Legends of Richard the Lionheart

Legends of Richard the Lionheart

From Gone Medieval by History Hit

April 17, 2026 · 52 min · Episode 518

About this episode

The episode explores the myths surrounding Richard the Lionheart and their significance in history and culture.

Was Richard the Lionheart really England’s greatest medieval hero? Or is he one of history’s most successful myths, more heroic in legend than in life? Over eight centuries, Richard has handled Excalibur, been celebrated in medieval romance, reinvented in novels and films, and even transformed into a character in Assassin’s Creed. Matt Lewis is joined by Dr. Heather Blurton to dig into the myths of Richard the Lionheart and ask why they endured and what they reveal about the societies that needed Richard to be larger than life. MORE King Henry II Listen on Apple Listen on Spotify King John: Worst Medieval Monarch? Listen on Apple Listen on Spotify Gone Medieval is presented by Matt Lewis. Audio editor is Amy Haddow, the producers are Joseph Knight and Rob Weinberg. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff. All music used is courtesy of Epidemic Sounds. Gone Medieval is a History Hit podcast. Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

People in this episode

Host: Matt Lewis

Guest: Dr. Heather Blurton

Topics covered

  • Richard the Lionheart
  • medieval history
  • myth vs reality
  • historical figures
  • cultural impact
  • legendary heroes

Keywords

  • Richard the Lionheart
  • medieval hero
  • mythology
  • historical analysis
  • Excalibur
  • medieval romance
  • Assassin’s Creed
  • King Henry II
  • King John

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: History Hit

Books & works: Assassin’s Creed

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