Sir Robert Knollys

Robert Knollys achieved his fortune as an English soldier fighting in France during the Hundred Years' War (1337–1453). Most of his wealth came from pillage on a grand scale, nothing unusual during the time he lived.

The best description of how Robert acquired his wealth is given in the Dictionary of National Biography:

The English supported themselves by plunder and the country people fled before them into the fortresses. Knollys, whose policy was to do as much damage as possible, did not attempt any sieges and contented himself with the exaction of heavy ransoms.

His plunder from France enabled him to amass huge estates in Norfolk, Wiltshire, Kent and London, but he was also the persistent beneficiary of kingly rewards, including the manor of what is now St. Pancras in London, given to him by the City fathers in London after he saved them from a riot by beheading the ringleaders. Knollys also lent the equivalent of millions to the king, secured on royal plate and royal jewels.

Robert Knollys died peacefully at home, worth £60,000 in 1407. In 2010’s terms he was worth about £22.1 billion.