Geoffrey de Mandeville, the first Constable of the Tower, was appointed by William the Conqueror in the year 1068, just two years after the Norman Conquest of England. This appointment marked the beginning of a tradition that would span nearly a millennium, transforming the Tower of London from a simple fortress into a symbol of royal authority. De Mandeville's role was not merely ceremonial; he was the de facto ruler of the Tower in the absence of the king, responsible for its defense, maintenance, and the safety of its prisoners. The Tower, as the principal fortress defending the capital, was a critical asset, and its constable held a position of immense power and trust. De Mandeville's tenure set the stage for future constables, who would inherit a role that combined military command, administrative oversight, and ceremonial duty. The Tower's strategic importance meant that its constable was often a man of high status, chosen for his loyalty and capability to manage such a vital institution. The legacy of de Mandeville endures in the modern ceremonial role, though the powers of the constable have shifted dramatically over the centuries.
Guardians of the Realm
For centuries, the Constable of the Tower was the ultimate guardian of the Tower's prisoners, a responsibility that carried the weight of life and death. The first known prisoner, Ranulf Flambard, a Norman bishop, was held there in 1100, marking the beginning of a grim tradition that would see some of England's most notorious figures imprisoned within its walls. The constable's duty was to guard these prisoners securely, with the explicit instruction that he would answer for them body for body, under pain of forfeiture of life, limb, and all property. This responsibility extended to the regulation and protection of London's Jewish community until their expulsion in 1290, highlighting the constable's role in the broader social and political landscape of medieval England. The Tower was not just a prison; it was a place of power, where the constable's decisions could determine the fate of kings, nobles, and commoners alike. The constable's authority was absolute within the Tower's walls, making the position one of the most powerful in the kingdom during the Middle Ages.The Dues of Office
In the Middle Ages, the Constable of the Tower enjoyed a unique set of financial entitlements that made the position not only prestigious but also profitable. Among these were any horses, oxen, pigs, or sheep that fell off London Bridge, any cart that fell into the Tower moat, and all herbage growing on Tower Hill. The constable also received six shillings and eight pence annually from each boat fishing between the Tower and the sea, one shilling a year from all ships carrying herring to London, and two pence from each pilgrim who came to London by sea to worship at the shrine of St James. Additionally, the constable claimed all swans swimming under London Bridge. Every ship that came upstream to London had to moor at Tower Wharf to give a portion of its cargo to the constable, as payment for the protection afforded by the Tower's cannon. These dues included oysters, mussels, cockles, rushes, and wine. The tradition is still maintained today by the Royal Navy, at the annual Ceremony of the Constable's Dues, when one large vessel presents the constable with a barrel of rum. This unique system of dues underscores the economic importance of the Tower and the constable's role in the city's maritime and commercial life.