Ranulph de Mortimer
Encyclopedia
Ranulph I de Mortimer (bef. 1070 to c. 1104) of Mortemer-sur-Eaulne, was a Marcher Lord from the Montgomery lands in the Welsh Marches
. In England, he was Lord of Wigmore in Herefordshire
. In Normandy
, he was the Seigneur
of St. Victor-en-Caux
. Ranulph was the founder of the English House of Mortimer
of Wigmore. He acquired Wigmore Castle
after William Fitz Osbern
's son Roger de Breteuil joined the Revolt of the Earls
of 1075. His lands and holdings in Herefordshire and Shropshire
were granted to him by William the Conqueror before 1086.
and the Duchy of Normandy
were divided. Ranulph of Mortemer joined the ranks of the Rebellion of 1088
against the new King of England, William Rufus. Together with Norman, English and Welsh Marcher Lords, they invaded and conquered the lands of Hereford
, Gloucester
and Worcestershire
. A year later, the revolt failed and the marches of Normandy, from Maine
to the Evrecin
, were in disorder. King Rufus took advantage of this opportunity to align with the barons of Upper Normandy by bribing them. Of these barons, Ranulph maintained his land by accepting a bribe from the King in which he had to give his support to England. He did this by garrisoning his castle and sacking surrounding enemy territories as an attack against the new Duke of Normandy
, Robert Curthose. The Norman baron allegiance set the stage for a race between the heirs of William I, where the Duke of Normandy and the King of England sought to gain as much support from powerful and influential houses as possible against each other.
in 1093, Ranulph joined Norman forces, leading with Earl Roger of Shrewsbury
, Ralph Tosny of Clifford Castle
and Philip de Braose
of Radnor
. They invaded the ancient Welsh county of Radnorshire
, which is now Powys
, and sacked the kingdom of Cynllibiwg
. This territory was known as Rhwng Gwy a Hafren
, located between the Rivers Wye
and Severn
. They founded the castles of Dinieithon, near present Llandrindod Wells
, and Cymaron in Maelienydd
, located between Llanbister and Llangunllo. A century later, after the collapse of Norman authority, the descendants of Mortemer were eventually expelled from this territory by the Cynllibiwg rebellion of 1148.
before 1070 and died soon after 4 August 1137. He was the son of the Norman
baron Roger "filius Episcopi"
and Hawise. His father assumed the name Mortemer after taking possession of the castle and village of Morte-mer-en-Brai in the Pays de Caux
. However, Roger lost the land in the Battle of Mortemer
of 1054 against William the Conqueror. Decades later, the property was granted back to the Mortemer family, namely by Ranulph, who acquired it. They are related to William de Warenne, 1st Earl of Surrey
, and descendents of a sister of Gunnor, the wife of Richard I of Normandy
.
Ranulph married Millicent, whose parentage is currently unknown. Their daughter Hawise de Mortemer (d. 1127), married Earl Stephen of Aumale
before 1100. Ranulph supported the cause to have
his son-in-law replace Henry I of England
, however, Henry had control of both England and Normandy until 1135.
Ranulph's son, Hugh I de Mortemer, rebuilt Cymaron Castle in 1144. Wigmore Castle remained the Mortimer
dynasty's family home. His grandson Hugh II
married Maud (Matilda) de Meschines.
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...
. In England, he was Lord of Wigmore in 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...
. In Normandy
Normandy
Normandy is a geographical region corresponding to the former Duchy of Normandy. It is in France.The continental territory covers 30,627 km² and forms the preponderant part of Normandy and roughly 5% of the territory of France. It is divided for administrative purposes into two régions:...
, he was the Seigneur
Seigneur
Seigneur may refer to:* The possessor of a seigneurie in medieval feudal or manorial systems.* The Seigneurial system of New France* The hereditary feudal ruler of the island of Sark, see also List of Seigneurs of Sark...
of St. Victor-en-Caux
Saint-Victor-l'Abbaye
Saint-Victor-l’Abbaye is a commune in the Seine-Maritime department in the Haute-Normandie region in northern France.-Geography:A farming village situated by the banks of the river Scie in the Pays de Caux, some south of Dieppe at the junction of the D57, D3 and the D929 roads...
