MEDIEVAL MORTIMER FAMILY TREE
The Mortimers of Wigmore (1020-1425)
Image credit: RS. Nourse; http://aspilogia.com/ image licenced through creative common licence.
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This is the home page of the medieval Mortimer family trees, showing the descent of the Mortimers and their relationship with many other noble families of the Middle Ages. Included are the main line of the Mortimer family – the Mortimers of Wigmore; and offshoot branches in Richards Castle, Attleborough and Coedmore. See links to the Mortimer family trees below.
Recently in August 2020, I was lucky enough to get the chance to visit Wigmore castle, home of the medieval Mortimer family. Wigmore is sadly in a severely neglected and dilapidated state, having been abandoned to the ravages of time and mother nature. The wooden steps up to the keep have now rotted away and the paths are overgrown with vegetation. Access to the keep is by fighting through weeds, but those who do make the effort will be rewarded with magnificent views over the surrounding Welsh Marches. The castle is remarkably well situated to give commanding views over the whole landscape.
Here was where the Mortimers held court, where treaties were signed, marriage alliances brokered, and great banquets held. Looking out over the quiet and secluded landscape, with only birds and the wildlife for company, it’s quite hard today to imagine a castle in its prime. This would have been a busy place, brimming with activity. Lord Mortimer would ride out at the head of his retinue, and upon his return, one imagines a sudden flurry of activity, as servants, cooks, groomsmen and sentries were all hurried into action. There would have been great hunts in the forests nearby, to supply meat for the castle table. A great boar’s head perhaps, to celebrate an important victory. Outside the castle, the landscape would have been quite wild to our eyes. Though the valley was mostly cleared of trees and dotted with small farms, rivers ran unobstructed, while wolves still lived in the dense Welsh woods close by.
Surrounding Wigmore castle is a thick curtain wall, with concentric stone towers guarding its corners. Due to their strong foundations, it is these towers that have best survived the weathering of the past half millennium. Entry to the castle is through a large, well defended gate house, the only entrance in ancient times. Another exit might have been through a small, hidden doorway allowing the garrison to sally out of the castle. Around the inside of the curtain wall, wooden buildings were built right up to the edge of the stonework. These would have included the stables, blacksmiths, fletchers and other such quarters. Evidence for these among other parts of the castle has been unearthed in archaeological digs.
From the castle it is possible to see the village of Wigmore, and the remains of Wigmore Abbey in the distance, where nearly all members of the medieval Mortimer family were buried. With the glistening towers of Wigmore Castle looking over both the abbey and village, this whole setting would have been quite a site indeed!
Here begins our tour of Wigmore.
Read more about the medieval Mortimers and their exploits in the Welsh Marches.
While the Mortimers of Wigmore were tearing through Wales as part of King Edward’s invasion of the late 13th century, another branch of the Mortimers had taken up residence in the far West of Welsh lands. This was an area settled by many such Marcher families, so beginning the annexation of Pembrokeshire which is reflected in a language border that can still be observed. The Mortimers gained an estate called Coedmore near Cardigan, building their chief residence at the New House, Coedmore. This branch of the Mortimers have male line descendants who continue to live in Wales to this day, one of the few Mortimer families who can definitively trace their heritage back to the Middle Ages. Moving west from Herefordshire, the Anglo-Norman Mortimers of Coedmore eventually naturalised as Welsh, intermarrying with Welsh families, choosing Welsh names for their children, and adopting the Welsh language.
Coedmore is now an estate in the parish of Llangoedmor, Cardiganshire, and the place name originally means Great Wood in old Welsh, from “mawr” large and “coed” – a wood or forest. The Coedmore estate is overlooked by the magnificent ruins of Cilgerran castle, which was rebuilt in stone by William Marshal, 2nd Earl of Pembroke, son of the famous knight Sir William Marshall (1147-1219). Ralph Mortimer served in the first Earl Marshall’s household, and was evidently granted land for his feudal service. The Coedmore Mortimers took an active role in local affairs, and were successive constables of Cardigan castle. The associated between the Mortimers and Earl Marshall is reflected in the close proximity of Coedmore and Cilgerran. Coedmore was rebuilt in the 1700s and is now a hotel, while Cilgerran castle is owned by the National Trust and indeed well worth a visit.
