Archbishop Hubert Walter

Hubert Walter was archbishop of Canterbury, papal legate, justiciar of King Richard I of England (r. 1189-1199), and chancellor of King John of England (r. 1199-1216). Through his appointments Walter amassed a huge amount of wealth and was one of the richest men of his time.

Walter started his career in the household of King Henry II of England by 1182, and became bishop of Salisbury in October 1189. In 1190 he joined the Third Crusade, in which his distinguished services included negotiating on Richard’s behalf with the Muslim leader Saladin and directing the return of English forces.

In 1193 he was elected archbishop of Canterbury while in 1194 he became justiciar through which office he controlled England’s highest ecclesiastical and secular offices. After Richard’s departure for Normandy in May 1194, Hubert became the effective governor of England for the rest of Richard’s reign. Richard’s successor, John, appointed him chancellor on May 27, 1199, a post in which Hubert exercised great political influence, and like all chancellors he amassed a huge amount of wealth.

At the time of his death Huber Walter was worth about £10,000, around 0.9% of net national income of £1.1m. In 201 he would be worth about £9.9bn.