The Hundred Rolls – Edward I's Medieval Investigation Into His Own Kingdom

What happens when a king suspects his own officials have been stealing from the Crown for decades — and decides to find out?In this episode of Histories and Castles Deep Dive, we examine the Hundred Rolls — the sweeping administrative inquiry commissioned by Edward I in 1274–1275 that functioned as a second Domesday Book. Following years of civil unrest under Henry III, the Crown had lost control of vast lands, revenues, and rights. Edward's response was to send commissioners across England with orders to document everything.Listeners will discover:Why Edward I launched the Hundred Rolls and what he was trying to recoverHow the inquests exposed widespread corruption among sheriffs, bailiffs, and local lordsThe legal proceedings that followed, including the Statute of Gloucester (1278)What the records reveal about peasant tenure, population growth, and feudal obligationsHow the Hundred Rolls compare to Domesday Book as a historical sourceWhere the original parchment membranes survive today at The National ArchivesThe Hundred Rolls were not simply a fiscal exercise. They were a systematic attempt to reassert royal authority — and the evidence they gathered changed English law. For those searching "Edward I medieval administration," "Rotuli Hundredorum explained," or "13th century England feudal records," this episode offers a detailed look at one of the most revealing documents of the Middle Ages.Edward I built castles to control the landscape. He built the Hundred Rolls to control what happened inside it.Read more about the Hundred Rolls: The Hundred Rolls: A Landmark in Medieval English AdministrationThe Hundred Rolls: Unveiling Corruption in Medieval EnglandThe Significance of the Hundred Rolls and the Statutes of Westminster