Seal your letters like a true medieval monarch!
This wax seal stamp bears the emblem of Richard I of England (Richard Cœur de Lion, 1157–1199), the legendary warrior king whose name became synonymous with chivalry and the Crusades. Son of Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine, Richard was more at home on the battlefield than in the royal court, spending most of his reign waging war rather than ruling England.
Crowned in 1189, Richard quickly set out on the Third Crusade (1189–1192), earning fame for his military skill, bravery, and relentless campaigns against Saladin, the formidable Sultan of Egypt and Syria. Though he failed to reclaim Jerusalem, his victories at Acre and Arsuf solidified his reputation as one of the greatest knights of the medieval era.
Richard’s reign was marked by conflict—both abroad and at home. On his return from the Holy Land, he was captured and held for ransom by Holy Roman Emperor Henry VI, draining England’s treasury to secure his release. Despite this, Richard remained devoted to war, spending his final years reclaiming lost lands in France before dying from an infected wound in 1199.
Though he spent only a few months of his ten-year reign in England, Richard’s legend endured, immortalised in tales of knightly valour and heroic deeds. This wax seal is a tribute to the warrior king who lived and died by the sword, a symbol of the age of chivalry and the Crusades
This is the second seal of Richard, and was used between 1197 to 1199, after his time in the Holy Land (1191-1192). The seal reads: "RICARDUS DUX NORMANNORUM ET AQUITANORUM ET COMES ANDEGAUORUM" Richard Duke of Normandy and Aquitaine Count of Anjou. This seal is unusual as it features Richard with a crested greathelm which is rarely seen during this period.
I have included an artistic impression of the equipment he is wearing.
🗡️ "Dieu et mon droit" Richard the First used as a battle cry during the Battle of Gisors in 1198.
