Roger de Mortimer, 1st Earl of March
Encyclopedia
Roger de Mortimer, 3rd Baron Mortimer, 1st Earl of March (25 April 1287 – 29 November 1330), was an English nobleman and powerful Marcher lord, who had gained many estates in the Welsh Marches
and Ireland following his advantageous marriage to the wealthy heiress Joan de Geneville, 2nd Baroness Geneville. In November 1316, he was appointed Lord Lieutenant of Ireland
. He was imprisoned in the Tower of London
in 1322 for having led the Marcher lords in a revolt against King Edward II
in what became known as the Despenser War
. He later escaped to France, where he was joined by Edward's queen consort
Isabella
, whom he took as his mistress.
After he and Isabella led a successful invasion and rebellion against Edward, who was subsequently deposed, Mortimer allegedly arranged his murder at Berkeley Castle
. For three years, Mortimer was de facto
ruler of England
before being himself overthrown by Edward's eldest son, Edward III
. Accused of assuming royal power and other crimes, Mortimer was executed by hanging
at Tyburn
. His was the first execution to take place at the notorious gallows.
, Herefordshire
, England
, the firstborn of Marcher Lord Edmund Mortimer, 2nd Baron Mortimer, and his wife, Margaret de Fiennes. His father Edmund Mortimer had been a second son, intended for minor orders and a clerical career, but on the sudden death of his elder brother Ralph, Edmund was recalled from Oxford University and installed as heir.
According to his biographer Ian Mortimer, as a boy, Roger was probably sent away from home to be fostered in the household of his formidable uncle, Roger Mortimer de Chirk
. It was this uncle who had carried the severed head of Llywelyn the Last
of Wales to King Edward I
in 1282.
Like many noble children of his time, Roger was betrothed young, to Joan de Geneville (2 February 1286- 19 October 1356), the wealthy daughter of Sir Piers de Geneville, of Trim Castle
and Ludlow
. They were married in 1301, and immediately began a family.
, including the important Ludlow Castle
, which became the chief stronghold of the Mortimers, but also extensive estates and influence in Ireland
. However, Joan de Geneville was not an "heiress" at the time of her marriage. Her grandfather, Geoffrey de Geneville, at the age of eighty in 1308, conveyed most, but not all, of his Irish lordships to Roger Mortimer, and then retired, notably alive: he finally died in 1314, with Joan succeeding as suo jure
2nd Baroness Geneville. During his lifetime Geoffrey also conveyed much of the remainder of his legacy, such as Kenlys, to his younger son (the older son Piers having died in 1292), Simon de Geneville, who had meanwhile become Baron of Culmullin through marriage to Joanna FitzLeon. Roger Mortimer therefore succeeded to the lordship of Trim, County Meath
(which later reverted to the Crown). He did not succeed, however, to the Lordship of Fingal
.
with two hundred and fifty-nine others, he was knighted by Edward and granted livery of his full inheritance. His adult life began in earnest.
In 1308 he went to Ireland in person, to enforce his authority. This brought him into conflict with the de Lacy
s, who turned for support to Edward Bruce
, brother of Robert Bruce
, king of Scotland. Mortimer was appointed Lord Lieutenant of Ireland
by Edward II
on 23 November 1316. Shortly afterwards, at the head of a large army, he drove Bruce to Carrickfergus
and the de Lacys into Connaught
, wreaking vengeance on their adherents whenever they were to be found. He returned to England in 1318 and was then occupied for some years with baronial disputes on the Welsh border.
. After the younger Despenser was granted lands belonging to him, he and the Marchers began conducting devastating raids against Despenser property in Wales. He supported Humphrey de Bohun, 4th Earl of Hereford
, in refusing to obey the king’s summons to appear before him in 1321. Mortimer led a march against London, his men wearing the Mortimer uniform which was green with a yellow sleeve. He was prevented from entering the capital, although his forces put it under siege. These acts of insurrection compelled the Lords Ordainers led by Thomas, 2nd Earl of Lancaster to order the King to banish the Despensers in August. When the King led a successful expedition in October against Margaret de Clare, Baroness Badlesmere after she had refused Queen Isabella admittance to Leeds Castle
, he used his victory and new popularity amongst the moderate lords and the people to summon the Despensers back to England. Mortimer, in company with other Marcher Lords, led a rebellion against Edward, which is known as the Despenser War
, at the end of the year.
