Why was Richard I crowned a second time in 1194?

Richard I was crowned for a second time on April 17, 1194, because he feared that the independence of his kingship had been compromised during his captivity.1

Following his capture while returning from the Third Crusade, Richard was held by the German emperor Henry VI. To secure his release, Richard was forced to agree to harsh terms, which included paying a massive ransom and surrendering his kingdom to the emperor, only to receive it back as a fief. By undergoing a second coronation upon his return to England, Richard sought to symbolically reaffirm his status and restore the perceived independence of his crown.12