Inquest of Sheriffs facts for kids
The Inquest of Sheriffs was a special investigation ordered by King Henry II of England in 1170. It was a big check-up on how local government was working across England.
What Were Sheriffs?
Back in the time of King Henry II, local officials called sheriffs were very important. They were like the king's representatives in different areas of England.
Sheriffs had many jobs. They helped keep the peace, ran local courts, and made sure legal orders were followed. They also looked after the king's lands in their area, collecting money and spending it for the Crown.
Most sheriffs were powerful local nobles, called barons. The king chose them, and they often expected to earn money from their position.
The Big Investigation
In 1170, King Henry II came back to England after being away for several years. He ruled over many lands across Europe, not just England.
When he returned, he quickly set up a special group to investigate any problems in local government. This investigation became known as the Inquest of Sheriffs.
The inquiry was very thorough and covered a lot of ground. It looked at not just the sheriffs, but also other royal officials. It even checked the money matters of important church leaders, nobles, and townspeople.
The king sent out teams of investigators to different parts of the country. These teams asked "all the men of the realm," including nobles, knights, landowners, and even peasants, to tell the truth about anything the sheriffs had taken from them.
What Happened Next?
By the end of 1170, the investigation had a big impact. Out of 26 sheriffs in England, 21 were removed from their jobs.
Most of the sheriffs who kept their positions were not powerful nobles. Instead, they were people who already worked for the king. Many of the new sheriffs chosen were also employees of the Exchequer, which was like the king's treasury department.
These big changes weakened the power of local nobles over the sheriff's office. Most sheriffs became more like royal employees.
King Henry also increased the role of royal judges who traveled around the country. The sheriff's job became more about helping these judges and representing the king's government, rather than being an independent local power.
Missing Records
Sadly, only two small parts of the Inquest's records still exist today. One record shows payments made to a noble called the Earl of Arundel. The other shows payments from the town of Worcester to its sheriff.
See also
