When was roger mortimer rebellion

From their home at Wigmore Castle, the Mortimers used the art of diplomacy to further their own political agenda. The marriage alliances pursued by the family reflected their political ambitions and enhanced their influence in the Marches. In the late 12th century, Roger Mortimer negotiated a marriage between his son Hugh and Eleanor, daughter of the infamous Baron William de Braose.

Out of all the Marcher Lords, Braose held a particularly brutal reputation. In the Christmas of he invited three Welsh princes to feast at Abergavenny Castle, but then murdered them in the Great Hall, apparently in vengeance for the death of his uncle. The event became infamously known as the Abergavenny Massacre. This grievous action drove an irreparable wedge in Anglo-Welsh generations, as the Braose name became a byword for dishonourable dealing and Braose descendants faced universal hatred.

Lord Braose fell spectacularly following a quarrel with King John in , who captured his wife and son and starved them to death. Braose a pauper in exile, perhaps just vengeance for an unpunished tyrant.

Roger Mortimer died in , and was succeeded by his son Hugh. It was the terrible misfortune of Hugh to die in tournament in , much like his uncle and namesake. He had no surviving children and Eleanor his widow withdrew to become a nun at Iffley.

Such a connection could only have benefited Ralph when it came to arranging marriage. Ralph Mortimer and Gladys were wed soon after Ralph assumed the lordship, presumably concluding an agreement between the marcher lords and Gwynedd. Llewelyn effectively disinherited his eldest son, which continued to have political ramifications in Wales.

Being brought up in a royal family, Gladys would have learned both Welsh and French and been educated.

She brought Welsh ancestry into the Mortimer family, connecting succeeding generations with the old Welsh princely houses. Gladys was born c. Young enough to be his daughter, the marriage was highly political and likely never consummated. He was subsequently captured, brought back to Wales, and publicly executed, though the marriage between his daughter Isabella and Dafydd ap Llewelyn subsequently went ahead regardless.

Above all, the Mortimers coveted Wales and devised to expand their Welsh territories. Ralph claimed Knighton from Llewelyn of Gwynedd, who died in Eager to retain control of the borders, Ralph Mortimer began a campaign of castle building in Maelienydd, erecting castles at Knucklas in the s, and at Cefnllys in Both were motte and bailey castles atop natural hills, designed to defend existing villages in Maelienydd from border raids.

Most of them are dreadful. I've never seen that she had any children. She may have just been from a previous marriage of Piers Grandison and some people have assumed she is Blanche's daughter. Either way many sites list Blanche as an ancestress of the Bruges and later Brydges families. Assumptions really mean nothing unless they have a primary source as evidence. I'm sick of assumptions and misleading assertions on genealogy sites that are endlessly repeated on numerous other genealogy sites and thus become 'fact' to some people.

I had an email once from someone who'd seen 'on many genealogy sites' that he was descended from a son Isabella of France had by Roger Mortimer and was simply not prepared to believe me when I said there is NO evidence the pair had a living child together, let alone one who grew up to marry and have children.

Obviously Roger and Isabella had no known children together. That just seems silly to me that someone would think that.

I can find no actual text online that supports this and I'm of course not sure of the site's accuracy. Either way I still descend from Roger through his daughter Katherine who married the Earl of Warwick. Just reading about the discovery of the remains of Blanche Mortimer in her tomb at Much Marcle silly me, I didn't realize that the bodies apparently weren't normally in the tombs but buried below them.

The article mentions that Blance and Peter Grandison had one son, Otto. It doesn't say anything further about what became of him, and since Peter's successor to the baronial title was a John Grandison, I am guessing that Otto died young.

Of course this article is not well-sourced, so good luck to anybody wanting to track down the mysterious Otto. The original Baron Grandison of the first creation was an "Otho. Was there a link as would seem likely from the names between the original Otho Grandison and the Barons of the second creation? Who was John Grandison--apparently not the son of his predecessor?

Or did he have a wife previous to Blanche, and John was his son from that marriage? Ah, mysteries! Hi CeeJay! I'm really not clear on the Grandissons, but have a feeling that Peter was the nephew of Otto or Othon Edward I's friend.

Blanche Mortimer had no children, but Peter was many years older than her, and I think he had a child or children from a previous marriage. The bishop of Exeter elected in was John Grandisson, and the wife of the earl of Salisbury who died in was Katherine Grandisson, but I don't know how they fit into the family tree. I have been told by a genealogist Mortimer that Roger Mortimer was a descendent of Canute the Great and therefore has connections to many Danish Kings and heroes.