Forced to surrender to the king at Shrewsbury in January 1322, Mortimer was consigned to the Tower of London
, but by drugging the constable, escaped to France in August 1323, pursued by warrants for his capture dead or alive. In the following year Queen Isabella
, wife of Edward II, anxious to escape from her husband, obtained his consent to her going to France to use her influence with her brother, King Charles IV
, in favour of peace. At the French court the queen found Roger Mortimer, who became her lover soon afterwards. At his instigation, she refused to return to England so long as the Despensers retained power as the king’s favourites.
Historians have speculated as to the date at which Mortimer and Isabella actually became lovers. The modern view is that after a row Isabella abandoned Roger to his fate in the Tower. His subsequent escape became one of medieval England's most colourful episodes. However almost certainly Isabella risked everything by chancing Mortimer's companionship and emotional support when they first met again at Paris in Christmas 1325 four years later. King Charles IV's protection of Isabella at the French court from Despenser's would-be assassins played a large part in developing the relationship. In 1326, Mortimer moved as Prince Edward's guardian to Hainault, but only after a furious row with the queen, demanding she remain in France. Isabella retired to raise troops in her County of Ponthieu
; Mortimer arranged the invasion fleet supplied by the Hainaulters.
, where they obtained assistance for an invasion of England from Count William of Hainaut
, although Isabella did not arrive from Ponthieu until the fleet was due to sail. Landing in the River Orwell
on 24 September 1326, they were accompanied by Prince Edward and Henry, Earl of Lancaster
; London rose in support of the queen, and Edward took flight to the west, pursued by Mortimer and Isabella.
After wandering helplessly for some weeks in Wales, the king was taken prisoner on 16 November, and was compelled to abdicate in favour of his son. Though the latter was crowned
as Edward III of England
on 25 January 1327, the country was ruled by Mortimer and Isabella, who were widely believed to have arranged the murder of Edward II
in the following September at Berkeley Castle
. Modern scholarship has cast doubt on this however, with some historians claiming the ex-king was not buried in 1327 but secretly maintained alive on Mortimer's orders until his fall from grace in 1330.
, and in September 1328 he was created Earl of March
. However, although in military terms he was far more competent than the Despensers, his ambition was troubling to all. His own son, Geoffrey, the only one to survive into old age, mocked him as "the king of folly." During his short time as ruler of England he took over the lordships of Denbigh
, Oswestry
, and Clun
(all of which previously belonged to the Earl of Arundel). He was also granted the marcher lordship of Montgomery by the Queen.
The jealousy and anger of many nobles was aroused by Mortimer's use of power; Henry, Earl of Lancaster
, one of the principals behind Edward II's deposition, tried to overthrow Mortimer, but the action was ineffective as the young king passively stood by. Then, in March of 1330, Mortimer ordered the execution of Edmund, Earl of Kent
, the half-brother of Edward II. After this execution Henry Lancaster prevailed upon the young king, Edward III, to assert his independence. In October 1330, a Parliament was called in Nottingham
, just days before Edward's eighteenth birthday, and Mortimer and Isabella were seized by Edward and his companions from inside Nottingham Castle
. In spite of Isabella’s entreaty to her son, "Fair son, have pity on the gentle Mortimer," Mortimer was conveyed to the Tower.
Accused of assuming royal power and of various other high misdemeanours, he was condemned without trial and ignominiously hanged, drawn and quartered
at Tyburn on 29 November 1330, his vast estates being forfeited to the crown. His body hung at the gallows for two days and nights, in full view of the populace. Mortimer's widow, Joan, received a pardon in 1336 and survived till 1356. She was buried beside Mortimer at Wigmore, but the site was later destroyed.
In 2002, the actor John Challis
, the current owner of the remaining buildings of Wigmore Abbey, invited the BBC programme "House Detectives at Large" to investigate his property. During the investigation, a document was discovered in which Mortimer's widow Joan petitioned Edward III for the return of her husband's body so she could bury it at Wigmore Abbey
. Mortimer's lover, Isabella, had buried his body at Greyfriars in Coventry following his hanging. Edward III replied, "Let his body rest in peace." The King later relented, and Mortimer's body was transferred to Wigmore Abbey, where Joan was later buried beside him.
, Edward V
, Richard III
, and all monarchs from Henry VIII
onwards, as well as Mary, Queen of Scots.
