Notes:

Roger I of Mortemer (Roger de Mortemer, Roger de Mortimer, Roger Mortimer, Roger "fili Episcopi") (bef. 990 - aft. 1074), founded the abbey of St. Victor en Caux in the Pays de Caux of Upper Normandy as early as 1074 CE. Roger claimed the castle built by William FitzOsbern, 1st Earl of Hereford, that was situated on the river mouth of Eaulne in Mortemer, Seine-Maritime. This castle was the chief barony of Roger's descendants. He was the first Norman ancestor to assume the name Mortimer, as in the place-name Morte-mer-en-Brai, the land on which the villiage and castle was located.

Background

Castle in Mortemer

In 1054, the territory of Évreux was invaded by French armies led by Odo, the brother of King Henry I of France. In response, Duke William II of Normandy sent his general Roger "fili Episcopi", along with other commanders, to oppose Odo’s forces. They met at the castle in Mortemer, Seine-Maritime where the battle of Mortemer ensued. Roger was victorious against Odo, with Guy Comte de Ponthieu taken prisoner. Roger then took possession of the castle in Mortemer and assumed its name. However, his hold on the property was short lived due to a breach of duty to Duke William. Roger had entertained an enemy of the Duke, who was a French operative known as Count Ralph III “the Great”. Count Ralph was Roger’s father-in-law, and thus gave the Count shelter for three days at his castle in Mortemer until he was able to safely return to his own territories. Upon discovering the news that Roger was providing safe haven for an enemy, Duke William banished Roger from Normandy and confiscated his possessions, giving them to his nephew, William de Warenne. Eventually, Roger was pardoned by the Duke, but was never able to retain the castle in Mortemer. It wasn’t until Roger’s son, Ranulph de Mortemer, was able to repossess the property by grant of Duke William.

Family

Roger of Mortemer had been referred to as filius Episcopi meaning, "son of the bishop". Thus, he has been identified as the son of Hugh, bishop of Coutances. Roger’s mother was niece of Gunnora, Duchess of Normandy. Roger's brother Ralph, was founder of the house of Warenne and was closely related to William de Warenne as noted by Ordericus Vitalis. However, William was neither Roger's father, nor brother, but his nephew.

Roger married Hadewisa, a Lady who inherited the Vill of Mees on the river mouth of Bresle and the district of Le Vimieu. Her father was Ralph III "The Great", Count of Amiens. Roger and Hadewisa had at least three children: Ralnuph, Hugh, and William.

Roger — Hadewisa. (daughter of Ralph, III "The Great" Count of Amiens) [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Ranulph I de Mortimer (Ralf, Ralph, Raoul de Mortemer) (bef. 1070 to c. 1104) was a Marcher Lord from the Montgomery lands in the Welsh Marches (border lands between Wales and England). In England, he was Lord of Wigmore in Herefordshire. In Normandy, he was the Seigneur of St. Victor-en-Caux. Ranulph was the founder of the English House of Mortimer of Wigmore. He acquired Wigmore Castle after William Fitz Osbern's son Roger de Breteuil joined the Revolt of the Earls of 1075. His lands and holdings in Herefordshire and Shropshire were granted to him by William the Conqueror before 1086.

Background

Allegiance to England

After William the Conqueror's death, the Kingdom of England and the Duchy of Normandy were divided. Ranulph of Mortemer joined the ranks of the Rebellion of 1088 against the new King of England, William Rufus. Together with Norman, English and Welsh Marcher Lords, they invaded and conquered the lands of Hereford, Gloucester and Worcestershire. A year later, the revolt failed and the marches of Normandy, from Maine to the Evrecin, were in disorder. King Rufus took advantage of this opportunity to align with the barons of Upper Normandy by bribing them. Of these barons, Ranulph maintained his land by accepting a bribe from the King in which he had to give his support to England. He did this by garrisoning his castle and sacking surrounding enemy territories as an attack against the new Duke of Normandy, Robert Curthose. The Norman baron allegiance set the stage for a race between the heirs of William I, where the Duke of Normandy and the King of England sought to gain as much support from powerful and influential houses as possible against each other.

