The Earl Of Arundel and Warenne

Richard FitzAlan, 10th Earl of Arundel and 8th Earl of Surrey was an English nobleman with large estates and distinguished military leader. He was also one of the financial backers of King Edward III (r. 1327-1337).

Richard was the eldest son of Edmund FitzAlan and Alice de Warenne and thus the heir apparent of his family’s wealth. His father was executed in 1326, but it was not until political conditions changed in 1330 that the Earl of Arundel succeeded to his title and later to the greater part of his estates. In 1353, from his mother’s side, he inherited the earldom of Warenne.

Richard became one of Edward III's most loyal generals, taking part in virtually every important campaign in Hundred Years' War. He also acted as moneylender to the king and by 1370, Edward III was more than £20,000 in his debt.

Richard’s total wealth amounted to perhaps £150,000. That would have represented around 5.35% of the £2.8m national income figure at his death, which in 2010’s terms would be over £59.3bn.