"Love him or hate him, it's hard to take one step into the medieval world without running into the larger-than-life figure of Richard the Lionheart. Rebel, crusader, prisoner, castle-builder Richard is one of the most colourful and quotable kings of the Middle Ages. This week, Danièle speaks with Heather Blurton about how Richard's contemporaries saw him, the wild stories told about him in the later Middle Ages, and why we still just can't get enough of this controversial king."
"Heather Blurton is Professor of English at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Heather's new book is Richard the Lionheart: In Life and in Legend The creator and host of The Medieval Podcast is Danièle Cybulskie. Click here to visit her website or follow her on BlueSky @5minmedievalist.bsky.social."
Richard the Lionheart embodied multiple roles: rebel, crusader, prisoner, and castle-builder. Contemporary observers recorded polarized and vivid impressions of his character and deeds. Later medieval traditions amplified his exploits into wild and often contradictory stories and legends. The combination of documented actions and imaginative retellings produced a colourful, quotable, and controversial royal persona. Popular fascination with Richard endures because of the dramatic tension between historical record and legendary embellishment. Ongoing interest spans public audiences and scholars who investigate how perception, mythmaking, and memory shaped his lasting reputation.
Read at Medievalists.net
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