English wine merchants (vintners) were among the most influential personalities in London in the late Middle Ages. During the reign of King Edward II (1284-1327), four mayors of London were vintners. During this time, the London association "Mistery of Vintners" was founded. The "Vintners' Company" that emerged from it held a monopoly on trade between England and France from the middle of the 14th century (see Bordeaux wine trade). It was constituted as a guild in 1437, which was subsequently recognised by King Henry VIII (1491-1547) as one of the 12 great Livery Companies. The wine trade was of immense importance to the medieval economy; between 1446 and 1448, wine accounted for almost a third of the entire English import trade.
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Dr. Christa Hanten
Fachjournalistin, Lektorin und Verkosterin, Wien