Allegiance to Normandy

Throughout the power struggle between Normandy and England in the early 1090s, Ranulph ended up switching sides and submitting to the Duke of Normandy. At the Welsh Marches in 1093, Ranulph joined Norman forces, leading with Earl Roger of Shrewsbury, Ralph Tosny of Clifford Castle and Philip de Braose of Radnor. They invaded the ancient Welsh county of Radnorshire, which is now Powys, and sacked the kingdom of Cynllibiwg. This territory was known as Rhwng Gwy a Hafren, located between the Rivers Wye and Severn. They founded the castles of Dinieithon, near present Llandrindod Wells, and Cymaron in Maelienydd, located between Llanbister and Llangunllo. A century later, after the collapse of Norman authority, the descendants of Mortemer were eventually expelled from this territory by the Cynllibiwg rebellion of 1148.

Family

Ranulph de Mortemer was born in Normandy before 1070 and died soon after 4 August 1137. He was the son of the Norman baron Roger filius Episcopi and Hawise. His father assumed the name Mortemer after taking possession of the castle and village of Mortemer in the Pays de Bray, called sometimes Mortemer sur Eaulne or en Brai. However, Roger lost the land in the Battle of Mortemer of 1054 against William the Conqueror. Decades later, the property was granted back to the Mortemer family, namely by Ranulph, who acquired it. They are related to William de Warenne, 1st Earl of Surrey, and descendents of a sister of Gunnor, the wife of Richard I of Normandy.

Ranulph married Millicent, whose parentage is currently unknown. Their daughter Hawise de Mortemer (d. 1127), married Earl Stephen of Aumale before 1100. Ranulph supported the cause to have his son-in-law replace Henry I of England, however, Henry had control of both England and Normandy until 1135.

Ranulph's son, Hugh I de Mortemer, rebuilt Cymaron Castle in 1144. Wigmore Castle remained the Mortimer dynasty's family home. His grandson Hugh II married Maud (Matilda) de Meschines.

Ranulph — Millicent. [Group Sheet]

Hugh married Between 1148 and 1155. Unknown [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Hugh de Mortimer (before 1117 to 26 Feb 1180/1) was a Norman English medieval baron.

Lineage

The son of Hugh de Mortimer (b ? - d 26 Feb 1148/50), the son of Ralf de Mortimer, he was Lord of Wigmore Castle, Cleobury Mortimer and at times, Bridgnorth, Bishop's Castle and Maelienydd.

Anarchy

During the Anarchy of King Stephen's reign, Mortimer was an ardant royalist until at least 1148. This was because Wigmore Castle had been confiscated from his father by King Henry I. He only seems to have returned to England from his Norman estates in 1137.

Private Wars

He did quarrel violently with his neighbouring Lords, most notably with Miles, earl of Hereford, his son Roger and Josce de Dinan, lord of Ludlow. The latter ambushed Mortimer and only released him after the payment of a substantial ransom. During this time Mortimer also took over the Royal castle at Bridgnorth.

Opposition to King Henry II

Hugh was one of the Barons who objected to Henry II's demand for the return of Royal castles in 1155. Henry II launched a campaign in May 1155 against Hugh, simultaneously besieging his three principal castles of Wigmore, Bridgnorth and Cleobury. On 7 July 1155, Hugh formally submitted to Henry II at the Council at Bridgnorth. He was allowed to keep his own two castles (though Cleobury had been destroyed during the siege) but Bridgnorth returned to the crown.

Marriage & issue

Between 1148 and 1155 Hugh married Maud le Meschin (also known as Maud/Matile du Bessin), daughter of William le Meschin, Lord of Skipton, Yorkshire, and Cecily de Rumilly. Maud (Matilda) was the widow of Philip Belmeis of Tong. Hugh and Maud's son Roger Mortimer of Wigmore succeeded his father as Lord of Wigmore. Hugh and Maud had three other sons, Hugh (killed in a tournament), Ralph, and William. Hugh may have died 26 Feb 1180/81 in Cleobury Mortimer, Shropshire, England, and was buried at Wigmore.

Hugh — Maud le Meschin. (daughter of William le Meschin, Lord of Skipton and Cecily de Rumilly) [Group Sheet]