“Third Crusade” 820th Anniversary Series: Richard the Lionheart Leaves Rhodes to Rescue His Sister and Fiancée

(This post is the nineteenth of what will be approximately seventy posts following 820th anniversary highlights of what history now calls the “third crusade.” My novel, The Swords of Faith, tells the story of this legendary clash between Richard the Lionheart and Saladin.) 

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Word had come back to Richard Lionheart, waiting at the island of Rhodes for news of his missing sister and fiancée—good news and bad news. The good news was that Richard’s sister and fiancée were anchored off the coast of Cyprus, safe and unharmed. The bad news was that Isaac Ducas Comenus, the so-called “emperor” of Cyprus, a usurper from the Byzantine royal family (but independent of any affiliation with them), a nominal ally of Saladin, was pressuring Richard’s sister and fiancée to become his “guests.” “Hostages” would have been more accurate. And there was also the matter of some of Richard’s men and a substantial amount of valuable cargo washed up on the shore of Cyprus that “Emperor” Isaac did not seem inclined to release. Richard had recovered enough to put to sea again. He had serious business with this so-called “emperor,” and he was not inclined to be patient about it. 820 years ago today, Richard left Rhodes to take care of that business before joining the fight at Acre.

Previous 820th Anniversary Posts:

July 4th – The 820th Anniversary of the Launch of the “Third Crusade”

October 4th – Richard the Lionheart Sacks Messina

November 3rd – Queen Sibylla Dies

November 11th – Richard the Lionheart Signs a Treaty with King Tancred of Sicily

November 15th – Queen Isabella’s Marriage to Humphrey of Toron is Annulled

November 19th – Archbishop of Canterbury Dies

November 24th – Conrad of Montferrat Marries Queen Isabella

December 25th – Richard the Lionheart Feasts at Christmas

December 31st – Shipwreck at Acre; Muslim Defenders Lose Resupply

January 5th – A Wall Comes Down, Presenting an Opportunity

January 20th – Frederick of Swabia Dies; Leopold of Austria Becomes Top-Ranked German Royalty at Acre

February 2nd – A Playful “Joust” Gets Out of Hand in Sicily

February 13th – Saladin’s Forces Relieve the Garrison at Acre

March 3rd – Richard the Lionheart Settles the Alice Marriage Controversy—Sort Of

March 30th – Philip II Leaves Sicily; Berengeria Arrives

April 10th – Richard the Lionheart Leaves Sicily for “Outremer”

April 20th – Philip II of France Lands at Acre

April 22nd – Richard the Lionheart Lands at Rhodes After His Fleet Scatters

To review a comprehensive catalog of historical fiction set during the medieval time period, go to http://www.medieval-novels.com:80/.