Richard the Lionheart

Rating:
Summary: Gillingham did much to revive the image of the Crusader King
Review: Though somewhat dated John Gillingham's treatment of the famous or infamous (depending on your viewpoint) revived image of one of the most famous and sometimes obscure English Kings, Richard I (r. 1189-1199). Gillingham's book engages from the start as it attempts to reconstruct the circumstances around the famous Warrior-King's death. The author realized that the circumstances surrounding Richard's death were and are to a good degree an intricate part of his detractor's criticism of the Lionheart being negligent with concern to his kingdom. Gillingham convinces his readers that Richard was on important business, putting down revolts in his continental possessions. Gillingham made more use of diverse sources than any historian before him. The author pointed out with effect that Richard's obligations reached well beyond England and that by 12th century standards, Richard was an ideal king. However, Gillingham does strain to justify Richard's occasional acts of cruelty such as the massacre at Acre. One also wonders about the extensive energy used to dispell the myth of Richard's homosexuality. Gillingham does expose the lack of evidence concerning this apparently 20th century interpretation. However, what does Richard I's sexual preferences have to do with his abilities or failures? Still, Gillingham does give us a clear and believable portrait, albeit somewhat idealized.