@funnyluck4132]

😎 kzbin.info/www/bejne/j3qQZZ9nr7Frl9U

[@lordtyrus1]

I am a voice actor by trade and I have to say I very much enjoy your narrations!

[@A.Warrior7]

Richard The Lionheart has always been my favourite King of England, thank you very much for such an amazing work

[@Kingedwardiii2003]

Mines Edward Longshanks

[@tooyoungtobeold8756]

Why? He was a truly rotten king.

[@Kingedwardiii2003]

@@tooyoungtobeold8756 says who “Braveheart”?

[@lionelhutz5137]

Edward I was certainly NOT a rotten king. Edward was a strong king who was a very capable military commander, a shrewd politician and possessed exceptional diplomatic skills.

[@entropytango5348]

A nice refreshing review of this amazing character, told in a great way. Glad you didn't follow the popular opinion. Richard wasn't perfect but he was a hero, let's remember that.

[@DanDavisHistory]

Thank you. I am going by the many excellent works of historian John Gillingham who uses primary sources - narrative accounts, official documents, contemporary songs etc - rather than the layers of legend that built up afterwards. He's written three books on Richard and one on the Angevin Empire and knows the actual history better than anyone.

[@SweetChicagoGator]

@@DanDavisHistory Touche for good historians, and novelists like yourself, Mr Dan. I thoroughly enjoy your history perspectives, the stories, the maps, & esp the character explanations of the families behind them. , really appreciate your detailed accounts overall. 💯

[@Suuusan28]

Lionheart is a legend, it´s not history. He was incredibly brutal even for his time. They didn´t fear him because he was courageous or brave but because he was merciless and cruel.

[@richardpaschal2218]

@@Suuusan28 If true he was only cruel and brutal then why did he reach out to Saladin several times to negotiate a peace upon arrival at Acre? It was Saladin who refused to negotiate. Richard had no choice than war. He was very good at war. Richard was also good at negotiation while conducting war. Very rare, especially by a person who led at the tip of the spear

[@antoniofuller2331]

@richardpaschal2218 rare to see a king who likes to fight at the front lines!!!!!!

[@akiraasmr3002]

“From the Devil we sprang, and to the Devil we shall return” - king Richard the Lionheart

[@stvincents2007]

Love this saying, we have evil at our door at this time, and to fight evil we must become evil

[@Charles-oo8bq]

Fire purifies

[@ariomannosyemo9090]

The time, effort, love, dedication and work you put into this documentary is commendable. Above and beyond. Well done.

[@DanDavisHistory]

Thank you very much.

[@conormcmenemie5126]

A person who decreed that the slaves working on a property could not be sold separately or removed from the property. They were like the roof tiles or other fixtures and fittings. Those slaves were the British people. You may as well be praising Hitler or Genghis Khan for their humanitarianism.

[@n1ppe]

@@conormcmenemie5126 This comment is praising this KZbinr for creating amazing content. I don't think that's the same as praising Hitler.

[@conormcmenemie5126]

@Charles Northwest Seriously - even when he had just died and had half fallen out of his bed, those lords present just bickered about splitting the spoils of conquest, leaving this supposed heroic venerate king half on the floor. Even today we use the expression 'a king''s ransom'. A fortune which had to be paid out, near bankrupting England. Those taxes blamed on his brother King John 1, used almost exclusively to get Dick 1 out of prison were used partly to build the sewers in Vienna, some of which are still in use. The Vieneese king obviously showing his contempt for Dick. Learn some history dude. Slava Ukraine and Scotland.

[@MelodyNelson1087]

His mother was an unbelievable woman.... It would be awesome to to a video on Her...

[@chrishaapala7997]

How have I not found this channel before? History is my favorite subject and this is by far one of the better history channels I've come across.

[@DanDavisHistory]

Thank you. Welcome to the channel.

[@Tw1zzl3rs]

I dont have any heroes, I don't worship any celebrities and could care less about politicians..... Richard Lionheart however will always be an inspiration, age 25 and took a castle thought to be impenetrable, Legend ♥

[@helenamcginty4920]

Not a patch on Alexander the Great. The Macedonian superhero. And all out bad man. (You dont get and keep all that power by being nice.) Assumed the thronevaged 21 and proceeded to conquer the rest of Greece. Aged 22 started in on the Persian empire. Moved East and by 30 had reached India. He died aged aged 32 in Babylon leaving a huge empire.