The ancestor of the Mortimers of West Wales was Henry Mortimer, whose life remains shadowy. In 1241/2, Henry Mortimer was owed a debt by the heirs of Amauri de St Amand for lands in Herefordshire and Wales. Later, the Wigmore cartulary recorded that the bishop of St David’s granted to Sir Roger son of Henry son of Henry de Mortemer lands in Lyspraust and Isheylyn, which were probably in Wales somewhere. Henry would have been a younger son, but was unrecorded in the family chronicle of Wigmore Abbey, Fundatorum Historia, written in the 13th century.
The connection between the Wigmore Mortimers and the Mortimers of Cardigan, Wales was later affirmed sometime around 1290, when Maud widow of Roger de Mortimer released a portion of her dower lands to Roger Mortimer of West Wales, presumably son of the above Henry. In 1330, this Roger’s grandson Roger Mortimer of Coedmore was named within a petition as a “kinsman” of the Earl of March.
The arms of the two families of Mortimers, those of Wigmore and Coedmore, differ remarkably. The Mortimer of Coedmore arms were variously described as two lions rampant armed and langued, with the colours of the field and charges differing by source. However, difference in heraldry during this time period should not be taken as supporting no connection between the families, as many such armigers changed their coats of arms in the 13th century, including the Mortimers of Bec, who were related to the Mortimers of Richard’s Castle.
Roger Mortimer of West Wales was given land in the commote of Gene’r-Glyn, confirmed by royal charter in 1284. He lived at Is Coed Is Herwen, now known as Coedmore, in a residence known as the New House. He was said in some sources to have been a constable of Newcastle Emlyn Castle and fought against Rhys ap Maredudd as one of Tibetot’s officers. [This is worth researching further]
Roger married a Welsh lady called Nest, and had a son Llewelyn who succeeded him, the first Mortimer to be given a Welsh name. Llewelyn was perhaps a younger son, whose older brother predeceased his father. He was brought up with a mixed identity and presumably learnt Welsh from his mother. Llewelyn arguably inherited a joint Norman English and Welsh identity, common to many who were descended from the conquerors of Wales. English nobles settled Wales following defeat of the last Welsh Prince Llewelyn and subjugation of the Welsh by Edward I. Llewelyn sold the estate at Gene’r-Glyn to Geoffrey Clement. The family home would later become the New House at Coedmore
Coedmore was ultimately only acquired by the Mortimers through slight of hand, which details are recorded in a charter dated 1330. Originally leased to Roger Mortimer for life, after Roger’s death his heir Llewelyn Mortimer took possession of Coedmore and barred the original leasor’s heirs from entering. He sold half the moiety to Hugh de Cressingham, clerk of the king, and upon his death Coedmore reverted to the crown. The apparent original heir Eynon ap Gwilym sued and obtained writ of inquiry to the Justice of Wales in 1313, but Sir Roger Mortimer of Wigmore was Justiciar and apparently refused him justice, granting the estate instead to his “kinsman” Roger Mortimer.
A main source for assessing the ancestry of the Mortimers of Wales is the Heraldic Visitation of 1588, compiled by Lewis Dwynn. However, because it was made so long after the early individuals in the family tree had lived, and by that time many historical records had already been lost, several mistakes were made in the genealogy which now have proved very difficult to disentangle. These include missing generations, incorrect names, confusion between multiple individuals of the same name and confusion of spouses. References must be made to individuals who appear in the pedigree, whose floriat can be accurately determined. Only then will it be possible to pin down which generation married which partner.
The Mortimers of Coedmore had less wealth and power than the main line of Mortimers of Wigmore. It seems Roger Mortimer, aforementioned kinsman of the 1st Earl of March, was a missing link in the Visitation pedigree compiled in 1588. He had a son, Edmund Mortimer, who’s heir was Roger Mortimer.
The younger Roger Mortimer was probably born in 1350, and owned Coedmore in 1383, when he acquired letters of protection to serve in the Calais garrison. References to his life are sparing. In 1396 he witnessed a gift of land in Cardigan, and served as Mayor of Cardigan in 1418, assuming it was the same Roger after a gap of nearly twenty years. He died in 1424, at which point he held half a knight’s fee in Coedmore. Roger was succeeded by his son Owain Mortimer.
