In a report this week, the genealogical researchers who produce Burke’s Peerage revealed that John Kerry is descended, in part, from British royalty, including the 12th-century Crusader Richard the Lionheart. Research reveals that there are indeed some uncanny parallels between Kerry and his blue-blooded ancestor.

King Richard: His height is estimated at six feet four inches tall.

— thefreedictionary.com

John Kerry: Senator Kerry stands six foot, four inches tall.

— ABCNEWS.com

KR: Richard is known to history as Lionheart, because of his bravery in battle.

— britainexpress.com

JK: Kerry ... received the Bronze Star and Silver Star for bravery in battle.

— Richmond Times-Dispatch

KR: He spent most of his father’s treasury, raised taxes.

— historymole.com

JK: Kerry has voted 98 times for tax increases.

— georgewbush.com

KR: He was favored by the ... pope.

— wordiq.com

JK: Kerry has been a steady, churchgoing Catholic since the day he was born.

— beliefnet.com

KR: Although born in England, Richard soon came to know France as his home.

— wikipedia.org

JK: Another Bush adviser said of Mr. Kerry, "He looks French."

— New York Times

KR: Like most monarchs, Richard received quite a good childhood education.

— High-school essay

JK: For five years he was enrolled at the elite St. Paul’s School in Concord, New Hampshire.

— encarta.msn.com

KR: Richard the Lionheart Makes Peace with [Muslim warrior] Saladin, 1192

— bbc.co.uk

JK: Mr. Kerry seems far more inclined toward appeasement [regarding Osama bin Laden].

— New York Sun

KR: Another of King Richard’s traits was a love of wealth.

— Clio Journal of Ancient and Medieval History

JK: A number of US presidents have been spectacularly wealthy, and it looks like candidate John Kerry would fit right into the club should he win the office.

— moneycentral.msn.com

KR: He swore that he would exercise true justice and equity towards the people committed to his charge. He also swore that he would abrogate bad laws and unjust customs, and would enact good laws, and observe the same without fraud or evil intent.

— medieval historian Roger of Hoveden, on King Richard’s coronation

JK: As president, I will restore trust and credibility to the White House.... I will have a vice-president who will not conduct secret meetings with polluters to rewrite our environmental laws. I will have a secretary of defense who will listen to the best advice of our military leaders. And I will appoint an attorney general who actually upholds the Constitution of the United States.

— John Kerry, in his DNC acceptance speech