[@m.streicher8286]

What was I doing between the ages of 15 and 21? Well I wasn't receiving half the revenue from Aquitaine...

[@danielmartin7838]

If only two thumbs up were possible for this fantastic installment. You served the king well, bravo.

[@BahamutZero09]

A good documentary of Richard. There are some parts I wished you would discussed more but still better than most of the "History Channel's" documentaries. I was always under the impression that Richard was a great King and him going on the Crusade seems to solidify his status as a legendary figure. So eventually I read John Gillingham's Richard I and gave a more insight of his reign and more of a response to the critics of Richard and I'm convinced that it was ultimately John and Philip's collusion to sabotage the Empire and then Richard's imprisonment that destroyed the Angevin empire

[@majorbob7211]

I think that it was John's incompetence that lead to that. If he was serious and joined Otto in the battle of Bovines...they probably would have won and if they killed or captures Philip 2 August in that battle, it would have been almost GG as far as french opposition

[@InnerDness]

It probably had more to do with the overextension. There were too many powerful counts and dukes in what's now France that a king across the channel could never have had a hope to bring them all to heel. John was the unfortunate sod who happened to be on the throne when they were lost, and his lackluster performance didn't help, but if a mediocre king can't rule over those lands, they would have been lost eventually anyway

[@erisu69]

Your channel has become one of my absolute favourites for historical content. Your descriptions of historical figures getting carried along by the momentum of forces outside of their control is so compelling to me, and that tension between the will of individuals and the will of societies is so fascinating. Thanks for doing what you do!

[@DanDavisHistory]

Thank you so much, your comment has made my day.

[@victoriagreenfield5781]

Thank you for posting this and clarifying fact from fiction with Richard. I’ve always liked him but didn’t know nearly this much about him

[@memyself2589]

Richard is so fondly remembered because while he was the one that received the money from the taxes, it was John who the public saw, and blamed. If Richard had actually spent time in Britain, he would not be held in awe, or thought of so highly.

[@Suuusan28]

I agree with you. But John was horrible too.

[@misskate3815]

@@Suuusan28almost like picking a leader based on their dad’s hat has a tendency to lead to unfortunate consequences from time to time.

[@benbim540]

He is so revered because of things like this. Baha' al-Din, a contemporary Muslim soldier and biographer of Saladin, recorded a tribute to Richard's martial prowess at this battle: "I have been assured ... that on that day the king of England, lance in hand, rode along the whole length of our army from right to left, and not one of our soldiers left the ranks to attack him. The Sultan was wroth thereat and left the battlefield in anger.

[@thekraken4886]

Sounds like something John would say

[@HamSammichApex]

My eyes were glued to the screen and your telling of this epic conquest had me hanging on the edge of my seat! You painted a picture so thorough that I may as well have been watching a movie! I rarely find myself so enthralled with KZbin content so, stumbling across your channel has been quite the treat! Thank you for producing this impeccable content!

[@zufallig4377]

As for Richard I being the greatest King of England, he's not even better than his father much less the best King of England. Henry II was the man. He ended the anarchy that resulted from the war between Stephen and Mathilda, and limited the powers of the barons that happened as a result of that war. Henry II created the Angevin Empire, acquiring the lands that had the English king control more French territory than the French king. And most importantly, Henry II is the godfather of the English Common Law, which is still being used in the UK, Ireland and in every former English colony (the US, India, Australia, Canada, South Africa, etc.). As far as impact on the world's legal systems, this makes Henry II the only legit rival to Napoleon, whose Civil Code is practiced in a majority of the world's legal systems. But if Henry II is remembered for anything, it ends up being the murder of Thomas Beckett and not for his legal system. While I think all three Richards have been given undue hits to their reputation and while I think the Lionheart is the best of those three, Richard I does not come close to his father, or to Edward III for that matter.