Owain was probably born in the 1380s, or slightly later. He served as a man at arms in the Agincourt campaign of 1415, in the company of John ap Rhys. Like his father, he went on to serve as mayor of Cardigan three times from 1421. Evidently enjoying success as mayor, he was made Constable of Cardigan in 1441. He received a pardon for all offences committed in 1446, and leased the lordship and manor in 1454 to William Rede, clerk.
After Owain Mortimer, the 1588 pedigree loses its way and becomes unintelligible. Owain likely died around the mid 15th century, after which point there was another thirty years before the next evidence emerges of Mortimers active in Cardiganshire. Richard Mortimer, alleged son of Owain according to the pedigree, was mayor of Cardigan in 1480, and his children were also born around this time. Richard himself was probably born around or after the time of Owain’s death when he was already old, meaning there is another gap in the generations. Richard was obviously related to Owain, but was more likely a grandson, whose father perhaps predeceased Owain Mortimer, which might explain why such an individual is missing from the pedigree.
Unfortunately, the following generation is also hard to determine. Richard married firstly to Margaret daughter of Owain ap Rhys and had two sons, James and John. John was mayor of Cardigan in 1525, and died before 1542, fathering two daughters.
Richard married secondly Elizabeth daughter of Griffith ap Owain. In 1503, he made a settlement on his second wife, perhaps to guarantee her property after the children from his first marriage inherited.
James Mortimer was lord of Coedmore in 1542. He married Elizabeth, daughter of Rydderch ap Rhys, lord of Towyn (fl. 1483-1515). James might have been son of John Mortimer, d. bef.1542, and his eldest son was John, which might support the suggestion. If James was the eldest son of Richard, he would have been very old when he died, perhaps 80 years old.
James Mortimer’s son and heir John was probably born around 1525, and became Sheriff of Cardiganshire in 1576. He married Eva Lewis, daughter of Lewis ap David Maredydd, and they had at least eleven children:
1. Ellen c.1552
2. Richard Mortimer c.1554-1609
3. Elizabeth c.1556
4. David Mortimer c.1558-c.1605, who in 1584 held a lease of land in Castle Maelgwyn. He married Ann Thomas, daughter of William ap Thomas and they had seven sons:
i. John c.1580
ii. Roger Mortimer of Llechryd, gent., c.1581-aft.1609
iii. Richard c.1582
iv. Thomas Mortimer, of St. David’s c.1584- , who had two sons:
1. Edmund Mortimer of St. David’s, gent., c.1608-1666, who had the following children:
i. Thomas Mortimer c.1645, named after his grandfather.
ii. Lettice c.1650
iii. James Mortimer c.1655, named after his uncle
iv. Mary c.1656
v. Benjamin c.1659
2. James Mortimer c.1610-aft.1666
v. William c.1586, who probably married Lleukie Harvey and had issue Ann and James.
vi. George c.1590
vii. Rowland c.1592
5. Thomas Mortimer c.1559-c.1602
6. Joan c.1560
7. Pernel c.1561
8. Philip Mortimer c.1562
9. Mary c.1564
10. Owen Mortimer c.1566-1638
11. Ann c.1567
Richard was mayor of Cardigan in 1602. He married Catherine daughter of Rowland Meyrick, Bishop of Bangor. They had children James, Rowland, John and Lettice. Both James and John appear to have died before 1613, and Rowland inherited Coedmore.
Rowland Mortimer married Cecil daughter of James Lewis of Abernant, 20 Mar 1617, and in that year sold Coedmore to his brother in law John Lewis. Rowland and Cecil has a son John Mortimer, of Laugharne, who married Catherine Pugh. Their son was Rowland Mortimer (c.1646-1691). He married Rachel and had sons Roger and John. Roger married another Rachel and their only child and heir was Jane Mortimer, c.1697. Many descendants of the Mortimers are living today, including through the younger sons of John Mortimer d.1596).
On 14 October 2016, thousands of people gathered in a field near Battle Abbey, Sussex. They had come to celebrate a re-enactment of the famous Battle of Hastings, one of the few dates that everyone can remember from the history books, 1066 – the year English history began! Or so it would seem from the collective national consciousness. England in fact had a proud history as a united kingdom, going back nearly 150 years before Hastings.
