Roger DE MORTIMER ( -bef1214)

Individual Events and Attributes

Additional Information

Marriage

Individual Note

Roger de Mortimer (died before 8 July 1214) 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.

Roger would appear to have been of age in 1174 when he fought for King Henry II 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.

He had married Isabel (d. before 29 April 1252), the daughter of Walchelin de Ferriers of Oakham Castle in Rutland before 1196. With Isabel, Roger had three sons and a daughter:

Hugh de Mortimer (d.1227)

Ralph de Mortimer (d.1246).

Philip Mortimer

Joan Mortimer (d.1225) - married May 1212 to Walter de Beauchamp[1]

He is often wrongly stated to have been the father of Robert Mortimer of Richards Castle (died 1219) - married Margary de Say[2], 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 I 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.

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, William, Monasticon

IV, Kington St Michael Nunnery, Wiltshire, III

VI, Wigmore Abbey, Herefordshire, III, Fundationis et Fundatorum Historia

Annales de Theokesberia

Annales de Wigornia

Cefnllys Castle

The Battle of Radnor

FMG on Roger de Mortimer³

Sources