Famous Men of the Middle Ages · Ch. XXI, part 2 · Unit 7: The Crusades
29. Richard the Lion-Hearted and King John
Goal: Your child can tell Richard's adventures on the Crusade and on the way home, and explain what Magna Carta was.
You'll need
- The book, open to this chapter
- A map or globe showing Europe, the Middle East and Asia (a free online map works)
- Paper and colored pencils
- Your timeline strip (see the tips at the top)
What's in the book
Chapter XXI, sections II to IV (1189-1216): Richard I, Coeur de Lion, goes on Crusade with Philip of France in 1191, leads the capture of Acre, matches Saladin in knightly deeds, and makes a truce letting Christians visit Jerusalem. Shipwrecked on the way home, he is taken prisoner by Duke Leopold of Austria; the legend of the minstrel Blondel; England pays his ransom. John seizes the throne from his nephew Arthur, loses Normandy, and in 1215 is forced by his barons to sign Magna Carta at Runnymede.
The lesson, step by step
Set the scene
Find Acre on the coast north of Jerusalem. Then find Vienna in Austria, where Richard was captured. Then find Runnymede, a meadow by the Thames near London.
Read the chapter
Read from section II to the end of the chapter. It begins:
Henry's eldest surviving son, Richard, was crowned at Westminster Abbey in 1190.
Heads-up: section IV says John ordered young Arthur's eyes put out (the jailor spared him) and later murdered him. Read ahead and soften it for a younger child.
Tell it back
Prompts:
- Why was Richard called Coeur de Lion?
- How did Richard and Saladin treat each other?
- How was Richard caught, and how was he set free?
- What did the barons make John do at Runnymede?
Knights and chivalry
Read this:
Arise, Sir Knight.
Act it out: your child kneels, and you touch each shoulder lightly with a ruler or wooden spoon. Say: This touch is called the accolade. Knights are still made this way in Britain today.
Legend or history?
The book itself says the story of Blondel, the minstrel who found Richard by singing his song, is probably not true. Ask: Why do you think people liked the story anyway?
Magna Carta
Read this:
Magna Carta is the most valuable charter ever granted by any sovereign to his people.
SayMagna Carta means Great Charter. It said that even the king must obey the law. The book adds that for breaking this promise "one English king lost his life and another lost the American colonies." It probably means Charles I and George III. American colonists later pointed to rights like these.
Remember it
Add to the timeline: "1191 Richard on Crusade" and "1215 Magna Carta."
Afterwards
Ask: What is Magna Carta, and why does it matter to Americans too?
Tip
The book has Richard crowned in 1190; many history books give 1189. Either is close enough for a timeline.
Answers to the book's problems
He was so brave; Coeur de Lion means lion-hearted. They were the two great champions of their sides and vied with each other in knightly deeds. He was recognized by a costly ring while crossing Austria in disguise and taken prisoner by Leopold; England paid a large ransom. They forced him to sign Magna Carta, the Great Charter, promising to respect the rights of his subjects.
Worked out for this site from the scan. If a number in your copy differs, trust the book.