The Great War Begins
The year 1193 began with Count John arriving in Paris, where he paid homage for Richard’s lands, including, it was said, for England. John then returned to England claiming that Richard was dead and that the crown should pass to him. That last point was easily dismissed, since Richard’s ministers and his mother, the indomitable Eleanor of Aquitaine, had already learned Richard was alive and in captivity by order of Henry VI in Germany.

With Richard technically back from crusade, Philip struck into the Vexin. The pattern that the war would take was one of mercenary bodies and armies of varying size (none exceptionally large by modern standards) fighting sieges and at times skirmishes. At that time, battle was considered a risky business: Pillage, destruction and fast movement creating maximum disorder through the enemy’s lands was the preferred means of warfare. The Chanson des Lorrains vividly records how an army on the march conducted war at that time: Out in front are the scouts and incendiaries…the incendiaries set the villages on fire and the foragers visit and sack them. The terrified inhabitants are either burned or led away with their hands tied to be held for ransom.

Philip’s first target was the imposing castle of Gisors, described by some as the key to the region. Gisors’ castellan was Gilbert de Vascoeuil, who owned land in both the king of England’s and the king of France’s territories. Rather than defend that mighty fortress, Gilbert meekly surrendered. English chroniclers pointed to foul play, and the complete ease with which Philip won this strategically vital castle suggests that such may indeed have been the case.

Moving on from Gisors, Philip stormed into Normandy, reaching as far as Dieppe. In payment for his treachery, John was given Evreux. Philip’s army, joined by a large contingent of men led by Count Baldwin of Flanders, then laid siege to the ducal capital of Normandy, Rouen. There, he was halted at the last moment by Earl Robert of Leicester, who injected much-needed vigor and organization into the city’s defense. At one point Philip, believing success was within his grasp, offered the defenders a chance to surrender. They replied that, on his own, the French king could enter Rouen any time he liked. It was a none-too-subtle trap, of course, and more likely a calculated insult. Enraged that he had been thwarted from taking the jewel of Normandy, Philip moved on to seek easier pickings.

At Mantes on July 9, Philip came to terms with Richard’s ministers — the French king could keep his gains and would be given some extra territories if he halted operations then and there. If Richard wanted those possessions back, he would have to pay 20,000 marks and pay homage to Philip.

Improbable as it was that Richard would stoop that low, he could not respond in any way while he was still in captivity, where Philip and John, wanting time to consolidate their gains and to prepare for the next campaign, preferred he remain. They tried desperately to bribe Henry VI with hefty promises of cash to detain Richard longer, or even hand him over to them. But while Henry was no friend of Richard, the latter had impressed many at the German court with his eloquence and reputation. During his captivity Richard had built strong relations with many lords, princes and ruling clergymen in the Lower Rhineland, and this powerful faction was a key influence on Henry’s rejection of Philip and John’s advances.

Subscribe Today

• Did you enjoy our article?
• Read more in Military History magazine
• Subscribe online and save nearly 40%!!!
 

The Lion Uncaged
On February 4, 1194, Richard was released after Angevin wealth paid off the ransom demand, settled at 100,000 marks, to be followed by another payment of 50,000 marks that would secure the release of additional hostages. Richard was also forced to pay Henry homage for England, although that embarrassing arrangement was downplayed in Angevin circles.

Instead of racing back to his own lands, Richard went to Cologne to cement his German diplomatic ties — in the future they would become an important weight with which to pressure Philip. By March 13, Richard was back in England, where he swiftly reasserted his authority over the kingdom.

Richard began a resale of English lands, titles and positions that had been put on the market before he went on crusade. He would need a large amount of disposable cash for the coming war with Philip, and he’d need it quickly. But Richard did not, as many historians have claimed, simply sell to the highest bidder. He was careful to grant the positions to trusted and efficient men. The English king knew that stable finances and steady supplies are the fuel of successful campaigning.

Richard met William of Scotland on April 4, and the two kings remained in each other’s company until William went north on April 22. Days before, on April 17, Richard was crowned for a second time, at Winchester, to underline his rightful position as monarch. By May 12, Richard had set sail for Normandy with a large fleet estimated at 300 ships. In the space of a few extraordinary months the Lionheart had returned to his kingdom, stamped it again with his authority and organized an army to take with him to war against Philip. This would have been impossible to do if England had been the impoverished and disordered kingdom that some historians have depicted.

Help HistoryNet by bookmarking to