. Ranulph was the founder of the English House of Mortimer
Mortimer
Mortimer is a popular English name, used both as a surname and a given name.- Norman origins :The origin of the name is almost certainly Norman, but the details are disputed....
of Wigmore. He acquired Wigmore Castle
Wigmore Castle
Wigmore Castle is a ruined castle which is barely visible from the village of Wigmore in the northwest region of Herefordshire, England.- History :...
after William Fitz Osbern
William Fitzosbern, 1st Earl of Hereford
William FitzOsbern , Lord of Breteuil, in Normandy, was a relative and close counsellor of William the Conqueror and one of the great magnates of early Norman England...
's son Roger de Breteuil joined the Revolt of the Earls
Revolt of the Earls
The Revolt of the Earls in 1075 was a rebellion of three earls against William I of England . It was the last serious act of resistance against William in the Norman Conquest.-Course:...
of 1075. His lands and holdings in Herefordshire and Shropshire
Shropshire
Shropshire is a county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. It borders Wales to the west...
were granted to him by William the Conqueror before 1086.
Allegiance to England
After William the Conqueror's death, the Kingdom of EnglandKingdom of England
The Kingdom of England was, from 927 to 1707, a sovereign state to the northwest of continental Europe. At its height, the Kingdom of England spanned the southern two-thirds of the island of Great Britain and several smaller outlying islands; what today comprises the legal jurisdiction of England...
and the Duchy of Normandy
Duchy of Normandy
The Duchy of Normandy stems from various Danish, Norwegian, Hiberno-Norse, Orkney Viking and Anglo-Danish invasions of France in the 9th century...
were divided. Ranulph of Mortemer joined the ranks of the Rebellion of 1088
Rebellion of 1088
The Rebellion of 1088 occurred after the death of William the Conqueror and concerned the division of lands in the Kingdom of England and the Duchy of Normandy between his two sons William Rufus and Robert Curthose...
against the new King of England, William Rufus. Together with Norman, English and Welsh Marcher Lords, they invaded and conquered the lands of Hereford
Hereford
Hereford is a cathedral city, civil parish and county town of Herefordshire, England. It lies on the River Wye, approximately east of the border with Wales, southwest of Worcester, and northwest of Gloucester...
, Gloucester
Gloucester
Gloucester is a city, district and county town of Gloucestershire in the South West region of England. Gloucester lies close to the Welsh border, and on the River Severn, approximately north-east of Bristol, and south-southwest of Birmingham....
and Worcestershire
Worcestershire
Worcestershire is a non-metropolitan county, established in antiquity, located 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 Warwickshire" NUTS 2 region...
. A year later, the revolt failed and the marches of Normandy, from Maine
Maine (province)
Le Maine is one of the traditional provinces of France . It corresponds to the old county of Maine, with its center, the city of Le Mans.-Location:...
to the Evrecin
Normanville, Eure
Normanville is a commune in the Eure department in Haute-Normandie in northern France.-Population:...
, were in disorder. King Rufus took advantage of this opportunity to align with the barons of Upper Normandy by bribing them. Of these barons, Ranulph maintained his land by accepting a bribe from the King in which he had to give his support to England. He did this by garrisoning his castle and sacking surrounding enemy territories as an attack against the new Duke of Normandy
Duke of Normandy
The Duke of Normandy is the title of the reigning monarch of the British Crown Dependancies of the Bailiwick of Guernsey and the Bailiwick of Jersey. The title traces its roots to the Duchy of Normandy . Whether the reigning sovereign is a male or female, they are always titled as the "Duke of...
, Robert Curthose. The Norman baron allegiance set the stage for a race between the heirs of William I, where the Duke of Normandy and the King of England sought to gain as much support from powerful and influential houses as possible against each other.
