Arnold Fitz Thedmar facts for kids

Arnold Fitz Thedmar (born August 9, 1201, died 1274 or 1275) was a writer and a successful merchant in London during the Middle Ages. He is famous for writing a detailed history book about his time.

Arnold's Early Life

Arnold Fitz Thedmar was born in London on August 9, 1201. This exact birth date is special because most people didn't record their birthdays back then! His parents were from Germany. His mother's family came from Cologne to England during the time of Henry II of England. His father, Thedmar, was from Bremen. He moved to London because the Plantagenet kings offered special benefits to German merchants who were part of the Hanse. The Hanse was a powerful group of trading cities.

Arnold was the only boy in his family to live past childhood. He had four sisters who grew up and married into important London families.

A Life in Business and Politics

Arnold followed in his father's footsteps, taking over the family business. He became a very important person among the German merchants in London. By 1251, he was known as the "alderman of the Germans." An alderman was a leader or a senior member of a city council.

Arnold also said he was the alderman of the Billingsgate area of London starting in the 1240s. He was very involved in the politics of London.

Conflicts with the King

In 1258, Arnold and other London citizens had disagreements with King Henry III of England about the special rights and freedoms of the City. Because of this, Arnold lost his job as alderman that year. But he got it back in 1259.

He also disagreed with the mayor, Thomas FitzThomas. This disagreement almost cost Arnold his life! The mayor and his supporters wanted to put Arnold on trial in front of a large public meeting. Luckily, news of the battle of Evesham arrived just in time, saving Arnold and his friends.

Even after King Henry III won, Arnold still faced problems from his enemies. They tried to make him pay unfair taxes. Arnold asked King Henry III for help, and later his son, King Edward I. Because of their help, Arnold's tax bill was lowered.

Arnold the Chronicler

In 1270, Arnold became the keeper of the city's old records. This job must have made him very happy, as he loved history and writing. In his free time, Arnold wrote a history book called Liber de antiquis legibus, which means "Book of ancient laws."

His book started in the year 1188 and continued until 1274. From 1239 onwards, his writing gives us lots of interesting facts about London and England. Even though it focuses on London, it's a valuable source for understanding the history of the whole kingdom. This is because London played a big part in the disagreements against King Henry III's rule.

Arnold was a strong supporter of the king. He believed that a king should rule the country, even if he saw some problems with Henry's government. Arnold did not like how London was run under Simon de Montfort, 6th Earl of Leicester, as he saw it as "mob rule," meaning ordinary people making decisions without proper leadership.

Arnold died in 1274. The last thing recorded about him is that he helped successfully appeal to the king against some unfair decisions made by the mayor, Walter Hervey.

Arnold's Family and Property

Arnold owned a large house, other buildings, and a dock near the Steelyard, a famous trading area. He was married to a woman named Dionysia. She lived about twenty years longer than him and later married another man. Arnold's will, which is a document about what happens to his property after he dies, was officially recorded on February 10, 1275.

Arnold and Dionysia might have had a daughter named Margery, but she is not mentioned in his will. Part of Arnold's property was inherited by his cousin, Stephen Eswy. Arnold also left some money to Bermondsey Abbey, a religious house whose historical records are similar to those from Southwark Priory, which Arnold used for his own chronicle.