UNPUBLISHED medieval records charting the rise and fall of the English government of Aquitaine are soon be available online.
The Gascon Rolls, which contain more than 113 parchment rolls dating from 1317 to 1468, are currently being translated by historians at the University of Liverpool.
The rolls which comprise Latin, French and English text, inset with classical pictures, span several feet in length and are in perfect condition.
They are the single most important source of information about the ancient administration located in south-western France.
The documents relate to when Aquitaine existed as an English duchy and tensions over its control culminated in the outbreak of the Hundred Years War with the kingdom of France.
Focusing mainly on the reign of Edward III, the rolls also span the reign of Richard II, Henry IV and Henry V.
They contain letters, writs, grants and other documents and show the relationship between the English Kings and their administration.
Simon Harris, a post-doctoral researcher, said: “The rolls give an insight into the government and how Edward was achieving his end and building up a diplomatic alli-ance against the French King.
“His great-great-grandfather had put him in a difficult position, his feudal superior was the French King.
“Edward built up a big collection of allegiances, but this collapsed in 1340, and it is only later he and his son defeated the French at battle.
“These rolls are the last great collection of medieval documents waiting to be fully translated.
