Edmund Mortimer

Sir Edmund Mortimer came from one of the most prominent and powerful English noble family. His life and lives of his family members depicts how feudal wealth and power was highly connected to military power.

Edmund was the eldest son of Roger Mortimer, 1st Earl of March and Joan de Geneville, 2nd Baroness Geneville. His father was among the most powerful men in England, and was de facto ruler of England for three years (1327-1330). He had deposed Edward II (r. 1307-1327), but was himself overthrown by Edward's eldest son, Edward III (r. 1327-1377), and was executed by hanging at Tyburn. Roger’s wealth represented 0.96% of net national income, or around £10.6bn in 2010. The bulk of this wealth would pass into Edmund’s hands, but after Roger’s death his titles and lands were forfeited to the Crown.

Edmund was arrested along with his father in 1330, but he had soon regained the king’s favor. He received some of core Mortimer estates, but had died soon after that in 1331. Edmund’s son, Roger, managed to recover his ancient patrimony in 1354.