[@fredbarker9201]

Great points, Henry II really is probably our greatest king in terms of influential (Edward I too) though Alfred the Great remains my personal favourite, and yes absolutely common law puts Henry II Plantagenet on par with likes of Justinian and Napoleon, which is crazy. Plus purely military achievements as king of England would have Edward III and Henry V at least on par with Richard Lionheart, if not ahead of him. Maybe Richard was the greatest actual tactician, but Ed III revolutionised warfare and made it law for commoners to practice for a number of hours each week with bows And Henry V gets further in a political gain of winning a campaign than both Richard I and Edward III - Treaty of Troyes. Perhaps Richard can be called the greatest warrior King in terms of not just generalship making tactics and manoeuvres but combining this with hand to hand personal combat too. He maybe was in the thick of it more than EdIII and Henry V

[@richardpaschal2218]

Henry's flaw he learned from his Mother: keep promising but don't fulfill. William Marshall broke his leg by accident rushing to England once Richard fulfilled his Father's promise and let William marry a rich heiress. Henry unnecessarily created a lot of strife in his family.

[@Ionabrodie69]

@richardpaschal2218 William Marshal the Greatest Knight, the blueprint for the eponymous knight on a charger … and what a life he led.. Kings Marshal to 4 kings ( if you include Henry lls son Henry ) and then Regent for Henry lll

[@LuizAlexPhoenix]

Yeah, Richard and his brothers threw away so much. It's truly a csse for why personal ownership of a state is truly awful. The princes stood to rule an empire and instead squabbled over each county.

[@Blisterdude123]

Yeah, I wish people could separate 'most legendary' king from, say, 'greatest' king. Richard III spent next to no time in England, and barely any more time in the Angevin holdings in France. He was off at war, or crusading, with little to no interest in actually ruling. So by any metric he was a pretty poor king. But for his acts of war and courage and suchlike...sure, he was absolutely deserving of being remembered.

[@josephlongbone4255]

History: "You fought without honor!" King Philip: "No... He did."

[@rkitchen1967]

Thank you for an appraisal of Richard from the perspective of his times.

[@bluenoteone]

Outstanding exposition of a great warrior king. It is a crime that there are so many "histories" that have been neglectfully, and some purposely, arranged which conceal the reality while feigning truthfulness.

[@sunnyshine762]

Your telling of the battle of Arsuf was the highlight for me in this amazing video. I was more immersed in that battle then I've felt watching blockbuster movie battles. Amazing story telling!

[@99IronDuke]

@Dan Davis Author Excellent video. Most, but not all, of Richard's Knights would have been Norman's, but vast majority of the English Crusaders, men at arms, etc would have been Anglo-Saxons and it was on the Third Crusade, under Richard the Lionheart, where English warriors first used the battle cry "St. George!" who was a ancient Roman soldier.

[@99IronDuke]

Also, the English, very largely Anglo-Saxon, myth of Robin Hood is pretty clear that 'Good King' Richard was mostly regarded as a good King by average Englishmen.

[@DanDavisHistory]

I have a short video on St George and also one on William of Cassingham who is sometimes called "the real robin hood". You might like them.

[@johnhickey4289]

99IronDuke but St George was Turkish, not Roman. George slayed the Dragon, the Dragon/Serpent was a symbol of knowledge throughout the rest of the world, so George destroyed knowledge, that’s why those early years are called the dark ages

[@mitch6212]

@@johnhickey4289 Anatolia at that time was populated largely if not totally by Greeks...it wasn't till after 1071 when you had Turks pouring in after the Byzantine defeat at Manzikert so at the time St George was born, he would almost certainly be Greek.

[@jacquesstrapp3219]

I thought I knew a great deal about Richard, but I learned more from this video than from all the books I have read. This is the best researched video about Richard by far. Well done Dan.

[@egilkarlson7253]

In Normandy, Richard was our last true powerful Duke. His heart is in our cathedral in ROUEN, with Rollo.

[@mrcool2107]

But Richard is from England . And normandy us from France

[@haslamabad_]

@@mrcool2107 the dukes of normandy eventually became king of england and kept normandy under english rule for generations

[@clement7652]

@@mrcool2107 Nop, Richard was angevin-french, he spoke french and occitan as his mother tongues and he did not even speak english, he spent the majority of his life in France, he composed his songs in old french not in english...