Welsh Marches
The Welsh Marches is a term which, in modern usage, denotes an imprecisely defined area along and around the border between England and Wales in the United Kingdom. The precise meaning of the term has varied at different periods...
and Ireland following his advantageous marriage to the wealthy heiress Joan de Geneville, 2nd Baroness Geneville. In November 1316, he was appointed Lord Lieutenant of Ireland
Lord Lieutenant of Ireland
The Lord Lieutenant of Ireland was the British King's representative and head of the Irish executive during the Lordship of Ireland , the Kingdom of Ireland and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland...
. He was imprisoned in the Tower of London
Tower of London
Her Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress, more commonly known as the Tower of London, is a historic castle on the north bank of the River Thames in central London, England. It lies within the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, separated from the eastern edge of the City of London by the open space...
in 1322 for having led the Marcher lords in a revolt against King Edward II
Edward II of England
Edward II , called Edward of Caernarfon, was King of England from 1307 until he was deposed by his wife Isabella in January 1327. He was the sixth Plantagenet king, in a line that began with the reign of Henry II...
in what became known as the Despenser War
Despenser War
The Despenser War was a baronial revolt between 1321-2 led by the Marcher Lords Roger Mortimer, Baron Mortimer and Humphrey de Bohun, 4th Earl of Hereford against Edward II of England and his favourite, Hugh Despenser the Younger.Some historians use the label the "Despenser War" to refer to just...
. He later escaped to France, where he was joined by Edward's queen consort
Queen consort
A queen consort is the wife of a reigning king. A queen consort usually shares her husband's rank and holds the feminine equivalent of the king's monarchical titles. Historically, queens consort do not share the king regnant's political and military powers. Most queens in history were queens consort...
Isabella
Isabella of France
Isabella of France , sometimes described as the She-wolf of France, was Queen consort of England as the wife of Edward II of England. She was the youngest surviving child and only surviving daughter of Philip IV of France and Joan I of Navarre...
, whom he took as his mistress.
After he and Isabella led a successful invasion and rebellion against Edward, who was subsequently deposed, Mortimer allegedly arranged his murder at Berkeley Castle
Berkeley Castle
Berkeley Castle is a castle in the town of Berkeley, Gloucestershire, UK . The castle's origins date back to the 11th century and it has been designated by English Heritage as a grade I listed building.The castle has remained within the Berkeley family since they reconstructed it in the...
. For three years, Mortimer was de facto
De facto
De facto is a Latin expression that means "concerning fact." In law, it often means "in practice but not necessarily ordained by law" or "in practice or actuality, but not officially established." It is commonly used in contrast to de jure when referring to matters of law, governance, or...
ruler of England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
before being himself overthrown by Edward's eldest son, Edward III
Edward III of England
Edward III was King of England from 1327 until his death and is noted for his military success. Restoring royal authority after the disastrous reign of his father, Edward II, Edward III went on to transform the Kingdom of England into one of the most formidable military powers in Europe...
. Accused of assuming royal power and other crimes, Mortimer was executed by hanging
Hanging
Hanging is the lethal suspension of a person by a ligature. The Oxford English Dictionary states that hanging in this sense is "specifically to put to death by suspension by the neck", though it formerly also referred to crucifixion and death by impalement in which the body would remain...
at Tyburn
Tyburn, London
Tyburn was a village in the county of Middlesex close to the current location of Marble Arch in present-day London. It took its name from the Tyburn or Teo Bourne 'boundary stream', a tributary of the River Thames which is now completely covered over between its source and its outfall into the...
. His was the first execution to take place at the notorious gallows.
Early life
Mortimer, grandson of Roger Mortimer, 1st Baron Mortimer, was born at Wigmore CastleWigmore Castle
Wigmore Castle is a ruined castle which is barely visible from the village of Wigmore in the northwest region of Herefordshire, England.- History :...
, Herefordshire
Herefordshire
Herefordshire is a historic and ceremonial county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes it is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three counties that comprise the "Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Gloucestershire" NUTS 2 region. It also forms a unitary district known as the...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, the firstborn of Marcher Lord Edmund Mortimer, 2nd Baron Mortimer, and his wife, Margaret de Fiennes. His father Edmund Mortimer had been a second son, intended for minor orders and a clerical career, but on the sudden death of his elder brother Ralph, Edmund was recalled from Oxford University and installed as heir.
According to his biographer Ian Mortimer, as a boy, Roger was probably sent away from home to be fostered in the household of his formidable uncle, Roger Mortimer de Chirk
Roger Mortimer de Chirk
Roger Mortimer de Chirk was a 14th century Marcher lord, notable for his opposition to Edward II of England during the Despenser War.-Background and Early Service:...
