Why Was Richard the Lionheart Important in the Crusades?
In the Crusades, Richard the Lionheart was important because he helped the crusaders take possession of Joppa due to his victory at Arsuf and came close to taking possession of Jerusalem. He was determined to fight in the Third Crusade and financed his fight by selling offices and sheriffdoms before he left for the Holy Land in 1190.
The Saladin was not able to defeat Richard the Lionheart’s armies and as a result, they lost most of their conquered territory. Saladin was the Muslim military leader in charge of the Islamic forces in the crusades. The King of England, Richard I, was the Lionheart and did negotiate with Saladin to allow the Islamic forces to maintain control of the city of Jerusalem.
King Richard I was born on September 8, 1157, to Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine. From a young age, it was known that he had military ability and political knowledge, however, he fought with his father constantly. Along with his brothers, Richard I fought his father, which played a role in his premature death. Although he was the King of England for 10 years, he only spent a mere 6 months in England due to his fighting in the Crusades.
