Aaron of Lincoln

In the pipe rolls (the records of royal finances in Medieval England) for 1166 is a mention of £616 12s 8d owed to Aaron of Lincoln by King Henry II, who borrowed from him for projects in nine counties.Aaron as born about 1123 in Lincoln, although it is thought that he spent part of his early life in France. Later he owned a plot of land near Lincoln Castle which is probably where his house was. A building called the Norman House in Lincoln (seen here), probably the oldest stone dwelling in England, was once (but no more) believed to have been Aaron's house.He became a financier, working through different agents and a partner, Isaac son of Josce. He built up a financial base for himself that is believed to have surpassed the wealth of the king.Much of his wealth came from the repayment of loans he made for the building or renovation of abbeys and monasteries. Nine Cistercian abbeys were built on money borrowed from Aaron, as well as Peterborough Abbey, Lincoln Minster, and the Abbey…