Roger Mortimer of Wigmore
Encyclopedia
Roger de Mortimer was a medieval marcher lord
, residing at Wigmore Castle
in the English
county of Herefordshire
.
He was the son of Hugh de Mortimer
(d. 26 February 1181) and Matilda Le Meschin. He was born before 1153.
against the rebellion of his son, Henry
. In 1179 Roger was instrumental in the killing of Cadwallon ap Madog
, the prince of Maelienydd
and Elfael
, both of which Mortimer coveted. He was imprisoned until June 1182 at Winchester
for this killing.
of Oakham Castle
in Rutland
before 1196. With Isabel, Roger had three sons and a daughter:
He is often wrongly stated to have been the father of Robert Mortimer of Richards Castle (died 1219) - married Margary de Sayhttp://fmg.ac/Projects/MedLands/ENGLISHNOBILITYMEDIEVAL3.htm#MargerySaydied1230, daughter of Hugh de Say.
This Robert was born before 1155 and therefore could not have been a son of Roger.
invaded Maelienydd and rebuilt Cymaron Castle. In 1196 he joined forces with Hugh de Say of Richards Castle and fought and lost the battle of New Radnor
against Rhys ap Gruffydd
, allegedly losing some forty knights and an innumerable number of foot in the fight. By 1200 he had conquered Maelienydd
and issued a new charter of rights to Cwmhir Abbey
. In the summer of 1214 he became gravely ill and bought the right for his son to inherit his lands while he still lived from King John
. He died before 8 July 1214.
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...
, residing at 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 :...
in the English
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...
county of 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...
.
He was the son of Hugh de Mortimer
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...
(d. 26 February 1181) and Matilda Le Meschin. He was born before 1153.
Early life
Roger would appear to have been of age in 1174 when he fought for King Henry IIHenry II of England
Henry II ruled as King of England , Count of Anjou, Count of Maine, Duke of Normandy, Duke of Aquitaine, Duke of Gascony, Count of Nantes, Lord of Ireland and, at various times, controlled parts of Wales, Scotland and western France. Henry, the great-grandson of William the Conqueror, was the...
against the rebellion of his son, Henry
Henry the Young King
Henry, known as the Young King was the second of five sons of King Henry II of England and Eleanor of Aquitaine but the first to survive infancy. He was officially King of England; Duke of Normandy, Count of Anjou and Maine.-Early life:Little is known of the young prince Henry before the events...
. In 1179 Roger was instrumental in the killing of Cadwallon ap Madog
Cadwallon ap Madog
Cadwallon ap Madog was the son of Madog ab Idnerth who had died in 1140, while Idnerth was a grandson of Elystan Glodrydd who had died in around 1010 and had founded a dynasty in the Middle Marches of Wales, in the area known as Rhwng Gwy a Hafren .-Prince of Maelienydd:After the death of Madog ab...
, the prince of 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...
and Elfael
Elfael
Elfael was one of a number of Welsh kingdoms occupying the region between the River Wye and river Severn, known as Rhwng Gwy a Hafren, in the early Middle Ages. Later in the Middle Ages it became a cantref. After the Laws in Wales Act of 1535, it became part of the new county of Radnorshire. ...
, both of which Mortimer coveted. He was imprisoned until June 1182 at Winchester
Winchester
Winchester is a historic cathedral city and former capital city of England. It is the county town of Hampshire, in South East England. The city lies at the heart of the wider City of Winchester, a local government district, and is located at the western end of the South Downs, along the course of...
for this killing.
Children
He had married Isabel (d. before 29 April 1252), the daughter of Walchelin de FerriersWalchelin de Ferriers
Walchelin de Ferrieres was a Norman baron and principal captain of Richard I of England.The Ferriers family hailed from the southern marches of Normandy and had previously protected the duchy from the hostility of the counts of Maine and Anjou...
of Oakham Castle
Oakham Castle
Oakham Castle is located in Oakham, Rutland. It was constructed between 1180 and 1190, in the reign of Henry II for Walchelin de Ferriers, Lord of the Manor of Oakham...
in Rutland
Rutland
Rutland is a landlocked county in central England, bounded on the west and north by Leicestershire, northeast by Lincolnshire and southeast by Peterborough and Northamptonshire....
before 1196. With Isabel, Roger had three sons and a daughter:
- Hugh de Mortimer (d.1227)
- Ralph de MortimerRalph de MortimerRanulph or Ralph de Mortimer was the second son of Roger de Mortimer and Isabel de Ferrers of Wigmore Castle in Herefordshire...
(d.1246). - Philip Mortimer
- Joan Mortimer (d.1225) - married May 1212 to Walter de Beauchamphttp://fmg.ac/Projects/MedLands/ENGLISHNOBILITYMEDIEVAL3.htm#WalterBeauchampMJoanMOrtimer
He is often wrongly stated to have been the father of Robert Mortimer of Richards Castle (died 1219) - married Margary de Sayhttp://fmg.ac/Projects/MedLands/ENGLISHNOBILITYMEDIEVAL3.htm#MargerySaydied1230, daughter of Hugh de Say.
This Robert was born before 1155 and therefore could not have been a son of Roger.
Lord of Maelienydd
In 1195 Roger, with the backing of troops sent by King Richard IRichard I of England
Richard I was King of England from 6 July 1189 until his death. He also ruled as Duke of Normandy, Duke of Aquitaine, Duke of Gascony, Lord of Cyprus, Count of Anjou, Count of Maine, Count of Nantes, and Overlord of Brittany at various times during the same period...
invaded Maelienydd and rebuilt Cymaron Castle. In 1196 he joined forces with Hugh de Say of Richards Castle and fought and lost the battle of New Radnor
New Radnor
New Radnor is a village in Powys, mid Wales. It was the original county town of Radnorshire. The population today is around 400, a higher than normal proportion of which are pensioners...
against Rhys ap Gruffydd
Rhys ap Gruffydd
Rhys ap Gruffydd or ap Gruffudd was the ruler of the kingdom of Deheubarth in south Wales. He is commonly known as The Lord Rhys, in Welsh Yr Arglwydd Rhys, but this title may not have been used in his lifetime...
, allegedly losing some forty knights and an innumerable number of foot in the fight. By 1200 he had conquered 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...
and issued a new charter of rights to Cwmhir Abbey
Cwmhir Abbey
Cwmhir Abbey , near Llandrindod Wells in Powys, is a Welsh Cistercian monastery founded in 1176 by Cadwallon ap Madog. A spurious tale was later recorded that the abbey was founded in 1143 by Meredudd ap Maelgwn at Ty-faenor, and then refounded at the present location near the village of...
. In the summer of 1214 he became gravely ill and bought the right for his son to inherit his lands while he still lived from King John
John of England
John , also known as John Lackland , was King of England from 6 April 1199 until his death...
. He died before 8 July 1214.
Sources
- Remfry., P. M., Wigmore Castle Tourist Guide and the Family of Mortimer (ISBN 1-899376-76-3)
- Cokayne, George E. Complete Peerage of England, Scotland, Ireland, Great Britain and the United Kingdom/13 Volumes Bound in 6 Books, IV:191; IX:272-3
- Dugdale, WilliamWilliam DugdaleSir William Dugdale was an English antiquary and herald. As a scholar he was influential in the development of medieval history as an academic subject.-Life:...
, Monasticon- IV, Kington St Michael Nunnery, Wiltshire, III
- VI, Wigmore Abbey, Herefordshire, III, Fundationis et Fundatorum Historia
- Annales de Theokesberia
- Annales de Wigornia