The Ransom That Emptied a Kingdom

In 1192, King Richard I of England was captured on his return from the Crusades by Duke Leopold of Austria. Emperor Henry VI set the ransom at 150,000 marks of silver — roughly thirty-five tons, more than twice England's annual revenue. To free their king, an entire nation was stripped bare. Churches surrendered their silver plate. Cistercian monks gave their whole year's wool harvest.…