. It was this uncle who had carried the severed head of Llywelyn the Last
Llywelyn the Last
Llywelyn ap Gruffydd or Llywelyn Ein Llyw Olaf , sometimes rendered as Llywelyn II, was the last prince of an independent Wales before its conquest by Edward I of England....
of Wales to King Edward I
Edward I of England
Edward I , also known as Edward Longshanks and the Hammer of the Scots, was King of England from 1272 to 1307. The first son of Henry III, Edward was involved early in the political intrigues of his father's reign, which included an outright rebellion by the English barons...
in 1282.
Like many noble children of his time, Roger was betrothed young, to Joan de Geneville (2 February 1286- 19 October 1356), the wealthy daughter of Sir Piers de Geneville, of Trim Castle
Trim Castle
Trim Castle , Trim, County Meath, Ireland, on the shores of the Boyne has an area of 30,000 m². It is the remains of Ireland's largest Anglo-Norman castle...
and Ludlow
Ludlow
Ludlow is a market town in Shropshire, England close to the Welsh border and in the Welsh Marches. It lies within a bend of the River Teme, on its eastern bank, forming an area of and centred on a small hill. Atop this hill is the site of Ludlow Castle and the market place...
. They were married in 1301, and immediately began a family.
Marriage
Through his marriage with Joan de Geneville, Roger not only acquired increased possessions in the Welsh MarchesWelsh Marches
The Welsh Marches is a term which, in modern usage, denotes an imprecisely defined area along and around the border between England and Wales in the United Kingdom. The precise meaning of the term has varied at different periods...
, including the important Ludlow Castle
Ludlow Castle
Ludlow Castle is a large, partly ruined, non-inhabited castle which dominates the town of Ludlow in Shropshire, England. It stands on a high point overlooking the River Teme...
, which became the chief stronghold of the Mortimers, but also extensive estates and influence in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. However, Joan de Geneville was not an "heiress" at the time of her marriage. Her grandfather, Geoffrey de Geneville, at the age of eighty in 1308, conveyed most, but not all, of his Irish lordships to Roger Mortimer, and then retired, notably alive: he finally died in 1314, with Joan succeeding as suo jure
Suo jure
Suo jure is a Latin phrase meaning "in her [or his] own right".It is commonly encountered in the context of titles of nobility, especially in cases where a wife may hold a title in her own right rather than through her marriage....
2nd Baroness Geneville. During his lifetime Geoffrey also conveyed much of the remainder of his legacy, such as Kenlys, to his younger son (the older son Piers having died in 1292), Simon de Geneville, who had meanwhile become Baron of Culmullin through marriage to Joanna FitzLeon. Roger Mortimer therefore succeeded to the lordship of Trim, County Meath
Trim, County Meath
Trim is the traditional county town of County Meath in Ireland, although the county town is now Navan. The town was recorded in the 2006 census to have a population of 6,870....
(which later reverted to the Crown). He did not succeed, however, to the Lordship of Fingal
Fingal
Fingal is a county in Ireland. It is one of three smaller counties into which County Dublin was divided in 1994. With its county seat located in Swords, it has a population of 239,992 according to the 2006 census...
.
Military adventures in Ireland and Wales
Roger Mortimer's childhood came to an abrupt end when his father was mortally wounded in a skirmish near Builth in July 1304. Since Roger was underage at the death of his father, he was placed by King Edward I under the guardianship of Piers Gaveston, 1st Earl of Cornwall. However, on 22 May 1306, in a lavish ceremony in Westminster AbbeyWestminster Abbey
The Collegiate Church of St Peter at Westminster, popularly known as Westminster Abbey, is a large, mainly Gothic church, in the City of Westminster, London, United Kingdom, located just to the west of the Palace of Westminster. It is the traditional place of coronation and burial site for English,...
with two hundred and fifty-nine others, he was knighted by Edward and granted livery of his full inheritance. His adult life began in earnest.
In 1308 he went to Ireland in person, to enforce his authority. This brought him into conflict with the de Lacy
De Lacy
de Lacy is the surname of an old Norman noble family originating from Lassy . The first records are about Hugh de Lacy . Descendent of Hugh de Lacy left Normandy and travelled to England along with William the Conqueror. Walter and Ilbert de Lacy fought in the battle of Hastings...
s, who turned for support to Edward Bruce
Edward Bruce
Edward the Bruce , sometimes modernised Edward of Bruce, was a younger brother of King Robert I of Scotland, who supported his brother in the struggle for the crown of Scotland, then pursued his own claim in Ireland. He was proclaimed High King of Ireland, but was eventually defeated and killed in...