[@mrcool2107]

@@clement7652 no u wrong . He is born in England . Yes he spoke French but he also spoke English as well

[@clement7652]

@@mrcool2107 born in England =/= to be English No, he never spoke english or mastered the language of his life and he did not care at court we spoke old french and occitan not english which was the language of the third estate.

[@jacquelinedeigan776]

Always loved King Richard..Great King Great warrior..Fair and Just Law Giver. Soldier..poet ..and so much more. Everything a Medieval King should be. A true Legend and rightly so.

[@vincencures]

That was ... hmm ... unexpected. I did expect +1 "Richard was a really bad king" video. Even bigger surprise is that You have managed to change my views - pretty much 180° - I founded on dozens other documentaries made before Your´s. Very well made, 10/10. Thank You.

[@davidd6171]

Wonderful video Dan! Your comment at 10:34 about fitness had me laughing pretty hard given the photo that accompanied it! Keep up the great work!

[@Shoshana-xh6hc]

This is a phenomenal production, truly bringing Richard Coeur de Lion to life and correcting any misperceptions(?) I am surprised no company has snapped you up. Wonderful research ❤🦁

[@AASN19]

Nice work Dan. Could you make a piece about his mother ? I'm fascinated with Eleanor.

[@maralene1411]

Love her!

[@carywest9256]

Alright now, she's nothing but dust!

[@jeanpierrebianco5444]

You can be fascinated by this wife, one of the most clever and independant women of the history. Alienor d’Aquitaine is still quite well knone in South west of France (Aquitaine).

[@5amH45lam]

Oh man, this is superb content! Fantastic structure, with a great use of quotes etc. Fabulous tension-building and truly evocative descriptions. And to top it, you're an awesome narrator. This is brilliant, it really is! Thank you for sharing your knowledge and endeavours. It's greatly appreciated. 👍

[@hdwarrior8830]

How sad is it that when I think of Henry II I think of Peter O'Toole without fail? While I enjoyed "The Lion in Winter" and "Beckett" I never looked to them for any historical accuracy about the interpersonal dealings and am pleased to find your account which brings it all together with facts and not fancies. Thank you.

[@Boreasthenorthwind]

Great job, your channel has quickly become one of my favorites and has given me lots of questions to ask while I’m pursuing my degrees in Archaeology and History.

[@DanDavisHistory]

Thank you so much, I really appreciate it.

[@fidelogos7098]

Good luck with your degrees. Good choices!

[@russcattell955i]

I live near Lusignan, SW of Poitiers. Richard the Lion Heart is still big in the history here. There is a tourist route through Nouvelle-Aquitaine named "Route de Coeur de Lion"

[@treaty92]

I would love to see it

[@algallontheobserver3780]

Love your videos, been listening to them while doing my morning work outs for the past few days. Keep up the good work brother!

[@diegolatruwe6444]

Great video! Told as a riveting story, with relevant, detailed and interesting visuals. Thank you for this beautiful work.

[@luigivincenz3843]

27:13 "he would sell London if he could find a buyer" (CAPTION: Who Wouldn't). The sequence about "top quality wife" at 25:16 with William Marshall was a good one. King Richard and William Marshall sure had really interesting encounters.

[@edwardealdseaxe5253]

Thanks for all the work you put into your content. It's one of my most anticipated subs here, and I hope you continue to produce.

[@DanDavisHistory]

Thanks, I appreciate it. I certainly will!

[@RamZar50]

I’d always go with King Alfred the Great and his grandson King Athelstan who was the first king of a united England in early 10th Century CE. It all started in the Kingdom of Wessex and illustrated well in “The Last Kingdom” TV series based on the books by Bernard Cornwell.

[@alancoe1002]

A far better case.

[@christos49]

Wow what a great video, loved every bit. I watched this while drawing and writing my own medieval illuminated manuscript of King Richards loyal crusader officer Robert de Sable, so the video was really entertaining to listen to while doing that.

[@DanDavisHistory]

Awesome, thank you very much.

