Introduction
During the Third Crusade in 1189-1192, Richard I of England offended Philip II of France by jilting his sister Alys, and quarrelled with Leopold of Austria. He tried to come home incognito, but in December 1192 he was spotted at Vienna, arrested on various charges including murder, and hauled up before Henry VI, the Holy Roman Emperor.
RICHARD was brought before the German legislature, charged with the foregoing crimes, and many others.* But he defended himself so well, that many of the assembly were moved to tears by his eloquence and earnestness. It was decided that he should be treated, during the rest of his captivity, in a manner more becoming his dignity than he had been,* and that he should be set free on the payment of a heavy ransom.* This ransom the English people willingly raised.
When Queen Eleanor took it over to Germany,* it was at first evaded and refused. But she appealed to the honour of all the princes of the German Empire in behalf of her son, and appealed so well that it was accepted, and the King released. Thereupon, the King of France wrote to Prince John — ‘Take care of thyself. The devil is unchained!’
Richard was accused of procuring the assassination of Leopold of Austria’s cousin Conrad of Montferrat, whom Richard had grudgingly recognised as King of Jerusalem a short time before. In addition, he disappointed Philip II of France by marrying Berengaria of Navarre rather than Philip’s sister Alys, though Alys had been a ward of Richard’s father Henry II for twenty years and Richard was officially betrothed to her. He angered Leopold by deposing his relative Isaac Komnenos, ruler of Cyprus, and by throwing Leopold’s banner at the Battle of Acre into the moat on the grounds that Leopold was an inferior. And he annoyed them both by selling Cyprus to his friend Guy of Lusignan, rather than sharing it with his allies.
Henry VI, Holy Roman Emperor, was in need of funds to help him advance his claims over southern Italy, and was angry with Richard for recognising King Tancred in Sicily. He was also annoyed at Richard’s support for Henry the Lion, Henry VI’s cousin and Richard’s brother-in-law, who had refused to support his campaigns in Lombardy. The ransom price was 150,000 marks (100,000 pounds of silver), more than twice the Crown’s annual income.
Eleanor of Aquitaine, widow of King Henry II of England, and the mother of both Richard and John.
Précis
On his way back from the Third Crusade, King Richard the Lionheart was kidnapped by a former ally, Leopold of Austria, and ransomed back to the people of England. When he was released King Philip II of France wrote urgently to Richard’s brother John, who had been conspiring to steal Richard’s crown, to warn him. (55 / 60 words)
On his way back from the Third Crusade, King Richard the Lionheart was kidnapped by a former ally, Leopold of Austria, and ransomed back to the people of England. When he was released King Philip II of France wrote urgently to Richard’s brother John, who had been conspiring to steal Richard’s crown, to warn him.
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Variations: 1.increase the length of this precis to exactly 60 words. 2.reduce the length of this precis to exactly 50 words. 3.introduce one of the following words into the precis: although, despite, may, must, otherwise, ought, unless, whether.
Word Games
Sevens Based on this passage
Suggest answers to this question. See if you can limit one answer to exactly seven words.
What sentence did Henry VI and the German government pass on Richard?
Variations: 1.expand your answer to exactly fourteen words. 2.expand your answer further, to exactly twenty-one words. 3.include one of the following words in your answer: if, but, despite, because, (al)though, unless.
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