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A complex of various types of activities: trade, lending operations, crown financing, production and entrepreneurship, investment into real estate in towns and counts of England, and participation in the political life and governance of London was a sign of belonging to a business community. Such a diversity of activities was typical of the majority of men of business, especially aldermen who made not only the richest and the most commercially active part of society but also formed the ruling elite of the city.
Formation of London's alderman institution took place together with the development of the city and establishment of its main social and political functions by the begi
According to the town law aldermen election criteria were the following. First of all, it was being a part of the community of freemen, rightful townspeople, who, besides other privileges, had the right to participate in elections of the town's officials and formation of the town's local authority. They were also obliged to be members of one of the Great Twelve Livery Companies of London — merchants of luxury goods, ready-made clothes, ironmongers, wine merchants, traders of salt, spice merchants, wool and cloth merchants, grocers, fishmongers, jewelers, and fur traders. It is important to note that aldermen were included in the limited but richest and the most influential part of the company — the top of the livery. In fact, the position of the alderman was in the hands of the richest merchants. Thirdly, for being elected an alderman there was a certain property qualification in 1000 pounds “in goods and loans” in the 14th — 15th centuries and in 1.500 pounds “in goods, loans and lands” in the 16th century. In 1413 another criterion was recorded: only a native Englishman could become an alderman of London.
The fact that these requirements were bolstered up in town documents shows that aldermen in London had a certain legal separation from other townsmen and their membership was limited only by high-ranking people with a property status.
All the power in the town — executive, judicial, administrative, and legislative — was in the hands of aldermen and officials, including the upper ones, chosen from them. Mayors who headed London's municipality were elected only from among aldermen. Sheriffs were also mainly aldermen. Recorders, chamberlains, town clerks and other civil servants were made up of aldermen as well.
The most important town positions were considered as royal too: the Mayor was not only the head of London's municipality but also a royal official. The same and even more can be said about sheriffs for whom their service to the king was a priority.
London's city power was concentrated in the municipality which has been embodied in the building of Guildhall since the 15th century. In the whole the structure of power in London of the 14th — 16th centuries can be seen as follows: the “Council of Aldermen”, about 23–26 people (according to the number of administrative districts) and a mayor; the “Council of the Chosen” which included the mayor, aldermen and about 150–200 councilors who were elected in administrative districts; the “Council of Citizens Assembly” consisting of a mayor, aldermen, sheriffs, and, approximately, 70 “guild masters” registered in freemen lists and wearing a livery of one of the Great Twelve Livery Companies.
The city administration was closely co
During the given period formation of city authorities and senior officials was taking place in the way of co-optation. Moreover, several of the most important posts (from 3 to 9 successively and from 3 to 4 simultaneously) could be engrossed for quite a long time though in the 15th — 16th centuries prestige of administrative and police posts was gradually decreasing while financial and business positions were becoming more attractive. It should be also noted that aldermen occupied their posts for life.
Power exercised by the representatives of the London aldermen group during the 14th — 16th centuries could be characterized as elitist-oligarchic.
An important factor of the unity and consolidation of London ruling elite, its stability and securing of seclusion was marriages among the representatives of aldermen families. In fact, the principle of having life posts which grew into life-hereditary gave some aldermen families the opportunity of constant participation in London power holding structures. It seems that we may speak about 20–30 affinitive families.
Business co
However, seclusion of the aldermen community of the 14th — 16th centuries was not absolute. It was constantly replenished by people from different social layers and communities. Among them there were London merchants and merchants from various towns and boroughs of England who possessed large financial resources and good reputation in business and, as a rule, younger sons of the gentry from various counties of England to provide for life being involved into trading which was, at least in the 14th century, a well-known activity.
A wide and regular inflow of new forces from counties and provincial English towns had a positive impact on qualitative characteristics of London alderman community. There was a considerable and more or less regular renewal of its members who strived for success and making a career and who, first of all, relied on themselves, their abilities and opportunities. All this strengthened economic might of big London merchants and interco
Marriage to those who belonged to different social groups and layers was one of the most important instruments of realization of a typical for London men of business tendency to the dialogue with a surrounding world. Matrimonial interests of business community covered representatives of the merchant class, both of the capital and provincial towns. It is obvious that such marriages promoted not only strengthening business cooperation among English merchants, but also were one of the few means of penetration of rich and enterprising merchants into the business world and London ruling class. Many businessmen families of London related to English aristocracy of different levels, both gentry and knights and even titled aristocracy. This shows a considerable interest of commercially active city dwellers in socially more prestigious community of the 14th — 16th centuries and their wish to penetrate into it with the help of marriages which corresponded to their social ambitions and desires. Some noblemen would not mind to relate to the richest merchants. Such matrimonial behavior of noblemen was caused by the closeness of economic, social and political positions of the big merchant class and gentry and the desire of some aristocrats to improve their financial position.