usignan, whom he supported against the Germancandidate, Conrad of Montferrat. It was rumored, unjustly, that Richard connived at Conrads murder. Aftera years unproductive skirmishing, Richard(September 1192)made a truce for three years with Saladin thatpermitted the crusaders to hold Acre and a thin coastal strip, and gave Christian pilgrims free access to theholy places.Richard sailed home by way of the Adriatic, because of French hostility, and a storm, drove his shipashore near Venice. Because of the enmity of Duke Leopold, he disguised himself only to be discovered atVienna in December 1192, and imprisoned in the Dukes castle at Durnstein on the Danube. Later, he washanded over to Henry VI, who kept him at various imperial castles. It was around Richards captivity in acastle, whose identity was at first unknown in England, that the famous romance of Blondel was woven in the13th century. Under the threat of being handed over to Philip II, Richard agreed to the harsh terms imposed byHenry VI, a colossal random of 150,000 marks, and the surrender of his kingdom to the Emperor, on conditionthat he receive it back as a fief. The raising of the ransom money was one of the most remarkable fiscal measures of the 12th century and gives striking proof ofthe prosperity of England. A very high proportion of the ransom was paid, and meanwhile (February1194)Richard was released.He returned at once to England and was crowned for the second time on April 17, featuring that theindependence of his kingship had been compromised. Within a month he went to Normandy, never to return. His last five years were spent in warfare against Philip II, interspersed with occasional truces. The King leftEngland in the capable hands of Hubert Walter, justifier and archbishop of Canterbury. It was Richardsimpetuosity that brought him to his death at the early age of forty-two. The Vicomte of Limoges refused tohand over a hoard of gold unearthed by a local...