[@fhbaynes]

What a superb piece of history you have made here. Thanks so much for sharing this with us.

[@kimberlypatton9634]

I'm so excited to find this channel! Immediately subbed after the first few minutes! I can't wait to binge watch as many of your videos as I can today!

[@DanDavisHistory]

Thanks Kimberly, I'm very glad you found the channel. I hope you enjoy the videos.

[@thomassugg5621]

Half an hour into the video and I will say it’s great, very informative and well made. Plus this time in history is one of my favourites.

[@DanDavisHistory]

Thank you! I'm glad you think so. I love the high medieval period too.

[@nickharmer3049]

Outstanding research & delivery. Really good work. Much appreciated. Bless up 👊

[@cherimolina2121]

Really enjoyed the content in this history piece. Great job!

[@cernunos8153]

Woah! 70+ minute video from Dan - I know how I’m going to unwind tonight after work. Can’t wait to dive into this one

[@DanDavisHistory]

Nice one. I hope you enjoy the epic story, sir.

[@jessiepyles2423]

What I really appreciate about each of your videos, sir, is the ability to put you into the 'character' and the drama of the historical events. Fortune favor you and God bless.

[@jessiepyles2423]

Not to mention the humorous edits, timed well to photos and images and written word, make for much shared entertainment. I hope other history tellers take a lesson from you.

[@DanDavisHistory]

Thank you very much Jessie

[@yehonathan]

One of the best docs about a great historical character that, I don't know how or why, are painted as villain or unable, something between as well.. Thank you so much

[@sheilahorn8913]

Thanks! Enjoyed this one,and the other docs from Dan Davis History too.

[@luxo117]

By far the best documentary about Richard out there.

[@manofgod1910]

Very good documentary Dan. Richard the lionheart is one of my heroes. I’ve read John Gillingham’s excellent book on the life of King Richard. According to that book, he conquered Messina in one day and subdued the land of Cyprus in two weeks. I’ve heard that there was some evidence of unfaithfulness to Berengaria, but I was not aware that it was on the kind of scale that you mention. I thought that he had actually been cautioned by a member of the clergy regarding his sexual conduct, and had then repented of his actions. As you touch on, I do believe that it was a moment of arrogance/recklessness that cost him not only his life, but also victory against France. According to sources, since his release from captivity, Richard had taken more castles from Philip by siege and assault than he had lost to Philip by deceit and treachery [Coggeshall]. Richard was also a good deal richer, both in lands and money, than the king of France [Anonymous of Bethune]. Three historians agree that Richard was increasing in power and prosperity [Coggeshall, 76-7; Newburgh, Bk 5, ch. 31-32; Ambroise, 12, 333-40]. He was also so aggressive in the pursuit of his enemies that he even threatened Paris itself. The fact remains that King Richard was winning the war against King Philip, and if it hadn’t have been for his untimely passing, there can be little doubt that he would have eventually conquered a very large area of France and may well have even captured the treacherous and cowardly King Philip of France. And to the clueless critics of King Richard, judged by the standards of his own times and own class of knightly rulers and warriors, Richard was indeed a fine monarch and a very great man, for he exemplified virtues which they most admired and for them his vices and failings lay in areas of minor importance.

[@internationalreceipes]

But for the normal people living in England, he was not really a great leader... Like so many others as well

[@AsthmaBreather]

How is phillip treacherous and cowardly? He is one of the greatest french kings ever

[@NOMAD-qp3dd]

You are such a good teacher and your voice is pure gold. 👏👏👏

[@grandmastersreaction1267]

This was amazing. I look forward to one day sitting down with my kids and sharing your videos with them.

[@ProfessionalHunt]

Good work my man, honestly one of the best takes on this on youtube wow

[@andersaxmark5871]

Excellent content, and good to see that subscriber count increasing!

[@DanDavisHistory]

Thank you Anders, I appreciate it.

[@YouknowwhereHughgo]

That was a great video! Thank You!

[@benmcseveny7067]

A masterwork with rich and unique analysis, as always. Good job Dan.

[@DanDavisHistory]

Thank you, my friend 🙏

[@biggoldnugget]

Personally, I have a deep admiration for Richard the LionHeart.

