Richard II and the English Royal Treasure

Project start date: 2003-01 Project end date: 2006-06
"The treasure roll of Richard II, compiled in 1398/9, offers a rare insight into the magnificence of a late medieval English king. The roll, unknown until it was rediscovered in the 1990s, describes in exceptional detail the crowns, jewels, and other precious objects belonging to the king and to his two queens, Anne of Bohemia and Isabelle of France. The value of the items listed on the roll is extraordinary even by modern standards, as is the craftsmanship and skill that went into their production. Many have an intriguing story to tell of high politics, international relations, and artistic patronage in England and France. This website brings the treasure to life through images - of the roll, of Richard himself and of many exquisite objects. Among them is the beautiful crown, now in Munich, the only object described in the roll which certainly survives today" (from project web site; please see for more details).
Subject domains: 
Era(s): 
Country/region(s): 
Methods usedCategory
2d Scanning and photographyData capture
Funding sources: 
Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC)
Content types created: 
Still Image/Graphics, Text
Source material used:  
"The treasure roll describes the jewels and plate belonging to King Richard II (reigned 1377-99), and to his two queens, Anne of Bohemia and Isabelle of France. The inventory dates from 1398 or 1399, the period of Richard's tyranny. It contains 1,206 entries, some describing dozens of pieces, and is written on forty long, narrow parchment sheets known as membranes (abbreviated as m. for one membrane, or mm. for two or more). Fully unrolled it measures more than 28 metres" (see project web site for more details).
Digital resource created:  
Descriptions and photos of King Richard II's treasures.
Access to digital resource:  
Open Access
Data Formats created: 
Hypertext Markup Language (HTML), JPEG File Interchange Format (JPG)

Institutions affiliated with this project: 

UK HE institutions involved:
Royal Holloway

Project staff and expertise: 

Principal staff member:Professor Nigel Saul
Other staff:
External expertise:


Metadata on this arts-humanities.net record
Author(s) of recordNigel Saul
TitleRichard II and the English Royal Treasure
Record created2007-10-24
Record updated2010-06-11 11:17
URL of recordhttp://www.arts-humanities.net/node/2202
Citation of recordNigel Saul: Richard II and the English Royal Treasure.
<http://www.arts-humanities.net/node/2202>
created: 2007-10-24, last updated 2010-06-11 11:17