1194:

King Richard I of England freed

On his way home from the Crusades, a storm drove Richard's ship ashore and he was taken prisoner and turned over to Henry VI, Holy Roman Emperor. Henry kept Richard in several different castles in Germany, keeping the king's whereabouts unknown to friends and enemies alike.

Henry threatened to turn Richard over to Philip of France, with whom Richard had begun a bitter feud. To avoid falling into his enemy's hands, Richard agreed to pay an outrageous ransom. The ransom was raised primarily by heavy taxing of the people of England and was paid nearly in full to Henry. Richard was released and returned home, only to set out once more for France, where he fought Philip off and on until his death five years later.

854:

Rabanus Maurus