This would explain his certainty of action and heroic war deeds a bit, I think. Hi Kathryn, Well, no one really knows anything for certain, but it is reasonable to assume that he didn't kill off Edward III, a certain and growing threat, out of love and respect for his partner.

He was ruthless in most other places when it was needed, so that's why I acknowledge that idea. Thank goodness his family weren't put to death as well, else I wouldn't be here today! Wendy Snookes. Soy latinoamericana,no hablo ingles, uso el servidor google para traducir. Me encanta la historia y la leyenda de Roger Mortimer e Isabel de Francia, creo que eran muy apasionados,atrevidos y de cierta forma tragicos.

Thank you so much for writing a little blog about one of my 27th Great Grandfather. Such a fascinating story as a whole. Just finished the "Greatest Traitor" I would love to discuss this more with you and like minded people, but it's my opinion his story would make a fantastic epic movie or even series If you'd like to discuss, plkease email me at mnmfaires att.

Yes the story of Roger Mortimer would make a great movie or even a trilogy or a series. The situation with movies like this story, is that it sparks rebellion, and in our fragile political climate of current times those in power and control do not want to have to deal with a Roger Mortimer among their ranks or a bunch of Roger Mortimers throughout society vying to come into power.

There was a lot more to Roger Mortimer than being a traitor to the crown. He was both a failure and a successful knight. He had a bunch of children with his wife Ioanna de Geneville. And even in Scotland they had much respect for him even though he led forces against them on more than one occasion like the Battle of Stanhope Park in Sir Roger de Mortimer Lord of Wigmore and Earl of March was certainly one of the most notorious figures in world history and today there are countless people descendant of him.

Then we are related. My cousin did our family tree and Mortimer was our great grandfather as well. We are Thompsons who live in the States. For some reason I wish he hadn't been executed and I dislike Edward 3 for ordering it. But yes back to your point , I am inclined to agree with you. He would have killed Edward 3 long ago. As for the second Edward I have my doubts if he was murdered.

Did Roger really need to murder him?? He only had to lock him up for the rest of his days as Henry 1 did to his brother Robert Curthose. Why didn't he take his uncle with him? Was the older man already too ill?

Sorry Kathryn, it's all supposition again with precious little fact. But when I read articles like yours, I can't help but try to get inside the minds of both Edward and Roger Mortimer.

Jerry, many thanks yet again for such a fantastic and thought-provoking comment! Have just come in, and will read your comment and ponder your thoughts as soon as possible ;. Very enjoyable read. I find it interesting to come across someone who likes the Plantagenets. I've generally found them to be a nasty lot, though they are apparently ancestors. I'm going to enjoy reading your blogs. There was a drink called 'dwale' in medieval medicine, which was used as a general anaesthetic for surgery, 'to make a man sleep while men cut him'.

The ingredients vary but involved things like hemlock, henbane and opium. My money would be on that. Jerry Bennett's observations are excellent and worthy of serious pondering. Sorry, no more to add at this point.

Great stuff once again! I bet when Edward heard of this he was, to say the least, fuming on all cylinders. But once again, despite what has been claimed, he did not act as harsh as he could have done. Some other ruler might have let some heads roll after this one. I have long known that Mortimer was helped by Gerard D'Alspaye which is the former name for the village of Meriden, West Midlands of which I am the published historian.

Stephen Segrave was one of the major landowners in the village too which is how I assume Gerard got his post as deputy lieutenant. Assisteing Gerard was John Wyard a man at arms. Can anyone tell me the link between this Wyard and another John Wyard died who is commemorated in Meriden church and quite possibly his grandson. Why would Gerard help Mortimer? How did they know each other? D'Alspaye was a member of the Warwickshire gentry, quite insignificant in fact.

I can see how Wyartd knew Mrortimer as his own land was held of one of Roger's cousins another Roger Mortimer. Roger was shut up in his cell with heavily padlocked door. D'Alspaye was the catalist who got help from the LOndon merchants and set up a help group outside the Tower to cross the river and get away very quickly. I am surprised that Edward2nd accepted Segrave's story; that he knew nothing about the escape and was drugged too but was he? Segrave's family was important in military terms during the last campaigns to Scotland.

One of the great siege engines was called Segrave. When I first read this tale as a teenager living in the village I thought Segrave must have known and agreed to stay behind may be to allow the scent to go cold? Was his early death a result of this? I hope this helps. Post a Comment. Yes, this post is somewhat late for the anniversary of Roger Mortimer's escape from the Tower on 1 August , but it's been a hectic and very hot and humid!

I felt like weeping.