| Roger de Mortimer, 4th Earl of March and 6th Earl of Ulster | |
|---|---|
| Spouse(s) | Alianore Holland |
| Noble family | House of Plantagenet |
| Father | Edmund Mortimer, 3rd Earl of March |
| Mother | Philippa, 5th Countess of Ulster |
| Born | 11 April 1374 |
| Died | 20 July 1398 (aged 24) |
Roger de Mortimer, 4th Earl of March and 6th Earl of Ulster (11 April 1374 – 20 July 1398)[1] 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.[2] 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.[3] 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.[2] His hereditary influence and position caused him to be appointed to the lord-lieutenancy of Ireland on 24 January 1382.[2] His uncle Sir Thomas Mortimer acted as his deputy.[2] This experiment did not work well and Mortimer was replaced by Philip de Courtenay the next year.[2]
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).[3]
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.[3]
His brother Edmund Mortimer married the daughter of Owain Glyndŵr and was one of his staunchest supporters.
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In 1394 he accompanied Richard II to Ireland, 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.
By his wife Alianore Holland he had four children[4]:
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Roger Mortimer, 4th Earl of March
Born: 11 April 1374 Died: 20 July 1398 |
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| English royalty | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Philippa Plantagenet, 5th Countess of Ulster |
Heir to the English Throne as heir presumptive 5 January 1382 (acknowledged 1385) - 20 July 1398 |
Succeeded by Edmund Mortimer, 5th Earl of March |
| Peerage of England | ||
| Preceded by Edmund Mortimer, 3rd Earl |
Earl of March 1381–1398 |
Succeeded by Edmund Mortimer, 5th Earl |
| Peerage of Ireland | ||
| Preceded by Philippa Plantagenet, 5th Countess with Edmund Mortimer, 3rd Earl of March |
Earl of Ulster 1382–1398 |
Succeeded by Edmund Mortimer, 7th Earl, 5th Earl of March |