Aaron of Lincoln facts for kids
Aaron of Lincoln was a very rich Jewish financier who lived in England. He was born around 1125 in Lincoln, England, and he died in 1186. Many people believe he was the wealthiest person in Norman England during his time. Some even say he had more money than the King!
Aaron first appears in official government records, called a pipe-roll, in 1166. These records show that King Henry II owed him a large sum of money. Aaron managed his business through many agents, creating a huge banking network across England.
Contents
Aaron's Business: Lending Money
Aaron specialized in lending money, especially for building important religious places. These included abbeys and monasteries. Some famous places he helped build were the Abbey of St Albans, Lincoln Minster, and Peterborough Abbey. He also helped fund nine Cistercian abbeys.
These buildings were all started between 1140 and 1152. When Aaron died, these abbeys still owed him a lot of money. Sometimes, abbeys would take over land that was promised to Aaron as payment for a loan. For example, the abbot of Meaux took over land that Aaron had been promised. This shows how Aaron's business helped abbeys get land. It also shows how, after Aaron's death, these debts then became owed to the King.
Aaron didn't just lend money for land. He also lent money using things like corn, armor, and houses as security. This meant he had an interest in properties all over eastern and southern England.
The King Takes Over
When Aaron died, King Henry II took all his property. This was because Aaron was a Jewish lender, and the King claimed his estate. The actual cash Aaron had saved was sent to France to help King Henry in a war. But the ship carrying the money sank on its way between Shoreham and Dieppe.
However, many smaller nobles and knights still owed Aaron money. This debt, totaling about £15,000, then went to the King. About 430 people across England owed these sums.
The amount was so huge that a special part of the King's treasury was created just to handle it. It was called "Aaron's Exchequer". This special office continued for at least 15 years after Aaron died. Records from 1201 show that about half of the debts were still owed to the King. When Aaron died, the interest on these loans stopped automatically. This was because the King, as a Christian, could not accept money made from interest.
A Tragic Event in York
In 1190, a man named Richard de Malbis, who owed money to Aaron of Lincoln, led an attack. This attack was against the family of Aaron's former agent in York. Sadly, this event led to the deaths of many people from the Jewish community in York Castle. It was a very tragic time for about 150 men, women, and children.
The Norman House
There is a house in Lincoln that is sometimes linked to Aaron of Lincoln. It is known as Norman House. This house is probably the oldest private stone house in England that we can date precisely (before 1186). While it is called "Aaron the Jew's house" and is linked to a Jewish banker, we don't know for sure if Aaron of Lincoln actually owned it. Originally, the house had no windows on the ground floor. This was likely done to make it safer and easier to defend.
See Also
- Exchequer of the Jews – the group that took over from Aaron's Exchequer