, brother of Robert Bruce
Robert I of Scotland
Robert I , popularly known as Robert the Bruce , was King of Scots from March 25, 1306, until his death in 1329.His paternal ancestors were of Scoto-Norman heritage , and...
, king of Scotland. Mortimer was appointed Lord Lieutenant of Ireland
Lord Lieutenant of Ireland
The Lord Lieutenant of Ireland was the British King's representative and head of the Irish executive during the Lordship of Ireland , the Kingdom of Ireland and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland...
by Edward II
Edward II of England
Edward II , called Edward of Caernarfon, was King of England from 1307 until he was deposed by his wife Isabella in January 1327. He was the sixth Plantagenet king, in a line that began with the reign of Henry II...
on 23 November 1316. Shortly afterwards, at the head of a large army, he drove Bruce to Carrickfergus
Carrickfergus
Carrickfergus , known locally and colloquially as "Carrick", is a large town in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It is located on the north shore of Belfast Lough, from Belfast. The town had a population of 27,201 at the 2001 Census and takes its name from Fergus Mór mac Eirc, the 6th century king...
and the de Lacys into Connaught
Connacht
Connacht , formerly anglicised as Connaught, is one of the Provinces of Ireland situated in the west of Ireland. In Ancient Ireland, it was one of the fifths ruled by a "king of over-kings" . Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for...
, wreaking vengeance on their adherents whenever they were to be found. He returned to England in 1318 and was then occupied for some years with baronial disputes on the Welsh border.
Opposition to Edward II
Mortimer became disaffected with his king, and joined the growing opposition to Edward II and the DespensersHugh the younger Despenser
Hugh Despenser, 1st Lord Despenser , also referred to as "the younger Despenser", was the son and heir of Hugh le Despenser, Earl of Winchester , and Isabella daughter of William, 9th Earl of Warwick.-Titles and possessions:Hugh Despenser the younger was knight of Hanley Castle, Worcestershire,...
. After the younger Despenser was granted lands belonging to him, he and the Marchers began conducting devastating raids against Despenser property in Wales. He supported Humphrey de Bohun, 4th Earl of Hereford
Humphrey de Bohun, 4th Earl of Hereford
Humphrey de Bohun, 4th Earl of Hereford was a member of a powerful Anglo-Norman family of the Welsh Marches and was one of the Ordainers who opposed Edward II's excesses.-Family background :...
, in refusing to obey the king’s summons to appear before him in 1321. Mortimer led a march against London, his men wearing the Mortimer uniform which was green with a yellow sleeve. He was prevented from entering the capital, although his forces put it under siege. These acts of insurrection compelled the Lords Ordainers led by Thomas, 2nd Earl of Lancaster to order the King to banish the Despensers in August. When the King led a successful expedition in October against Margaret de Clare, Baroness Badlesmere after she had refused Queen Isabella admittance to Leeds Castle
Leeds Castle
Leeds Castle, southeast of Maidstone, Kent, England, dates back to 1119, though a Saxon fort stood on the same site from the 9th century. The castle is built on islands in a lake formed by the River Len to the east of the village of Leeds....
, he used his victory and new popularity amongst the moderate lords and the people to summon the Despensers back to England. Mortimer, in company with other Marcher Lords, led a rebellion against Edward, which is known as the Despenser War
Despenser War
The Despenser War was a baronial revolt between 1321-2 led by the Marcher Lords Roger Mortimer, Baron Mortimer and Humphrey de Bohun, 4th Earl of Hereford against Edward II of England and his favourite, Hugh Despenser the Younger.Some historians use the label the "Despenser War" to refer to just...
, at the end of the year.
Forced to surrender to the king at Shrewsbury in January 1322, Mortimer was consigned to the Tower of London
Tower of London
Her Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress, more commonly known as the Tower of London, is a historic castle on the north bank of the River Thames in central London, England. It lies within the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, separated from the eastern edge of the City of London by the open space...
, but by drugging the constable, escaped to France in August 1323, pursued by warrants for his capture dead or alive. In the following year Queen Isabella
Isabella of France
Isabella of France , sometimes described as the She-wolf of France, was Queen consort of England as the wife of Edward II of England. She was the youngest surviving child and only surviving daughter of Philip IV of France and Joan I of Navarre...