[@Rosedawn321]

Thank you for sharing this. Your efforts have redeemed Richard I in my eyes. It’s nice to have real heroes to admire! I actually was on a Danube cruise last year and we saw the castle where he was held prisoner. We toured the village nearby and the inn/tavern there was called “Blondel” after Richard’ s minstrel who finally located where he was held.

[@Suuusan28]

It is nice to have real heros but Richard isn´t one of them.

[@antoniofuller2331]

@Suuusan28 Richard is a hero tho

[@snook279]

Thank you for the video and information on Richard. He has always been my favorite and you only increased that love.

[@harryhughes6124]

This has actually really helped with my history GCSE exam next week - thank you for the effort you've put in this video

[@celtofcanaanesurix2245]

some people just don't like heroes, they think that heroes can't exist because they could never be one, and thus they try to tell you why they weren't heroes to make themselves feel better out of jealousy

[@DanDavisHistory]

I think you're right, some people are like that.

[@trey9775]

Or maybe they choose not to glorify the genocide quintessential to western culture

[@mikobizzle5880]

i think thats a little simplistic. Richard critics acknowledge his martial achievements but just state that what characteristics mightve been what made him a great king are modernly looked at less favorably. I also think that its true he didnt care about england that much and wouldve been very happy to justve been duke of aquitane

[@tsurumichan]

Spot on, plus critisizing those who have gone the will and abilities of others, the imperfections, somehow helps pathetic people feel they themselves are better, because they have modern/progressive ideas, giving them a delusional sense of great worth, better than a conquering, battle hardened monarchs.

[@naughtywizard]

@@mikobizzle5880 Todays standards would have him flayed for refusing to use pronouns. Who cares about modern perspective.

[@TheSpanishInquisition87]

Another great video! I don't think anyone could ever argue that Richard wasn't a great warrior. As you pointed out, even the Islamic sources are respectful of his martial prowess. I still remain unconvinced of his being a great King. He never seems to care anything about England or the English except as a source of funding for his personal glory. No doubt he was popular among his subjects. I too would probably follow him to the gates of hell, but his absence allowed French invasion, and empowered John to become one of the most hated figures in British history. BTW Excellent job at sound editing. My heart was racing during the battle scenes.

[@DanDavisHistory]

Thank you very much! Wonderful to hear that.

[@forickgrimaldus8301]

I mean if anything reading about how he fought in the 3rd Crusade he made more right choices than Saladin who was too cautious and too hesitant, while Richard did the best he could from the situation and was more strategic about it. While not as bad as a King as some might see him (he did temporarily made peace with France because of the Crusades and was also an ok politician) he isn't a Great one either (running the economy to the ground because of his ransom and wars.)

[@cambyses1529]

@@forickgrimaldus8301 I think its because he died relatively young though that we don't see him as greater.

[@forickgrimaldus8301]

@@erikmacleod9934 also they usually administrated their own lands people forget Feudalism and how it works and think its the British Empire. They had to administrat their own lands because the lords weren't necessarily loyal to them.

[@oldgreybeard2507]

@@forickgrimaldus8301 Saladin spent much of that period crapping through the eye of a needle. That must take a toll

[@ulysesjoos6628]

Amazing documentary my friend. thank you deeply for sharing.

[@stephenconnolly3018]

Very entertaining, well researched and well narrated.

[@KernowekTim]

If Richard was born in England then he was definitely English, especially if he was crowned in Westminster Abbey. A superb historical documentary in all facets. Many thanks.

[@yberai]

haha reality is hard to hear the best of all english kings is actually french🤣

[@nomorecope]

Brilliant video. As for the legacy of Richard, the reason he is likely given a bad reputation is because society is currently in the hands of the King John/Phillip II archetypes and they despise heroic figures like Richard I. The "visceral scorn" you speak of exemplifies this perfectly, its not simply a criticism or counter-argument of Richard I, it is a true spiritual hatred of the heroic/warrior class which the schemer/politician always has.

[@StaalBurgher0]

Very true!

