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leaders of the Third Crusade against the Muslims in the Holy Land. While in the Holy Land, it seems that Richard insulted another leader, Duke Leopold of Austria. Leopold vowed to get his revenge. In 1192, Richard was in Vi- enna, Austria, on his way home to England when Duke Leopold captured and imprisoned him. The duke then demanded an enormous ransom of 150,000 marks (around U.S. $67,000) for Richard’s release. Richard remained Leopold’s prisoner and hostage for over a year, until February 1194—that was how long it took for the govern- ment in England to raise the ransom by taxing Richard’s subjects. The Conquistadors Almost four centuries later, in what are now Central and South America, the Spanish

King Richard I of England.

R escuing H ostages : T he FBI

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