, wife of Edward II, anxious to escape from her husband, obtained his consent to her going to France to use her influence with her brother, King Charles IV
Charles IV of France
Charles IV, known as the Fair , was the King of France and of Navarre and Count of Champagne from 1322 to his death: he was the last French king of the senior Capetian lineage....
, in favour of peace. At the French court the queen found Roger Mortimer, who became her lover soon afterwards. At his instigation, she refused to return to England so long as the Despensers retained power as the king’s favourites.
Historians have speculated as to the date at which Mortimer and Isabella actually became lovers. The modern view is that after a row Isabella abandoned Roger to his fate in the Tower. His subsequent escape became one of medieval England's most colourful episodes. However almost certainly Isabella risked everything by chancing Mortimer's companionship and emotional support when they first met again at Paris in Christmas 1325 four years later. King Charles IV's protection of Isabella at the French court from Despenser's would-be assassins played a large part in developing the relationship. In 1326, Mortimer moved as Prince Edward's guardian to Hainault, but only after a furious row with the queen, demanding she remain in France. Isabella retired to raise troops in her County of Ponthieu
Ponthieu
Ponthieu was one of six feudal counties that eventually merged together to become part of the Province of Picardy, in northern France. Its chief town is Abbeville.- History :...
; Mortimer arranged the invasion fleet supplied by the Hainaulters.
Invasion of England and defeat of Edward II
The scandal of Isabella’s relations with Mortimer compelled them both to withdraw from the French court to FlandersFlanders
Flanders is the community of the Flemings but also one of the institutions in Belgium, and a geographical region located in parts of present-day Belgium, France and the Netherlands. "Flanders" can also refer to the northern part of Belgium that contains Brussels, Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp...
, where they obtained assistance for an invasion of England from Count William of Hainaut
William I, Count of Hainaut
William I, Count of Hainaut was Count William III of Avesnes, Count William III of Holland and Count William II of Zeeland from 1304 to his death...
, although Isabella did not arrive from Ponthieu until the fleet was due to sail. Landing in the River Orwell
River Orwell
The River Orwell flows through the county of Suffolk in England. Its source river, above the tidal limit at Stoke Bridge, is known as the River Gipping. It broadens into an estuary at Ipswich where the Ipswich dock has operated since the 7th century and then flows into the North Sea at Felixstowe...
on 24 September 1326, they were accompanied by Prince Edward and Henry, Earl of Lancaster
Henry, 3rd Earl of Lancaster
Henry , 3rd Earl of Leicester and Lancaster was an English nobleman, one of the principals behind the deposition of Edward II of England.-Family and lineage:...
; London rose in support of the queen, and Edward took flight to the west, pursued by Mortimer and Isabella.
After wandering helplessly for some weeks in Wales, the king was taken prisoner on 16 November, and was compelled to abdicate in favour of his son. Though the latter was crowned
Coronation
A coronation is a ceremony marking the formal investiture of a monarch and/or their consort with regal power, usually involving the placement of a crown upon their head and the presentation of other items of regalia...
as Edward III of England
Edward III of England
Edward III was King of England from 1327 until his death and is noted for his military success. Restoring royal authority after the disastrous reign of his father, Edward II, Edward III went on to transform the Kingdom of England into one of the most formidable military powers in Europe...
on 25 January 1327, the country was ruled by Mortimer and Isabella, who were widely believed to have arranged the murder of Edward II
Edward II of England
Edward II , called Edward of Caernarfon, was King of England from 1307 until he was deposed by his wife Isabella in January 1327. He was the sixth Plantagenet king, in a line that began with the reign of Henry II...
in the following September at Berkeley Castle
Berkeley Castle
Berkeley Castle is a castle in the town of Berkeley, Gloucestershire, UK . The castle's origins date back to the 11th century and it has been designated by English Heritage as a grade I listed building.The castle has remained within the Berkeley family since they reconstructed it in the...
. Modern scholarship has cast doubt on this however, with some historians claiming the ex-king was not buried in 1327 but secretly maintained alive on Mortimer's orders until his fall from grace in 1330.
Powers won and lost
Rich estates and offices of profit and power were now heaped on Mortimer. He was made constable of Wallingford CastleWallingford Castle
Wallingford Castle was a major medieval castle situated in Wallingford in the English county of Oxfordshire , adjacent to the River Thames...
