Son of Edmund Mortimer and Margaret de Fiennes; m. Joan de Genville; fa ther of Edmund who m. Elizabeth Badlesmere. [WFT European Origins Ped 9 02]
The refurbished castle made a useful base for Roger Mortimer of Wigmore , who married a daughter of Peter de Geneville. He was the leader of a g roup of barons who dethroned the unpopular Edward II in 1326. Mortimer w as created Earl of March but he over-reached himself and was deposed an d executed by rivals in 1330. Later Mortimers regained power and royal f avour and their activities brought Ludlow into the mainstream of nation al politics. [Ludlow Castle, p. 2]
Built the Chapel of St Peter at Ludlow Castle to celebrate his escape f orm the Tower of London on St Peter's Day, 29 Jun 1324. In 1328 Mortime r assigned a rent of £6 13s 4d to two chaplains to celebrate daily serv ice here 'for the souls of the King, Queens Isabel and Phillipa, Henry b ishop of Lincoln, the said Roger and Joan his wife'. [Ludlow Castle, p. 4 ]
By marriage to Joanna de Geneville, Roger Mortimer secured possession o f Ludlow Castle. This became the family's principal power base for the n ext six generations.
Roger was a very powerful and ambitious Marcher Lord. He was the fir st of several members of the family to attempt to seize the throne of E ngland. Later, the ambitions of the Mortimers became part of the great d ynastic struggles of the mid-15th century which became known as 'the Wa rs of the Roses'.
Roger was one of a number of powerful barons, many of them from the W elsh and Scottish borders, who were able to achieve great power under t he weak rule of King Edward II.
He fought in the Scottish wars and made attempts to remove the King' s favourites, at first with some success. In 1323 he was imprisoned in t he Tower of London but escaped to France on 1 Aug, an event he later co mmemorated by building St Peter's chapel in the outer bailey of Ludlow C astle.
In France, Mortimer formed an alliance with Queen Isabella, who had d eserted her effeminate husband. They raised an army, invaded England an d forced Edward II to abdicate in favour of his young son, Edward III. M ortimer entertained Isabella at his castles on the Welsh borders and th ey became lovers. 'Great expense in feasts, tilting and other recreatio ns' is recorded at Ludlow. Meanwhile, Edward II was cruelly murdered at B erkeley Castle.
Mortimer was now Regent in all but name but he over-reached himself a nd aroused the envy of other barons. In October 1330 he was arrested at N ottingham and was sentenced to death and executed at Tyburn in London. T he first bid by a Mortimer to attain the throne had ended in disaster.
These events provide the plot for the play 'Edward II' by the Elizab ethan dramatist, Christopher Marlowe. Mortimer is given an impressive f arewell speech, part of which reads:
"And seeing there was no place to mount up higher,
Why should I greave at my declining fall?
Farewell faire Queene, Weepe not for Mortimer
That scorns the world, and as a traveller,
Goes to discover countries yet unknown"
[Ludlow Castle, p. 12]
More About Roger de Mortimer:
Date born 2: 1287, England.4523
Burial: 1330, Church of Grey Friars, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England.4524, 4525
Christening: May 03, 1287, Or Netherwood, Thornbury, Hereford, England.4526, 4527
Died 2: 1330, England.4527
Founded: Aft. June 29, 1324, Chapel of St Peter.4528, 4529, 4530
Knighted: Founder Knight of the Garter.4531, 4532, 4533
Owned: Shropshire, England.4534, 4535, 4536
Record Change: January 01, 20064536
More About Roger de Mortimer and ISABELLA OF FRANCE (Plantagenet):
Assc: not married.4537, 4538
More About Roger de Mortimer and JoanJoinville, de (Greneville, de):
Marriage: Bef. October 06, 1306, Shropshire, England.4538
Marriage Notes for Roger de Mortimer and JoanJoinville, de (Greneville, de):
[15feb06abernethy.ged]
source:
http://gormantree.lookinhere.net/gp265.html#head3
added:
19nov2005
Children of Roger de Mortimer and JoanJoinville, de (Greneville, de) are:
- +Catherine (Katherine) de Mortimer, b. 1309, England4538, d. 13694538.

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