[@ggdumptruck]

Bluntly he kicked out the Jews and the Jews now have narrative control

[@celestebredin6213]

👏👍 Thorough research . You keep the story marching briskly, capturing all the information and making your audience keep up . Hot to trot 🏆

[@Lee1978R]

I enjoyed this so much thank you for a great watch 👍🏻👍🏻

[@magnafrisia3787]

You're a great storyteller Mr Davis! Definitely time to buy one of your books.

[@johnhagemeyer8578]

Wow great job, I liked the time. You were able to get across much more information and detail. Thank you for another great Video.

[@DanDavisHistory]

Thank you, that's good to know. I cut out all of his alliance making and politicking and relationships and most of his sieges and skirmishes and it was still so long. I'm glad you enjoyed it.

[@hadrianwall9157]

I can't say where all those people were led astray regarding King Richard's rule and legacy. I've seen my share of docs and such on the man but I'm far from knowledgeable on the matter. This is the best one I've seen and I definitely learned a lot more than the rest I've seen.

[@user-xt3cc1vz6o]

Nice video. It was really fascinating, just learned a lot about the legendary Richard.

[@susanwozniak6354]

Are you certain Henry had Richard declared Duke? His mother did that. She also had him symbolically married to St Valerie, the patron saint of Aquitaine, who, here, was much like the Irish Sovereignty Goddess. Richard wore the ring of St Valerie for the rest of his life.

[@DanDavisHistory]

Yes Henry decided what each of his sons would get and that's why they - and Eleanor - repeatedly rebelled against him. Of course Eleanor was closely involved with Aquitaine because it was her ancestral land.

[@htoodoh5770]

Symbolic marriage? How does that work?

[@susanwozniak6354]

@@htoodoh5770 Have you heard of the Sovereignty Goddess? In Celtic lands, the Sovereignty Goddess grants the king the right to rule. Often, she first appears to the candidate for kingship as an ugly crone. She usually gives him a drink -- generally that drink is mead but it can be water -- and then asks him for sexual favors. She will remain with him as long as he is just. If he commits an unjust act, she leaves him and his land ceases to flourish. You may know her as the woman in the story told by the Wife of Bath in Chaucer's Canterbury Tales. She is also the loathly lady (a Stith Thompson tale type) in Steeleye Span's song (one of the Child Ballads) of King Henry. Now, notice I wrote the "bride's" name as St. Valerie and not as Duchess Valerie or some other title. As the developing church spread across Europe some of the local mythic personages and gods became saints. Valerie was the goddess in charge of Aquitaine who became the patron saint of Aquitaine. Since she was the territorial goddess, marrying her to the candidate to rule, follows the path of the Sovereignty Goddess. However, clearly there was no flesh and blood woman. Richard was wed to an ideal and given the ring of St. Valerie, which he wore for the rest of his life, most likely as a talisman. France was a Celtic land before the Romans conquered it.

[@richardpaschal2218]

@@DanDavisHistory Alienor was quite unhappy as the years went on with Henry meddling in her lands and with her vassals.

[@galatzy01]

@@DanDavisHistory Not only Aquitaine and Poitou were her ancestral lands but they were her properties, Henry who was merely a consort overthere couldn't have given those lands without Eleanor's agreement, so technically Susan is right, it's Eleanor only who could declare Richard as the next duke of Aquitaine.

[@rizmacadillac]

Richard the Lionheart is extremely impressive. He is really doing something with his life and it makes me ask a serious question about what I am doing with mine. God thank those men who have truly shaped and improved the world.

[@TheLosrodri]

All around Incredible production- Captivating, moving, educational...remarkable

[@DanDavisHistory]

Thank you very much.

[@sm0kybluedaze394]

Excellent documentary!!! Very well done!!!!

[@topskek9786]

Cruel and wrathful but also physically brave and chivalric. An interesting character to be sure

[@katjack2780]

I'm very glad I came across your video. I was going to skip it because I thought I knew about Richard, but the question in the title grabbed my interest. You provide the small details that really fill in the overall picture and investigate the usual assumptions to prove them wrong. I can now look upon him as a real hero and so be proud he is my many times over great uncle. (Of course, that means that so is John:)). My ancestors are descended from their sister Eleanor.

