Henry Fitz-Ailwin de Londonestone

Henry Fitz-Ailwin de Londonestone
1st Lord Mayor of London
In office 1189–1212
Preceded by	New title
Succeeded by	Roger Fitzalan
Personal details
Born	ca. 1135
Died	19 September 1212[1]
Nationality	English
Children	Peter Fitz-Henry Alan Fitz-Henry Thomas Fitz-Henry Richard Fitz-Henry
Occupation	first Mayor of London
Religion	Roman Catholic

Stained glass illustrating Henry Fitz-Ailwin, Guildhall. London

Henry Fitz-Ailwin de Londonestone (ca. 1135 – 19 September 1212^[2]) was the first Mayor of London (later known as Lord Mayor of London from 1347 and then Lord Mayor of the City of London from 2006). He held from 1189 until his death in 1212. ^[3]

History

Fitz-Ailwin came to power at a time of unrest between Richard I and the City of London. Richard demanded increased taxes and took out several loans from London's merchants to pay for his foreign wars. In return for this finance, the aldermen and merchants of London were granted a degree of autonomy which resulted in the creation of the post of Mayor. Previously, the City had been governed by a portreeve, who was an officer of the crown. The City was granted more powers to self-rule in a charter issued by Richard's successor John. William de Hardel, the Mayor in 1215, was the only commoner to witness the Magna Carta.^[4]

London was much afflicted by fire in the eleventh and twelfth century. According to City tradition, in 1189 Fitz-Ailwin introduced regulations that provided for settling boundary disputes between neighbours and for encouraging the use of stone in building.^[5]

Fitz-Ailwin was succeeded as Mayor by Roger Fitzalan.

Personal life

Fitz-Ailwin married, in 1164, a woman believed to have been named Margaret.^[6] He had at least four sons -

• Peter Fitz-Henry (b.1165, d.1207), Peter Fitz-Henry is believed to have married Isabel de Chesney, daughter of Bartholomew de Chesney
• Alan Fitz-Henry (born 1167)
• Thomas Fitz-Henry (born 1169)
• Richard Fitz-Henry (born 1172).

In 1200, Fitz-Ailwin inherited Watton Manor in Hertfordshire. After his death, Watton Manor passed to the Bardolf family.^[7]

References

1. Derek Keene, ‘Henry fitz Ailwin (d. 1212)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004; online edn, Jan 2008
2. Derek Keene, ‘Henry fitz Ailwin (d. 1212)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004; online edn, Jan 2008
3. "History of the Mayoralty". City of London.
4. The Popular History of England by Charles Knight (1856) Bradbury and Evans
5. Introduction | British History Online
6. Derek Keene, ‘Henry fitz Ailwin (d. 1212)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004; online edn, Jan 2008
7. Watton-at-Stone Parish Council