Secrecy, splendour and statecraft: the jewel accounts of King Henry III of England, 1216-72

Appended to the royal wardrobe accounts, the jewel accounts of King Henry III of England are the earliest records of their type. Describing gifts that were given and received by the king, the purchase of textiles, precious metal objects and specie, as well as the regalia, the Henrician jewel accounts provide valuable information about the aesthetics and material culture of English kingship during the thirteenth century. This article explains how the royal jewel accounts were created and structured, considers their utility, and shows how they can be used to shed new light on Henry III's character and kingship.