The Song That Saved a King
King Richard Takes on the Crusades
Almost eight hundred years ago, in 1192, King Richard the Lion Heart ventured from his kingdom of England to Palestine to participate in the Crusades. The journey home, however, led to his capture by his sworn enemy, the Duke of Austria. Held in a castle belonging to the duke, King Richard’s whereabouts remained a mystery for many months, plunging his kingdom into speculation and uncertainty surrounding his fate. This legendary tale speaks of how the king was discovered and finally returned home, thanks to a dedicated minstrel named Blondel.
A King in Disguise
One day, a man dressed as a poor peasant walked into a roadside inn in Austria. Tall, striking, the kind bearing of a soldier yet with the tan of a warrior who had been fighting in hot Palestine, it was clear that he was no ordinary peasant. This was no less than Richard, the King of England, traveling home from the Crusades in disguise, to evade the Duke of Austria who sought to capture him. An unfortunate incident at a local marketplace led to King Richard’s capture by Austrian soldiers.
The Kingdom in Waiting
As the days turned into months, England waited for the return of their king. Fear and speculation were rife, and the question of King Richard’s brother, Prince John being crowned king was being raised. But amidst this tumult, a minstrel named Blondel, who had enjoyed the king’s patronage, was certain that the king lived. Determined, he set out to find his beloved king.
The Unyielding Quest of Blondel
Blondel journeyed across Europe, singing his captivating songs to anyone who would lend an ear. His inquiries about any nearby castle and keen observations of the servants’ gossip, formed some crucial parts of his quest to locate King Richard. His journey finally led him to the River Danube in Austria, and here he caught his first glimpse of the majestic Castle of Durenstein, a stronghold belonging to the Duke of Austria.
The Revelations at Durenstein
Despite the warnings of a local widow about the impenetrable fortress being a home to rugged soldiers, a conversation with her confirmed Blondel’s suspicions. The fact that there was a single, closely guarded prisoner within the castle raised his hopes of having found King Richard.
The Song that Revealed the King
Without a moment’s delay, Blondel climbed the rocky hill that led to the castle and began to play his lute, serenading the castle guards with a song he had composed with King Richard. As he sang the first verse, a voice emanated from a high window in the castle, completing the second verse of the song. Blondel had found his king!
The King’s Grand Return
Upon this discovery, Blondel immediately returned to England, where he informed the Lord Chancellor of King Richard’s whereabouts. A demand for ransom was made by the Duke of Austria, which was willingly paid by the people of England. Had it not been for Blondel’s faith, determination, and that one unforgettable song, King Richard might have never made his return to England. His arrival at the English port of Sandwich marked the end of a two-year-long ordeal, a story of enduring loyalty, and a song that indeed saved a king.
