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History of the City
The area of the City of London has been administered separately from the rest of the country since 886 when Alfred the Great appointed his son-in-law Earl Ætheldred of Mercia as Governor of London. Alfred made sure that there was suitable accommodation for merchants from north west Europe, which was then extended for traders from the Baltic and Italy.
The City developed its own code of law for the mercantile classes developing such autonomy that Sir Laurence Gomme regarded the City as a separate kingdom making its own laws.
The City was composed of wards governed by Aldermen, who chaired the Wardmotes. There was a folkmoot for the whole of the City held in the shadows of St Paul's Cathedral. In the tenth century, Athelstan permitted eight mints to be established, compared to six in his capital, Winchester, indicating the wealth of the city.
Following the Battle of Hastings, William the Conqueror marched on London, to Southwark and failed to get across London Bridge or to defeat the Londoners. He eventually crossed the River Thames at Wallingford, pillaging the land as he went. Rather than continuing the war Edgar Ætheling, Edwin of Mercia and Morcar of Northumbria surrendered at Berkhamsted. William rewarded London in granting the citizens a charter in 1075; the City of London was one of the few institutions where the English retained some authority.
However, William insured against attack by building three Castles nearby so as to keep the Londoners subdued:
- Tower of London
- Baynard's Castle
- Montfichet's Castle
In 1132, Henry I recognised full County status for the City and, by 1141, the whole body of the citizenry was considered to constitute a single community. This was the origin of the City of London Corporation.
The City burned nearly to the ground twice, first in 1212 and then again (and more famously) in the Great Fire of London in 1666. Both of these fires were referred to as the Great Fire.
The City elected four members to the unreformed House of Commons, which it retained after the Reform Act 1832 and into the 20th century. Today it is included wholly in the Cities of London and Westminster constituency, and statute requires that it not be divided between two neighbouring areas.