Richard the Lionheart (September 8, 1157 – April 6, 1199)

The mental flash I got yesterday about the Henry II, Richard I and John being connected with the unholy trinity of Flavian emperors hasn’t gone away. Let’s call it the irony of it all: Titus conquered Jerusalem and destroyed the Second Temple there. Richard joined the Third Crusade to rescue Jerusalem from Saladin’s control. Richard failed in the end.

The timing of this chart is rectified to show the ages he got interested in fighting battles (Mars @ 12) and when he finally got married (Venus @ 33). Three inconjuncts are seen.

Mercury Inconjunct Jupiter

You like to think big, and you have great ambitions, but you don’t always make sure that your thinking is clear or careful. When you make any kind of plan, be careful. Don’t try to take on more than you can handle and make sure not to overlook details, for that could hurt what you are trying to do. Careful planning will help you develop disciplined habits in other areas as well. This aspect can mean that you are sloppy in your personal appearance and in your work habits, especially schoolwork.

On the other hand, if you do learn careful mental habits, you can have creative ability with this aspect, because you are able to see and understand all the elements of a situation. You take a broad and far-seeing view of a situation, which is unusual for someone your age. Most of the time you are willing to let other people think what they choose, as long as they leave your ideas alone. However, you may be inclined to preach about morality, because you enjoy being right and letting others know that they do not live up to your “high” standards. But sometimes you fake it; you aren’t as “good” as you pretend to be. Be careful of this, for you could be known as a hypocrite. It’s fine to set high standards and live up to them, but do not pretend to be better than you are. And let others decide on their own moral standards.

Mars Inconjunct Neptune

With this aspect you must learn to stand up for yourself and demand your rights forthrightly and directly. Often you feel that you don’t have enough energy to assert yourself or that any such effort would be futile. Unfortunately, some people with this aspect learn to work behind the scenes or dishonestly. Others simply give up or take a defeatist attitude toward life.

Mars Inconjunct Midheaven

This aspect can mean that you have mixed feelings about all authority figures, including your parents. You may feel that you have to violate the rules laid down by your parents in order to get your way. This is a significant problem, because if it continues into adulthood, you will have great difficulties with employers. Therefore it is very important that your parents teach you how to express your self-assertive drives without going against their teachings. Unfortunately it is impossible to state how that should be done, because the conflict between self-will, on one hand, and self-denial and work, on the other, is different for each person.

Clearly you should spend a lot of time releasing your great energy in vigorous play. The more energy you use up in this way, the less you will need to assert yourself destructively. You must learn what society demands, such as going to school and doing schoolwork, learning to obey instructions for your own good and so forth.

Now, to that other issue concerning Jerusalem and the Jews in 70 AD: was Richard Titus in a previous life? It might explain this peculiar series of events…

Richard I was officially invested as Duke of Normandy on 20 July 1189 and crowned king in Westminster Abbey on 3 September 1189. Tradition barred all Jews and women from the investiture, but some Jewish leaders arrived to present gifts for the new king. According to Ralph of Diceto, Richard’s courtiers stripped and flogged the Jews, then flung them out of court.

When a rumour spread that Richard had ordered all Jews to be killed, the people of London attacked the Jewish population. Many Jewish homes were destroyed by arsonists, and several Jews were forcibly converted. Some sought sanctuary in the Tower of London, and others managed to escape. Among those killed was Jacob of Orléans, a respected Jewish scholar. Roger of Howden, in his Gesta Regis Ricardi, claimed that the jealous and bigoted citizens started the rioting, and that Richard punished the perpetrators, allowing a forcibly converted Jew to return to his native religion. Baldwin of Forde, Archbishop of Canterbury, reacted by remarking, “If the King is not God’s man, he had better be the devil’s”.

Offended that he was not being obeyed and realising that the assaults could destabilise his realm on the eve of his departure on crusade, Richard ordered the execution of those responsible for the most egregious murders and persecutions, including rioters who had accidentally burned down Christian homes. He distributed a royal writ demanding that the Jews be left alone. The edict was only loosely enforced, however, and the following March further violence occurred, including a massacre at York

Coronation and anti-Jewish violence (from Wikipedia)

Comparing Richard’s birth chart with Titus’ shows some very strong connections. Richard’s Sun is conjunct Titus’ Uranus in Virgo; Richard’s Uranus is almost exactly conjunct Titus’ Mars in Capricorn; Titus’ Neptune is conjunct Richard’s Ascendant in Aquarius; and finally, Richard’s Part of Fortune is conjunct Titus’ Ascendant in Pisces.

The proximity of the date of Titus’ death (new style September 11th) with Richard’s birth (new style September 15th) might explain some of the connections between these two charts: Titus’ ‘fatal’ Sun/Midheaven conjunction is within a few degrees of Richard’s natal Sun (obviously); Titus’ ‘fatal’ Ascendant is within 8 degrees of Richard’s Neptune; and Richard’s Part of Fortune is conjunct Titus’ ‘fatal’ Uranus. Even Titus’ ‘fatal’ Moon is about 5 degrees from Richard’s Pluto. But I saved the best for last: their Libra Mercury’s are within 1 degree of each other. This makes them mentally on the same wavelength.

Titus conquered Jerusalem and scattered the Jewish population. Richard didn’t do so well. His mission as a Christian Crusader was meant to secure the Holy Land from Saladin’s forces. Instead, he was captured and ransomed. When he finally returned to England he had to have a new coronation to remove the shame of defeat. Quite different results. So, my question is: did he remove a karmic debt? I think so.