Richard II and the English Royal Treasure

The remarkable treasure of gold and silver from England and France which Richard II had amassed by the end of his reign is for the first time fully revealed in this richly illustrated volume. It explores the nature of the objects themselves, and their provenance, as well as analysing the implications of the treasure at home and abroad. Supporting the main text is a new and very important discovery, a long treasure roll in French, compiled around the time of the king's deposition. In contrast to the inventories of the Valois kings and princes, a detailed record of this kind is exceptional for later medieval England, and the publication in full of the roll itself (1,206 entries), together with other selected source materials, and a commentary, aims to correct the long-standing historiographical bias which underestimates the magnificence of the English court during the period. Dr Jenny Stratford is Senior Research Fellow at the Institute of Historical Research, London.