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This pre-loved episode of History Daily originally aired on June 15th, 2022.

It's March 26th, 1199.

Behind the parapet of a castle in central France,

a 17-year-old boy named Pierre crashes in the gloomy alcove.

Pierre listens closely, straining to hear, as the distant sound of his enemy's voices

drift like smoke over the battlements. Pierre shuts his eyes and clutches his crossbow

tight to his chest. He is one of the last two surviving soldiers defending this castle from

the English Army. His father and two brothers were killed defending this fortress.

Pierre knows that resistance is futile, but he'd sooner die than let their sacrifice be in vain.

Soon, Pierre hears a sound of laughter coming from outside the castle walls.

Cautiously, Pierre lifts his head above the parapet to see two English nights approaching below.

They seem calm and relaxed. They're not even wearing their armor.

It's clear they think the siege is already one.

Pierre quickly ducks back. With trembling fingers, he loads a bolt into his crossbow,

and draws the string into place. But when he pops back up to take aim,

he notices that one of the knights looks vaguely familiar. It takes Pierre a moment before he realizes

who it is. Richard the Lionheart, the widely feared and respected king of England.

Pierre's chest pounds in his mind races. He's just 17 years old. This was his first battle,

and he's never killed anyone. But now he has the chance to slay the enemy king.

...