The Rise of the City

The Rise of the City A History of British Monarchs and the Elite Merchants

From William the Conqueror to the mid-17th century, British Monarchs ruled supreme.

Their word was law.

As British influence grew globally in the late 1600s, the wealth and influence of elite City merchants surged even faster.

In 1694, the privately-owned Bank of England was established, financed by these merchants.