Rager, Bishop of Salisbury

Roger was originally priest of a small chapel near Caen. The future King Henry (r. 1100-1135) happened to hear mass there one day and was impressed by the speed with which Roger read the service, and enrolled him in his own service.

In 1101 Roger was made chancellor and soon after he received the bishopric of Salisbury. Roger created the exchequer system, which was managed by him and his family for more than a century, and he used his position to heap up power and riches. He also controlled the treasury at Winchester. He became the first man in England after the king and from 1123 to 1126 he ran England while the king was in France, waging war.

At its peak, Roger’s wealth was worth £5,000, about 0.7% of net national income. In 2010 that would be worth £7.8bn.