[@davebowman9000]

A beautiful video! Love your defense of King Richard at the end. Hope you get to do one of Saladin some time soon!

[@rodneymeadows7658]

You have a wonderful channel, with superb content; I salute you, Sir !

[@GaryYork-tk2ow]

I've always admired Richard, and I wish I could have ridden with him into battle.🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

[@WitchofSeacroft]

Fantastic video. Would love to hear your telling of the full William Marshal story.

[@psicologamarcelacollado5863]

Beautifully done! Thank you!

[@luiszuluaga6575]

Really meaty stuff. Thanks for a great presentation. 😃⚔️

[@basilbrushbooshieboosh5302]

Great story Dan. Glad to have an honest and well researched persons account, which is who I consider you are. Thanks. Michael

[@DanDavisHistory]

Thank you very much, I appreciate it.

[@elizabethford7263]

Richard's personal descriptions remind me greatly of Henry VIII, with the exception of the attempts to overthrow his father.

[@benjackson91]

Nah Richard was a much more competent soldier

[@benjackson91]

@ben esterberg nah neither gave a shit really mate Richard loved the Aquitane more than England and spent most of his life in France And Henry only cared about himself letting competent middle class lawyers run his kingdom

[@victoriahhigman9611]

I love your version. I’ve heard others and yours fits those. Well done from a person who is not an historian but I can tell a good version when I see it

[@anikidshenanigans3129]

Well done

[@zufallig4377]

33:10 - "Do you know who this is?" I sure do. That is Maj. Richard Winters, commanding officer of Easy Company, 2nd Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division. Another Richard who had the love of the soldiers under him.

[@DanDavisHistory]

Nice work! You're the first commenter to say so. Exactly so.

[@zufallig4377]

I scrolled through the comments before posting it, figuring that someone had to have pointed it out before now. Guess I lost the "geek check". haha.

[@stvincents2007]

@@zufallig4377 hi I’m please for give me for my lack of knowledge so could you please elaborate on your statement

[@kathymetzger5862]

I never knew this much about Richard the Lionheart . He is a very interesting person in history thanks for making a Documentary about this man

[@michellegroves2684]

Thank you so much for making this I really enjoyed it. Will def read the first crusade book

[@quandaledingle113]

I remember watching a video before that claimed Richard was just an a-hole and not a good king, but this was far more convincing. Well done, I love your documentaries.

[@seanwhelan879]

Have to say I love history but your books Dan are really what I want history to be and I see the history in your books , you really put us reader's in the time, I know you fabricate you don't deny that but it's fantastic and the reader wants to know more, thanks very much for this channel and keep writing mate because you're work is brilliant. You make history enjoyable and exciting. Congratulations . Superb

[@DanDavisHistory]

Thanks Sean, I really appreciate that because that's exactly what I try to do with my stories. I like telling stories on this channel and reaching new people but I will always love writing novels and will never stop. Writing novels takes months, though.

[@seanwhelan879]

I know it's hard work but you make so many people happy and that's nearly Impossible , so it's hard for you but how hard without you for us Dan, your channel is growing very nicely. Tell the subscribers about your books , they don't know, i got them unbelievable. I'm more intrigued now about European history than ever. Now probably outside your scope but I love Native American history , just a seed, there history not what we say is there history, maybe your history of them 🤣🤣.

[@DanDavisHistory]

I love Native American history too Sean but I'm not knowledgeable enough about it yet. I have been watching the Ancient Americas channel and reading some bits and pieces. I was most familiar with the famous central and south american civilisations but I've been learning more about the north American peoples. It's an incredibly diverse and rich history - there's so much to learn. The Immortal Knight Chronicles will reach America soon (again - I already went there in Vampire Armada). I want to send my immortal knight into the interior to meet more native peoples. I'm looking forward to it.

[@kieranpopovski-jones1823]

Oooh yes, love these long videos mate!

[@DanDavisHistory]

Awesome!

[@tonnywildweasel8138]

Informative, intresting, another great vid, sir! Thanks, enjoyed it very much. Greetings, T.

[@DanDavisHistory]

Thanks very much, glad you enjoyed it.