King Richard, an African lion, is the rightful king of England.  A noble, upright and stalwart fellow, brave and resolute, he also carries himself in an aristocratic and regal manner.  King Richard is everything his younger brother, Prince John, is not (except perhaps that both, being born into the nobility of the time, are masters of the spoken word, of etiquette, and of other noble arts). 

He is beloved by his subjects, who are unquestionably loyal to him and his family.  Unfortunately when he is hypnotized by Sir Hiss (at Prince John's order) to take part in the Crusades, King Richard's rulership is usurped by his younger brother.  Richard's loyal subjects, not yet realizing the selfish, greedy and duplicitous nature of Prince John, have no idea of the miseries that action will bring.  John subsequently led the people into a dark period of over-taxation and neglect, and a growing bitterness and desperation.

But just when things seemed at their very worst, King Richard returned from the Crusades and set things to rights, imprisoning Prince John, Sir Hiss and the Sheriff of Nottingham, and then pardoning Robin Hood and Little John.  He then officiated over the wedding of Robin Hood to his niece, Maid Marian.

Origins of the character: Unlike most of the characters in this movie, and the Robin Hood legends, King Richard ("The Lionheart") was a very real person--as was his younger brother, John.  Richard the First ruled England (and its vassal states) from 1189 to 1199.  Ironically, in the very earliest versions of the Robin Hood legend, it was Edward "our comely king" (presumably either Edward 1st, 2nd or 3rd) who was the ruler.  It was not until much later that King Richard I was established as the heroic and rightful king of England in the Robin Hood legends.  And, as may be expected, there are some differences between the actual historical king and his literary counterpart.