, and in September 1328 he was created Earl of March
Earl of March
The title The Earl of March has been created several times in the Peerage of Scotland and the Peerage of England. The title derived from the "marches" or boundaries between England and either Wales or Scotland , and was held by several great feudal families which owned lands in those border...
. However, although in military terms he was far more competent than the Despensers, his ambition was troubling to all. His own son, Geoffrey, the only one to survive into old age, mocked him as "the king of folly." During his short time as ruler of England he took over the lordships of Denbigh
Denbigh
Denbigh is a market town and community in Denbighshire, Wales. Before 1888, it was the county town of Denbighshire. Denbigh lies 8 miles to the north west of Ruthin and to the south of St Asaph. It is about 13 miles from the seaside resort of Rhyl. The town grew around the glove-making industry...
, Oswestry
Oswestry
Oswestry is a town and civil parish in Shropshire, England, close to the Welsh border. It is at the junction of the A5, A483, and A495 roads....
, and Clun
Clun
Clun is a small town in Shropshire, England. The town is located entirely in the Shropshire Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The 2001 census recorded 642 people living in the town...
(all of which previously belonged to the Earl of Arundel). He was also granted the marcher lordship of Montgomery by the Queen.
Henry, 3rd Earl of Lancaster
Henry , 3rd Earl of Leicester and Lancaster was an English nobleman, one of the principals behind the deposition of Edward II of England.-Family and lineage:...
, one of the principals behind Edward II's deposition, tried to overthrow Mortimer, but the action was ineffective as the young king passively stood by. Then, in March of 1330, Mortimer ordered the execution of Edmund, Earl of Kent
Edmund of Woodstock, 1st Earl of Kent
Edmund of Woodstock, 1st Earl of Kent was a member of the English Royal Family.-Early life:He was born at Woodstock in Oxfordshire, the son of Edward I Longshanks, King of England and his second wife, Margaret of France. He was 62 years younger than his father, who died when Edmund of Woodstock...
, the half-brother of Edward II. After this execution Henry Lancaster prevailed upon the young king, Edward III, to assert his independence. In October 1330, a Parliament was called in Nottingham
Nottingham
Nottingham is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England. It is located in the ceremonial county of Nottinghamshire and represents one of eight members of the English Core Cities Group...
, just days before Edward's eighteenth birthday, and Mortimer and Isabella were seized by Edward and his companions from inside Nottingham Castle
Nottingham Castle
Nottingham Castle is a castle in Nottingham, England. It is located in a commanding position on a natural promontory known as "'Castle Rock'", with cliffs high to the south and west. In the Middle Ages it was a major royal fortress and occasional royal residence...
. In spite of Isabella’s entreaty to her son, "Fair son, have pity on the gentle Mortimer," Mortimer was conveyed to the Tower.
Accused of assuming royal power and of various other high misdemeanours, he was condemned without trial and ignominiously hanged, drawn and quartered
Hanged, drawn and quartered
To be hanged, drawn and quartered was from 1351 a penalty in England for men convicted of high treason, although the ritual was first recorded during the reigns of King Henry III and his successor, Edward I...
at Tyburn on 29 November 1330, his vast estates being forfeited to the crown. His body hung at the gallows for two days and nights, in full view of the populace. Mortimer's widow, Joan, received a pardon in 1336 and survived till 1356. She was buried beside Mortimer at Wigmore, but the site was later destroyed.
In 2002, the actor John Challis
John Challis
John Challis is an English actor.-Career:He is probably best known for his role as Terrance Aubrey "Boycie" Boyce in the long running comedy show Only Fools and Horses, and its 2005 spin-off, The Green Green Grass....
, the current owner of the remaining buildings of Wigmore Abbey, invited the BBC programme "House Detectives at Large" to investigate his property. During the investigation, a document was discovered in which Mortimer's widow Joan petitioned Edward III for the return of her husband's body so she could bury it at Wigmore Abbey
Wigmore Abbey
Wigmore Abbey was an Augustinian abbey with a grange, from 1179 to 1530, situated about a mile north of the village of Wigmore, Herefordshire, England.Only ruins of the abbey now remain.-History of the abbey:...
. Mortimer's lover, Isabella, had buried his body at Greyfriars in Coventry following his hanging. Edward III replied, "Let his body rest in peace." The King later relented, and Mortimer's body was transferred to Wigmore Abbey, where Joan was later buried beside him.
