Editing Eleanor of Aquitaine (section)

==== Raising a ransom and restoration of Richard I (1192–1194) ====

In the Holy Land, Richard made little progress in his quest to capture Jerusalem, and by late 1192 was forced to arrange a truce with [[Saladin]], and sent Joanna and Berengaria back to Sicily in September, departing from Acre himself on 9 October. His whereabouts were unknown till January 1193 when Eleanor learned that he had been taken prisoner by Duke Leopold, whom he had slighted on his arrival in Acre.{{sfn|Weir|2012|pp=276–278}} Richard had travelled north from [[Trieste]] through Hungary, but when he crossed into Austria he was recognised, apprehended and taken to [[Dürnstein Castle]]. Leopold informed [[Emperor Henry VI]], who wrote to Philip II of France. Philip supported this turn of events. Eleanor only became aware of what had happened through Coutances' spies in France, but immediately assumed control of the government. Prince John, with Philip's support, became emboldened once more in claiming the throne.{{sfn|Weir|2012|pp=279–281}}{{sfn|Turner|2009|loc=cap 10}} Leopold handed over his prisoner to the Emperor in February, and he was moved to the castle of [[Trifels Castle|Trifels]], while Eleanor unsuccessfully sought the intervention of the Pope.{{efn|Eleanor's three letters to the Pope{{sfn|Stapleton|2012}} have been cited at length, including her description of being wasted away by grief ''(consumptis carnibus''){{efn|''Aleonora, Angliae Regina, Papae opem miserabiliter implorat pro liberatione Regis Anglorum Richardi filii sui'' AD 1193 A.4. R.1. ff.{{sfn|Rymer|1707|pp=I. 23–25}}}}{{sfn|Weir|2012|pp=283–287}}{{sfn|Aquitaine|1193}}}}{{sfn|Weir|2012|pp=282–287}}{{sfn|Turner|2009|loc=cap 10}} Eventually a truce was concluded with John in April,{{sfn|Weir|2012|p=289}} but Eleanor also received a demand from the Emperor for 100,000 silver marks{{efn|The [[ransom]] was roughly equivalent to twice the annual revenue of the whole of England. Turner gives a higher figure of 150,000,{{sfn|Turner|2009|loc=cap 10}} which was negotiated later in June{{sfn|Weir|2012|p=294}}}} and the provision of hostages for Richard's release. At the same time she received the first letter from him since his capture, urging her to accept the terms, and informing her that his conditions had much improved and that he had been transferred to [[Hagenau]].{{efn|There is no evidence to support the popular legend that Richard's location was "discovered" by a troubadour named [[Blondel de Nesle|Blondel]]{{sfn|Weir|2012|p=281}}}}{{sfn|Weir|2012|pp=291–292}}{{sfn|Turner|2009|loc=cap 10}}

Eleanor and her council immediately set about trying to raise the ransom and arrange the hostages, a task to which Beregnaria, now in Poitou. contributed, largely through taxation of all of Richard's territories and subjects.{{sfn|Weir|2012|pp=292–294}} The first installment of 100,000 marks was delivered in October and the balance was raised by December. Having agreed to a date for Richard's release on 17 January 1194, Eleanor and Coutances set off for Germany in December 1193, arriving at [[Speyer]] by the agreed day. There she discovered that Philip and John had outbid her in return for keeping Richard in custody. Further negotiations and offers, including an annual tribute, led to him being released on 4 February.{{sfn|Weir|2012|pp=295–296}}{{sfn|Turner|2009|loc=cap 10}} They immediately began their return, via [[Cologne]], eventually arriving in [[Antwerp]] where they boarded the ''Trenchemer'' in the [[Scheldt]], to avoid the French, landing in [[Sandwich, Kent|Sandwich]] on 12 March. Richard and Eleanor then made a triumphal entry into London on 23 March 1194.{{sfn|Weir|2012|pp=297–299}}{{sfn|Turner|2009|loc=cap 10}}