Roger Mortimer, 1st Baron Mortimer, of Wigmore (1231 – 30 October 1282), was a famous and honoured knight from
Wigmore Castle in
Herefordshire. He was a loyal ally of
King Henry III of England. He was at times an enemy, at times an ally, of the Welsh prince,
Llywelyn the Last.
Early career
Born in 1231, Roger was the son of
Ralph de Mortimer and his
Welsh wife, Princess
Gwladys Ddu, daughter of
Llywelyn ab Iorwerth.
In 1256 Roger went to war with
Llywelyn ap Gruffydd when the latter invaded his lordship of
Gwrtheyrnion or
Rhayader. This war would continue intermittently until the death of both Roger and Llywelyn in 1282. They were both grandsons of
Llywelyn ab Iorwerth.
Mortimer fought for the King against the rebel
Simon de Montfort, 6th Earl of Leicester, and almost lost his life in 1264 at the
Battle of Lewes fighting Montfort's men. In 1265 Mortimer's wife,
Maud de Braose helped rescue
Prince Edward; and Mortimer and the Prince made an alliance against de Montfort.
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Victor at Evesham
In August 1265, de Montfort's army was surrounded by the
River Avon on three sides, and Prince Edward's army on the fourth. Mortimer had sent his men to block the only possible escape route, at the
Bengeworth bridge. The
Battle of Evesham began in earnest. A storm roared above the battle field. Montfort's Welsh soldiers broke and ran for the bridge, where they were slaughtered by Mortimer's men. Mortimer himself killed
Simon de Montfort, 6th Earl of Leicester in crushing Montfort's army. Mortimer was awarded Montfort's severed head and other parts of his anatomy, which he sent home to
Wigmore Castle as a gift for his wife, Lady Mortimer.
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Child 1: Edmund Mortimer, Lord Mortimer I
Child 2: Isabella
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Roger Mortimer, 1st Baron Mortimer
Roger Mortimer, 1st Baron Mortimer, of Wigmore (1231 – 30 October 1282), was a famous and honoured knight from
Wigmore Castle in
Herefordshire. He was a loyal ally of
King Henry III of England. He was at times an enemy, at times an ally, of the Welsh prince,
Llywelyn the Last.
Early career
Born in 1231, Roger was the son of
Ralph de Mortimer and his
Welsh wife, Princess
Gwladys Ddu, daughter of
Llywelyn ab Iorwerth.
In 1256 Roger went to war with
Llywelyn ap Gruffydd when the latter invaded his lordship of
Gwrtheyrnion or
Rhayader. This war would continue intermittently until the death of both Roger and Llywelyn in 1282. They were both grandsons of
Llywelyn ab Iorwerth.
Mortimer fought for the King against the rebel
Simon de Montfort, 6th Earl of Leicester, and almost lost his life in 1264 at the
Battle of Lewes fighting Montfort's men. In 1265 Mortimer's wife,
Maud de Braose helped rescue
Prince Edward; and Mortimer and the Prince made an alliance against de Montfort.
Victor at Evesham
In August 1265, de Montfort's army was surrounded by the
River Avon on three sides, and Prince Edward's army on the fourth. Mortimer had sent his men to block the only possible escape route, at the
Bengeworth bridge. The
Battle of Evesham began in earnest. A storm roared above the battle field. Montfort's Welsh soldiers broke and ran for the bridge, where they were slaughtered by Mortimer's men. Mortimer himself killed
Hugh Despencer and
Simon de Montfort in crushing Montfort's army. Mortimer was awarded Montfort's severed head and other parts of his anatomy, which he sent home to
Wigmore Castle as a gift for his wife, Lady Mortimer.
Marriage and children
Lady Mortimer was
Maud de Braose, daughter of
William de Braose, Lord of Abergavenny by
Eva Marshal. Roger Mortimer had married her in 1247. She was, like him, a scion of a
Welsh Marches family. Their children were:
1. Ralph Mortimer, died 1276.
2. Edmund Mortimer, 2nd Baron Mortimer (1251–1304), married
Margaret de Fiennes, the daughter of William II de Fiennes and
Blanche de Brienne. Had issue, including
Roger Mortimer, 1st Earl of March 3. Isabella Mortimer, died 1292. She married (1)
John Fitzalan, 7th Earl of Arundel, (2)
Robert de Hastings 4. Margaret Mortimer, died 1297. She married
Robert de Vere, 6th Earl of Oxford 5. Roger Mortimer of Chirk, died 1326.
6. Geoffrey Mortimer, a knight
7. William Mortimer, a knight
8. Iseult de Mortimer, she died shortly before 4 Aug 1338. She married
Hugh de Audley, Knight and Lord AudleyTheir eldest son, Ralph, was a famed knight but died in his youth. The second son, Edmund, was recalled from
Oxford University and appointed his father's heir.
Epitaph
Roger Mortimer died on 30 October 1282, and was buried at
Wigmore Abbey, where his tombstone read:
Here lies buried, glittering with praise, Roger the pure, Roger Mortimer the second, called Lord of Wigmore by those who held him dear. While he lived all Wales feared his power, and given as a gift to him all Wales remained his. It knew his campaigns, he subjected it to torment.