However by 1064, England had become entangled in national turmoil, as the ailing King Edward the Confessor was increasingly frail with no descendants to continue his legacy. To make matters worse, the kingdom was beset by foreign enemies, as jealous onlookers sought to steal the nation’s wealth and take advantage of the impending dearth of English unity. Across the North Sea were the Anglo-Saxons’ old foe, the Danes, who had invaded England many times over. The Welsh, Scots and Irish were emboldened by the waning of England’s defences, while restless powers in Normandy dreamed of conquering a new prize. Complicating the matter further, King Edward had family ties to both ruling houses in Denmark and Normandy. His mother Emma of Normandy had remarried to Edward’s predecessor King Canute, the Danish-born ruler of England, Denmark and Norway. King Edward had a close connection to Normandy through his mother’s family and had spent years in exile there before his own accession to the throne. Throughout his reign Edward embarked on a Normanisation of England bringing in many Norman advisers, clerics and courtiers.
Though Edward had a natural heir in his great nephew Edgar the Aetheling, Edgar was young and ill-equipped to deal with the numerous threats to English sovereignty. To this end stepped up the king’s brother in law Harold Godwinson, Earl of Wessex, the second most powerful figure in the land. A capable military leader, Harold was imbued with confidence following victory over the Welsh and Gruffydd ap Llewelyn in 1063. What young Edgar lacked, Harold possessed in spades- vast wealth, courtly influence, and universal respect among peers. If anyone was to guard England’s interests and defend against growing Norman influence at court, it would be Earl Harold.
Harold was born circa 1022 into a noble family, the son of Godwin, Earl of Wessex. As a powerful noble, his father had close ties to the previous regime of Canute, and conspired in the death of Edward’s brother Alfred Aetheling in the chaotic reign of Cnut’s son Harthacnut. Godwin had such influence that he acted as king maker in the succession of Edward in 1042, and arranged the hand in marriage of his daughter, Edith. They had no children and Edward harboured lingering resentment to the Godwins, banishing them in 1051. It was only through force of arms that Godwin compelled Edward to restore their estates. In such a malaise, Harold succeeded to the Earldom in 1053, making him an influential political figure.
Harold and his wife Edith Swann Hnesce or “gentle swan” were married in the Danish manner, as befitting the custom of the time. He earned his stripes in battles against Magnus king of Norway, and drove back the Welsh from Herefordshire, eventually defeating king Gruffydd ap Llewellyn in 1063. His star was clearly rising, and it would not be long before Harold controlled all England.
It is quite unknown how Harold ended washed up on the coast of Ponthieu in 1064, but he had presumably sailed from Sussex on a mission shrouded in secrecy. He had the misfortune of being blown off course and shipwrecked, then captured and held hostage by Guy Count of Ponthieu. Ten years previous, Guy had lost against Normandy in the battle of Mortemer, 1054. As Normandy’s vassal, he handed over Harold to the Norman duke William, who seemingly treated him well. Harold joined the duke’s retinue and fought for William against his rival Conan, Duke of Brittany. The campaign was successful and Harold was knighted by him, having saved two of his men from the perils of quicksand near Mont St Michel. The two nobles struck an agreement and parted ways, though the substance of such a bargain remains a matter of great contention. The Normans maintained that Harold swore an oath of fealty to Duke William and supported his claim to the English throne, in apparent fulfillment of a promise by Edward the Confessor. If the king had made such a promise, he truly had lost his marbles, for it was the Witenaġemot, or counsel of eoldermen, that decided on the English kingship. It was certainly not the place of either Harold or any other noble to promise the crown to William.
Harold’s younger brother Tostig became Earl of Northumbria, though was deeply unpopular. Considering the threat from William, Harold was forced to exile him in 1065 to ensure loyalty in the north. Tostig grew bitterly resentful of Harold and plotted vengeance, scheming to overthrow him with the help of Baldwin Count of Flanders. The following year, Tostig raided the coast and invaded England, though was forced to retreat to Scotland. He would later lend his support to the Norse.
