Richard I Makers of History

"Richard I" by Jacob Abbott is a historical biography that explores the life and times of the King of England, known for his involvement in the Crusades and his complicated family relationships, especially with his mother, Eleanora of Aquitaine. The book strives to give a factual account of Richard’s life, drawing from historical documents to illustrate his personality and the exciting and unstable world he lived in. The story begins by introducing Eleanora, Richard’s mother, and her important role in his life, detailing her past and her choice to join a crusade with the King of France, and how her marriages and the political games of the era set the stage for the challenges that Richard would face in his own life and journey to become king. It shows the struggles of the royal family, pointing out the conflicts of loyalty and power that would come to define Richard's time as ruler and his impact on history.