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The Hundred Rolls – Edward I's Medieval Investigation Into His Own Kingdom

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Histories and Castles by Histories and Castles

Episode notes

What happens when a king suspects his own officials have been stealing from the Crown for decades — and decides to find out?

In this episode of Histories and Castles Deep Dive, we examine the Hundred Rolls — the sweeping administrative inquiry commissioned by Edward I in 1274–1275 that functioned as a second Domesday Book. Following years of civil unrest under Henry III, the Crown had lost control of vast lands, revenues, and rights. Edward's response was to send commissioners across England with orders to document everything.

Listeners will discover:

  • Why Edward I launched the Hundred Rolls and what he was trying to recover
  • How the inquests exposed widespread corruption among sheriffs, bailiffs, and local lords
  • The legal proceedings that followed, i ... 
 ...  Read more
Keywords
Middle Ages BritainMedieval HistoryEdward IHundred RollsMedieval EnglandFeudal Records13th Century HistoryHistorical DocumentsEnglish law