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Richard I. Löwenherz
© Copyright Richard Lionheart, engraving, 18th century Richard I (Lionheart; also: Coeur de Lion), b. Oxford (United Kingdom), Sept. 8, 1157, d. Chalus (Haute-Vienne, France), April 6, 1199, King of England. one of the leading figures in the third crusade, conquered Cyprus in May 1191, led the conquest of Acre on July 12, 1191 where he clashed with the Austrian Duke Leopold V. On his way back from the crusade was taken prisoner in Erdberg near Vienna on Dec. 21/22, 1192 and kept hostage at Dürnstein Castle until March 1193. was then handed over to emperor Heinrich VI, kept prisoner at Trifels Castle (Germany) until Feb. 4, 1194 and released on payment of a large ransom. Duke Leopold V spent his share on the expansion of Vienna (especially on fortifications) and other places and on the construction of Wiener Neustadt; the Austrian Mint (Münze Österreich AG) is also believed to originate from the ransom money. Literature: B. B. Broughton, The Legends of King R. I., 1966; U. Kessler, Richard I. Löwenherz. König, Kreuzritter, Abenteurer, 1995.
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