Note 11.1

Sidney Painter calculated that William de Braose held 852 knights' fees as fiefs or in custody at the height of his power in 1206. Painter also estimated William's annual income to be in the region of £800 to £1000. He held some sixteen castles in England and Wales. This was staggering wealth, particularly for a man who never gained the title of "earl". Combined with King John's favour, his military might and the impressive alliances forged through family marriages, William de Braose's power outstripped every other magnate in the country. Painter states: "Whether his motive was policy, gratitude, or fear of blackmail, John had aided William to become a truly formidable figure in English politics." Sidney Painter's detailed account of William de Braose's gains under King John appears in his 1949 publication The Reign of King John (The John Hopkins Press, Baltimore), 1966 paperback edition pages 41-47.

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