Children of Roger and Joan
The marriages of Mortimer's children cemented Mortimer strengths in the West.- Sir Edmund Mortimer knt (1302–1331), married Elizabeth de BadlesmereElizabeth de BadlesmereElizabeth de Badlesmere, Countess of Northampton was the wife of two English noblemen, Sir Edmund Mortimer and William de Bohun, 1st Earl of Northampton...
, they had Roger Mortimer, 2nd Earl of March, who was restored to his grandfather’s title. - Margaret MortimerMargaret Mortimer, Baroness BerkeleyMargaret Mortimer, Baroness Berkeley was the wife of Thomas de Berkeley, 3rd Baron Berkeley. She was the eldest daughter of Roger Mortimer, 1st Earl of March, the de facto ruler of England from 1327 to 1330, and his wife Joan de Geneville, Baroness Geneville.-Family:Margaret Mortimer was the...
(1304 – 5 May 1337), married Thomas de Berkeley, 3rd Baron BerkeleyThomas de Berkeley, 3rd Baron BerkeleyThomas de Berkeley , aka Thomas the Rich, was an English baron and the custodian of the Berkeley Castle.He was the son of Maurice de Berkeley, 2nd Baron Berkeley and Eve la Zouche.-Edward II:... - Maud Mortimer (1307 – aft. 1345), married John de Charlton, Lord of PowysJohn Charleton, 2nd Baron CherletonJohn Charleton , 2nd Baron Cherleton, 2nd Lord Charlton of Powys succeeded his father to the title in 1353. He married Maud Mortimer, daughter of Roger Mortimer, 1st Earl of March and Joan de Geneville, before 13 April 1319...
- Geoffrey Mortimer (1309–1372/6)
- John Mortimer (1310–1328)
- Joan Mortimer (c. 1312–1337/51), married James Audley, 2nd Baron AudleyJames Audley, 2nd Baron AudleyJames Audley, 2nd Baron Audley was an English peer.James, 2nd Baron Audley was son of Nicholas Audley, 1st Baron Audley and his wife Joan Martin James Audley, 2nd Baron Audley (8 January 1312/13 — 1 April 1386) was an English peer.James, 2nd Baron Audley was son of Nicholas Audley, 1st Baron...
- Isabella Mortimer (c. 1313 – aft. 1327)
- Katherine Mortimer (c. 1314–1369), married Thomas de Beauchamp, 11th Earl of WarwickThomas de Beauchamp, 11th Earl of WarwickThomas de Beauchamp, 11th Earl of Warwick, KG was an English nobleman and military commander during the Hundred Years' War...
- Agnes MortimerAgnes Mortimer, Countess of PembrokeAgnes Mortimer, Countess of Pembroke was the wife of Laurence Hastings, 1st Earl of Pembroke. She was a daughter of Roger Mortimer, 1st Earl of March and Joan de Geneville, Baroness Geneville.-Family:...
(c. 1317–1368), married Laurence Hastings, 1st Earl of PembrokeLaurence Hastings, 1st Earl of PembrokeLaurence de Hastings, 1st Earl of Pembroke was a Norman English nobleman and held the titles 1st Earl of Pembroke , Baron Abergavenny and Baron Hastings under Edward II of England and Edward III of England.... - Beatrice Mortimer (c. 1319–1383), married (1) Edward de Mowbray, 2nd Earl of Norfolk; (2) Thomas de Braose, 1st Baron Braose
- Blanche Mortimer (c. 1321–1347), married Peter de Grandison, 2nd Baron Grandison
Royal descendants
Through his son, Sir Edmund Mortimer, he was the ancestor of the English kings: Edward IVEdward IV of England
Edward IV was King of England from 4 March 1461 until 3 October 1470, and again from 11 April 1471 until his death. He was the first Yorkist King of England...
, Edward V
Edward V of England
Edward V was King of England from 9 April 1483 until his deposition two months later. His reign was dominated by the influence of his uncle Richard, Duke of Gloucester, who succeeded him as Richard III...
, Richard III
Richard III of England
Richard III was King of England for two years, from 1483 until his death in 1485 during the Battle of Bosworth Field. He was the last king of the House of York and the last of the Plantagenet dynasty...
, and all monarchs from Henry VIII
Henry VIII of England
Henry VIII was King of England from 21 April 1509 until his death. He was Lord, and later King, of Ireland, as well as continuing the nominal claim by the English monarchs to the Kingdom of France...
onwards, as well as Mary, Queen of Scots.