Allegiance to Normandy
Throughout the power struggle between Normandy and England in the early 1090s, Ranulph ended up switching sides and submitting to the Duke of Normandy. At 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...
in 1093, Ranulph joined Norman forces, leading with Earl Roger of Shrewsbury
Roger de Montgomerie, 1st Earl of Shrewsbury
Roger de Montgomerie , also known as Roger the Great de Montgomery, was the first Earl of Shrewsbury. His father was also Roger de Montgomerie, and was a relative, probably a grandnephew, of the Duchess Gunnor, wife of Duke Richard I of Normandy...
, Ralph Tosny of Clifford Castle
Clifford Castle
Clifford Castle is a castle in the village of Clifford which lies four miles to the north of Hay-on-Wye in the Wye Valley in Herefordshire, England .-Early Norman castle and planned settlement:...
and Philip de Braose
Philip de Braose
Philip de Braose, 2nd Lord of Bramber was an Anglo-Norman nobleman and Marcher Lord.-Early career:His father, William de Braose had participated in the victory at the Battle of Hastings in support of William the Conqueror. He had been rewarded with a barony and lands in Sussex and the Welsh Marches...
of Radnor
Radnor
Radnor may refer to various places:United Kingdom* Radnorshire, Wales* New Radnor, Powys, Wales* Radnor Wood, Clun, Shropshire, EnglandUnited States* Radnor, Indiana* Radnor Township, Peoria County, Illinois* Radnor, Ohio...
. They invaded the ancient Welsh county of Radnorshire
Radnorshire
Radnorshire is one of thirteen historic and former administrative counties of Wales. It is represented by the Radnorshire area of Powys, which according to the 2001 census, had a population of 24,805...
, which is now Powys
Powys
Powys is a local-government county and preserved county in Wales.-Geography:Powys covers the historic counties of Montgomeryshire and Radnorshire, most of Brecknockshire , and a small part of Denbighshire — an area of 5,179 km², making it the largest county in Wales by land area.It is...
, and sacked the kingdom of Cynllibiwg
Cynllibiwg
Cynllibiwg was evidently a place name in early medieval Wales.The earliest surviving reference to it is in the Historia Brittonum, which describes a marvelous spring in the regione of Cinlipiuc that has an abundance of fish despite not being fed by a stream...
. This territory was known as Rhwng Gwy a Hafren
Rhwng Gwy a Hafren
Rhwng Gwy a Hafren was a region of medieval Wales, located in the Welsh Marches between Powys to the north and Brycheiniog to the south. It was bounded by the rivers Wye and Severn , hence its name. It covered approximately the same territory as Radnorshire, now part of the county of Powys...
, located between the Rivers Wye
River Wye
The River Wye is the fifth-longest river in the UK and for parts of its length forms part of the border between England and Wales. It is important for nature conservation and recreation.-Description:...
and Severn
River Severn
The River Severn is the longest river in Great Britain, at about , but the second longest on the British Isles, behind the River Shannon. It rises at an altitude of on Plynlimon, Ceredigion near Llanidloes, Powys, in the Cambrian Mountains of mid Wales...
. They founded the castles of Dinieithon, near present Llandrindod Wells
Llandrindod Wells
Llandrindod Wells , colloquially known locally as "Llandod", is a town and community in Powys, within the historic boundaries of Radnorshire, mid Wales, United Kingdom. It was developed as a spa town in the 19th century, with a boom in the late 20th century as a centre of local government. Before...
, and Cymaron in Maelienydd
Maelienydd
Maelienydd, sometimes spelt Maeliennydd, was a cantref and lordship in east central Wales covering the area from the River Teme to Radnor Forest and the area around Llandrindod Wells. The area, which is mainly upland, is now in Powys...
, located between Llanbister and Llangunllo. A century later, after the collapse of Norman authority, the descendants of Mortemer were eventually expelled from this territory by the Cynllibiwg rebellion of 1148.
