Lionheart

Lionheart is a nickname and epithet most famously associated with Richard I of England, who reigned from 1189 to 1199. The title derives from the French Coeur de Lion and from contemporary chronicles that praised his courage and leadership during the Third Crusade. The expression has endured in popular imagination as a symbol of bravery and steadfastness.

In addition to its historical use, "Lionheart" has been adopted as a name and title in various works and media. The best-known modern reference is the 1990 action film Lionheart, directed by Sheldon Lettich and starring Jean-Claude Van Damme as Lyon Gaultier, who enters an underground fighting circuit to help his brother.

Beyond the film, the term appears in literature, music, and video games as a title or character name, often signaling themes of courage, endurance, or royal or noble bearing. Because of its broad symbolic resonance, Lionheart is used in contexts ranging from biographies to fictional narratives and branding.