
These floor tiles were found at Chertsey Abbey in Surrey. The tiles depict a vigorous display of valour: the English king Richard I (reigned 1189-99) slaying the Ayyubid Sultan Salah-ad-Din (1138-93) with his lance. In fact, although Richard and Salah-ad-Din were famous adversaries during the Third Cruisade (1189-92), Richard never killed Salah-ad-Din. The scene is a dramatic invention and was clearly intended to act as a tribute to Richard’s bravery in battle.