William FitzOsbert and the Crisis of 1196 in London

Abstract

The death of William FitzOsbert is one of the most famous and dramatic incidents in the history of medieval London. In 1196 long simmering tensions concerning the manner in which the burden of taxation was being divided finally boiled over. The advocate for the poor and middling members of the community, William FitzOsbert (also known as William cum barba, or Longbeard), took refuge in St Mary le Bow church but, following a brief siege that culminated in the burning of the steeple, he was captured and brutally executed. Accounts of the incident, written by contemporary chroniclers, provide a glimpse into the urban political community. The chroniclers have important things to say about the sources of conflict within civic society, but this paper focuses on assessing the significance of this incident for our understanding of civic governance in medieval London. The accounts of the rise and fall of William FitzOsbert are intriguing, because they show dissension within the civic community, and describe how a significant faction of discontented citizens attempted to express their views and agitate for change. The chronicle accounts provide evidence that allows historians to consider the role of popular pressure in civic politics, at a time when the city was acquiring a new political identity.