While I agree that there is a pretty abysmal knowledge of history among many of my contemporaries, I see nothing wrong in challenging some of the accepted wisdom. Richard, Couer de Lion, had only the   most tenuous claim to being English. For a start, he didn't even speak the language! He was reckoned to be brave in battle, but his unfortunate habit of being in inappropriate places at inappropriate times caused him to be twice taken prisoner and ransomed. He's not the first man I would want to claim as a national hero!