The passing of a monarch in medieval Europe was always a momentous event, though in the case of England in 1066 the stakes were higher than ever. As king Edward the Confessor lay on his death bed, he commended the kingdom to his widow Edith, and entrusted the nation’s protection to his then reconciled brother in law Harold Godwinson. King Edward died on 5 January, and power shifted rapidly to Earl Harold. Confirmed king by Witan convened the following morning, Harold was crowned, perhaps at Westminster. Knowing that William of Normandy had designs on his kingdom, he rapidly moved to consolidate power and prepare England’s defences. William immediately planned to invade following news of Harold’s succession, preparing a fleet of over seven hundred ships. When Harold discovered William’s plans he levied an army to counter the threat, but was forced to disband troops when the invasion did not immediately materialise. In April Halley’s comet appeared in the sky, marking an omen of change, the comet became associated with England’s succession crisis.
The Norman fleet was forced back through bad weather, and the first threat came instead from king Harald Hardrada of Norway, convinced by Tostig to invade England. In September 1066 Harald’s invasion fleet of 300 ships sailed up the Humber. It was at Fulford, Yorkshire that the invaders clashed in battle with English earls Edwin and Morcar, where the English forces suffered defeat. Harold Godwinson was forced to mobilise his troops, including an elite force of huscarls. In only four days, the king marched his army up the old Roman road of Ermine Street to York, surprising the invaders at Stamford Bridge. Many of the Norwegian forces had stayed behind to guard the fleet, and some were without armour. Harald’s forces retreated across the bridge, where a single Norse axeman held up the advance of the English before being slain. The Norse made a shield wall and the English outflanked them and charged. The fighting was intense and lasted most of the day, though the English won a complete victory. Both Harald Hardada and Tostig were killed and the Norse army virtually extinguished. Harold accepted a surrender from the remaining Norwegians, and the survivors sailed away in only 24 ships.
William of Normandy’s original invasion fleet was blown off course by bad weather. King Harold had in response summoned the fyrd, an Anglo Saxon fighting force of landowners. William’s fleet of over 700 ships sailed in September and landed at Pevensey. The Normans fortified their position and sacked local settlements. Such an invasion could not have come at a worse time for Harold, who was travelling down to London after fighting the Norwegians, having left many forces in the north, including the Earls Morcar and Edwin. Harold’s army hurried south averaging 27 miles a day. Tired from the exertion, the English encamped near Hastings. All overtures of diplomacy failed and the two armies seemed destined to meet on the field of battle. Both forces had over 7,000 men, though Harold’s army was infantry while the Norman’s were composed of infantry, cavalry and archers. Harold’s brothers Gyrth and Leofwine were loyal to him and would fight alongside him.
On the day of confrontation, Harold deployed his troops in a dense formation atop a steep slope, with the flanks protected by woodland. To attack, the Normans were forced to cross marshy land in front of them, though the Anglo Saxons had no archers to take advantage of the slope. In response, William divided his forces into three groups, the Bretons, Normans, and French, taking charge the Norman division personally. Alan the Red commanded the Bretons while William FitzOsbern ordered the French.
The battle commenced with the Norman archers firing at the English infantry, though the defenders formed a shield wall and the arrows had little effect. After running out of arrows, the Norman spearmen advanced uphill, and were caught off-guard by a volley of spears. The two sides clashed, and the English shield wall held strong against the Normans. The battle continued in such vein for some time, before a lull in the fighting. Failing to gain advantage, the Norman forces withdrew from battle temporarily.
Hoping to force a path through the opposing infantry, William commanded a frontal cavalry charge against the defensive line. In the general melee that ensued the English resisted the Norman assault manfully, while fighting the attackers back with vigour. The Normans were losing men and ground, as the Anglo Saxons took confidence from their excellent position. Harold’s army was gaining the upper hand, and the Normans began to retreat, beginning with the Breton flank. Duke William had no less than two horses killed from under him, and was forced to retreat on several occasions. Around the battlefield there were cries that William had been killed, and Norman soldiers and mounted knights fell back in disarray. The defending English pursued in earnest, though Harold ordered his men to stand ground. Despite the order, many of the English followed the Normans, perhaps lead by Harold’s brothers Gyrth and Leofwine.
It was at this point that William lifted up his helmet to show he was alive, and rallied the Normans around him. The English in their rush down the hillside had lost their defensive formation and suffered terribly against the renewed Norman charge. Gyrth and Leofwine fell in the fighting, and Harold was eventually surrounded, protected only by his elite guard of huscarls. Harold fell in battle against the Normans. Seeing the death of
So it is that the myth of an arrow in the eye was born.
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