Richard sets out on the third crusade
07/1190 AD departed
Richard finally set out on the crusade in summer 1190, after repositioning the part of his army he left behind to guard his French possessions,
His delay was criticized by troubadours such as Bertran de Born, but he needed to raise funds and make arrangements before leaving.
After Richard became king, he and Philip agreed to go on the Third Crusade, since each feared that during his absence the other might usurp his territories.
Richard swore an oath to renounce his past wickedness in order to show himself worthy to take the cross. He started to raise and equip a new crusader army. He spent most of his father's treasury (filled with money raised by the Saladin tithe), raised taxes, and even agreed to free King William I of Scotland from his oath of subservience to Richard in exchange for 10,000 marks (£6,500).
To raise still more revenue he sold the right to hold official positions, lands, and other privileges to those interested in them.
Those already appointed were forced to pay huge sums to retain their posts. William Longchamp, Bishop of Ely and the King's chancellor, made a show of bidding £3,000 to remain as Chancellor. He was apparently outbid by a certain Reginald the Italian, but that bid was refused.
Richard also reconfirmed his father's appointment of William Fitz Ralph to the important post of seneschal of Normandy.
In Anjou, Stephen of Tours was replaced as seneschal and temporarily imprisoned for fiscal mismanagement. Payn de Rochefort, an Angevin knight, became seneschal of Anjou. In Poitou the ex-provost of Benon, Peter Bertin, was made seneschal, and finally, the household official Helie de La Celle was picked for the seneschalship in Gascony.
Subjects Who or What departed?
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Richard I of England (the Lionheart) King of England 11...
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