Roger de Mortimer, 4th Earl of March
Encyclopedia
Roger de Mortimer, 4th Earl of March and 6th Earl of Ulster (11 April 1374 – 20 July 1398) was the heir presumptive
to Richard II of England
between 1385 and 1398.
Mortimer was son of the powerful Edmund Mortimer, 3rd Earl of March, and Philippa, 5th Countess of Ulster, Countess of March and Ulster. His mother was the only issue of Lionel of Antwerp, Duke of Clarence, the second surviving son of King Edward III of England
and Philippa of Hainault
. Thus, Roger Mortimer was Richard II's heir presumptive.
Mortimer's father died whilst on campaign in Munster, Ireland on 27 December 1381. His mother then died, aged only twenty six, less than a month later on 5 January 1382. Mortimer therefore succeeded to his title and estates aged only seven. His hereditary influence and position caused him to be appointed to the lord-lieutenancy of Ireland on 24 January 1382. His uncle Sir Thomas Mortimer acted as his deputy. This experiment did not work well and Mortimer was replaced by Philip de Courtenay the next year.
Being a ward of the Crown, his guardian was Thomas Holland, 2nd Earl of Kent
, half-brother to Richard II. The Earl of Kent also purchased the rights to choose Mortimer's bride, and on 7 October 1388 married him to his daughter Alianore (Eleanor)
.
The importance which he owed to his hereditary influence and possessions, and especially to his descent from Edward III, was immensely increased when Richard II publicly acknowledged him as heir presumptive
to the crown in 1385.
His brother Edmund Mortimer married the daughter of Owain Glyndŵr
and was one of his staunchest supporters.
, but notwithstanding a commission from the King as lieutenant of the districts over which he exercised nominal authority by hereditary right, he made little headway against the native Irish chieftains. Nevertheless the following year Mortimer was given broader authority as lieutenant of Ireland.
March enjoyed great popularity in England, though he took no active part in opposing the despotic measures of the King.
On 20 July 1398, he was killed at Kells
in a fight with an Irish clan, and was buried in Wigmore Abbey
.
His titles and the designation of heir presumptive passed to his young son, Edmund Mortimer, 5th Earl of March.
he had four children:
Heir Presumptive
An heir presumptive or heiress presumptive is the person provisionally scheduled to inherit a throne, peerage, or other hereditary honour, but whose position can be displaced by the birth of an heir or heiress apparent or of a new heir presumptive with a better claim to the position in question...
to Richard II of England
Richard II of England
Richard II was King of England, a member of the House of Plantagenet and the last of its main-line kings. He ruled from 1377 until he was deposed in 1399. Richard was a son of Edward, the Black Prince, and was born during the reign of his grandfather, Edward III...
between 1385 and 1398.
Mortimer was son of the powerful Edmund Mortimer, 3rd Earl of March, and Philippa, 5th Countess of Ulster, Countess of March and Ulster. His mother was the only issue of Lionel of Antwerp, Duke of Clarence, the second surviving son of King 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...
and Philippa of Hainault
Philippa of Hainault
Philippa of Hainault, or, Philippe de Hainaut was the Queen consort of King Edward III of England. Edward, Duke of Guyenne, her future husband, promised in 1326 to marry her within the following two years...
. Thus, Roger Mortimer was Richard II's heir presumptive.
Mortimer's father died whilst on campaign in Munster, Ireland on 27 December 1381. His mother then died, aged only twenty six, less than a month later on 5 January 1382. Mortimer therefore succeeded to his title and estates aged only seven. His hereditary influence and position caused him to be appointed to the lord-lieutenancy of Ireland on 24 January 1382. His uncle Sir Thomas Mortimer acted as his deputy. This experiment did not work well and Mortimer was replaced by Philip de Courtenay the next year.
Being a ward of the Crown, his guardian was Thomas Holland, 2nd Earl of Kent
Thomas Holland, 2nd Earl of Kent
Thomas Holland , 2nd Earl of Kent, 3rd Baron Holand KG was an English nobleman and a councillor of his half-brother, King Richard II of England.-Family and early Life:...
, half-brother to Richard II. The Earl of Kent also purchased the rights to choose Mortimer's bride, and on 7 October 1388 married him to his daughter Alianore (Eleanor)
Alianore Holland
Alianore Holland, Countess of March was an English noblewoman, and the wife of Roger Mortimer, 4th Earl of March the heir presumptive of her half-uncle King Richard II of England, and Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. She was the mother of Anne Mortimer, and Edmund Mortimer, 5th Earl of March...
.
The importance which he owed to his hereditary influence and possessions, and especially to his descent from Edward III, was immensely increased when Richard II publicly acknowledged him as heir presumptive
Heir Presumptive
An heir presumptive or heiress presumptive is the person provisionally scheduled to inherit a throne, peerage, or other hereditary honour, but whose position can be displaced by the birth of an heir or heiress apparent or of a new heir presumptive with a better claim to the position in question...
to the crown in 1385.
His brother Edmund Mortimer married the daughter of Owain Glyndŵr
Owain Glyndwr
Owain Glyndŵr , or Owain Glyn Dŵr, anglicised by William Shakespeare as Owen Glendower , was a Welsh ruler and the last native Welshman to hold the title Prince of Wales...
and was one of his staunchest supporters.
Conflict in Ireland
In 1394 he accompanied Richard II to IrelandIreland
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...
, but notwithstanding a commission from the King as lieutenant of the districts over which he exercised nominal authority by hereditary right, he made little headway against the native Irish chieftains. Nevertheless the following year Mortimer was given broader authority as lieutenant of Ireland.
March enjoyed great popularity in England, though he took no active part in opposing the despotic measures of the King.
On 20 July 1398, he was killed at Kells
Kells, County Meath
Kells is a town in County Meath, Ireland. The town lies off the M3 motorway, from Navan and from Dublin. In recent years Kells has grown greatly with many Dublin commuters moving to the town....
in a fight with an Irish clan, and was buried in 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:...
.
His titles and the designation of heir presumptive passed to his young son, Edmund Mortimer, 5th Earl of March.
Children
By his wife Alianore HollandAlianore Holland
Alianore Holland, Countess of March was an English noblewoman, and the wife of Roger Mortimer, 4th Earl of March the heir presumptive of her half-uncle King Richard II of England, and Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. She was the mother of Anne Mortimer, and Edmund Mortimer, 5th Earl of March...
he had four children:
- Anne de MortimerAnne de MortimerAnne de Mortimer, Countess of Cambridge was an English noblewoman in line of succession for the throne of England...
, married Richard of Conisburgh, 3rd Earl of CambridgeRichard of Conisburgh, 3rd Earl of CambridgeRichard of Conisburgh, 3rd Earl of Cambridge was the younger son of Edmund of Langley, 1st Duke of York and Isabella of Castile.... - Edmund Mortimer, 5th Earl of March
- Roger Mortimer (died young c. 1409)
- Eleanor (d. 1418), married Edward de Courtenay, 11th Earl of DevonEdward de Courtenay, 11th Earl of DevonEdward Courtenay, 3rd Earl of Devon, also known as Edward de Courtenay, was the son of Edward, the third son of fifteen children, and a grandson of Hugh, 10th Earl of Devon. His father Edward had died on 20 September 1372, within the lifetime of his grandfather...
and had no children