Family
Ranulph de Mortemer was born in NormandyNormandy
Normandy is a geographical region corresponding to the former Duchy of Normandy. It is in France.The continental territory covers 30,627 km² and forms the preponderant part of Normandy and roughly 5% of the territory of France. It is divided for administrative purposes into two régions:...
before 1070 and died soon after 4 August 1137. He was the son of the Norman
Normans
The Normans were the people who gave their name to Normandy, a region in northern France. They were descended from Norse Viking conquerors of the territory and the native population of Frankish and Gallo-Roman stock...
baron Roger "filius Episcopi"
Roger of Mortemer
Roger I of Mortemer , founded the abbey of St. Victor en Caux in the Pays de Caux of Upper Normandy as early as 1074 CE. Roger claimed the castle built by William FitzOsbern, 1st Earl of Hereford, that was situated on the river mouth of Eaulne in Mortemer, Seine-Maritime...
and Hawise. His father assumed the name Mortemer after taking possession of the castle and village of Morte-mer-en-Brai in the Pays de Caux
Pays de Caux
The Pays de Caux is an area in Normandy occupying the greater part of the French département of Seine Maritime in Haute-Normandie. It is a chalk plateau to the north of the Seine Estuary and extending to the cliffs on the English Channel coast - its coastline is known as the Côte d'Albâtre...
. However, Roger lost the land in the Battle of Mortemer
Battle of Mortemer
For 16 years the Norman realms of the young William I of England, then known as Duke William II, were gravely threatened by other Norman barons and also by the French King. This was because William came to power at age seven....
of 1054 against William the Conqueror. Decades later, the property was granted back to the Mortemer family, namely by Ranulph, who acquired it. They are related to William de Warenne, 1st Earl of Surrey
William de Warenne, 1st Earl of Surrey
William de Warenne, 1st Earl of Surrey, Seigneur de Varennes is one of the very few proven Companions of William the Conqueror known to have fought at the Battle of Hastings in 1066...
, and descendents of a sister of Gunnor, the wife of Richard I of Normandy
Richard I of Normandy
Richard I of Normandy , also known as Richard the Fearless , was the Duke of Normandy from 942 to 996; he is considered the first to have held that title.-Birth:He was born to William I of Normandy, ruler of Normandy, and Sprota...
.
Ranulph married Millicent, whose parentage is currently unknown. Their daughter Hawise de Mortemer (d. 1127), married Earl Stephen of Aumale
Stephen of Aumale
Stephen of Aumale was Count of Aumale from 1082 to 1127.He was son of Eudes de Blois, Count of Troyes and Count of Meaux, and Adelaide of Normandy, countess of Aumale, and sister of William the Conqueror...
before 1100. Ranulph supported the cause to have
his son-in-law replace Henry I of England
Henry I of England
Henry I was the fourth son of William I of England. He succeeded his elder brother William II as King of England in 1100 and defeated his eldest brother, Robert Curthose, to become Duke of Normandy in 1106...
, however, Henry had control of both England and Normandy until 1135.
Ranulph's son, Hugh I de Mortemer, rebuilt Cymaron Castle in 1144. Wigmore Castle remained the Mortimer
Mortimer
Mortimer is a popular English name, used both as a surname and a given name.- Norman origins :The origin of the name is almost certainly Norman, but the details are disputed....
dynasty's family home. His grandson Hugh II
Hugh de Mortimer
Hugh de Mortimer was a Norman English medieval baron.- Lineage :The son of Hugh de Mortimer , the son of Ralf de Mortimer, he was Lord of Wigmore Castle, Cleobury Mortimer and at times, Bridgnorth, Bishop's Castle and Maelienydd.- Anarchy :During the Anarchy of King Stephen's reign, Mortimer was...
married Maud (Matilda) de Meschines.
Sources
- Remfry, P.M., Wigmore Castle, 1066 to 1181 (ISBN 1-899376-14-3)
- Weis, Frederick Lewis Ancestral Roots of Certain American Colonist Who Came To America Before 1700 (8th ed.), line 136-24