Earls of March

MARCH, EARLS OF, title derived from the "marches" or boundaries ( ) between England and Wales, and (2) England and Scotland, and held severally by great feudal families pos sessed of lands in those border districts. The earls of March on the Welsh borders were descended from Roger de Mortemer (so called from his castle of Mortemer in Normandy), who was connected by marriage with the dukes of Normandy. His son Ralph (d. c. 1104) figures LI Domesday as the holder of vast estates in Shropshire, Herefordshire and other parts of England, especially in the west; and his grandson Hugh de Mortimer, founder of the priory of Wigmore, Herefordshire, was one of the most powerful of the barons reduced to submission by Henry II. The Mortimers, however, continued to exercise almost un disputed sway, as lords of Wigmore, over the western counties and the Welsh marches.

I. Welsh Marches.

ROGER DE MORTIMER (C. 1286-1330), 8th baron of Wigmore and ist earl of March, being an infant at the death of his father, Edmund, was placed by Edward I. under the guardianship of Piers Gaveston, and was knighted by Edward in 1306. Through his marriage with Joan de Joinville, or Genevill, Roger acquired increased possessions on the Welsh marches, including the important castle of Ludlow, and extensive estates in Ireland, whither he went in 1308 to enforce his authority. This brought him into conflict with the De Lacys, who turned for support to Edward Bruce, brother of Robert Bruce, king of Scotland. Mortimer was appointed lord-lieutenant of Ireland by Edward II. in 1316, and at the head of a large army drove Bruce to Carrickfergus, and the De Lacys into Connaught. About 1318 he ,began to interest himself in the growing opposition to Edward II. and his favourites, the Despensers; and he supported Hum

phrey de Bohun, earl of Hereford, in refusing to obey the king's summons to appear before him in 1321. Forced to surrender to the king at Shrewsbury in 1322, Mortimer was consigned to the Tower of London, whence he escaped to France in Aug. 1324. At the French court ,Queen Isabella found Roger Mortimer; she became his mistress and refused to return to England so long as the Despensers retained power as the king's favourites. Isabella's relations with Mortimer compelled them to withdraw to Flanders, where they obtained assistance for an invasion of England. Land ing in England in 1326, they were joined by Henry, earl of Lan caster; London rose in support of the queen; and Edward took flight to the west, where he was captured in November, and com pelled to abdicate in favour of his son. The country was now ruled by Mortimer and Isabella, who procured the murder of Edward II. in the following September. In 1328 Mortimer was created earl of March. The jealousy of Lancaster having been excited by March's arrogance, Lancaster prevailed upon the young Edward III., to throw off the yoke of his mother's paramour. March was arrested and conveyed to the Tower. Accused of assuming royal power and of various other high misdemeanours, he was condemned without trial and hanged on Nov. 29, 1330, his vast estates being forfeited to the Crown. His eldest son, Edmund, was father of Roger Mortimer (c. 1328-60), who was knighted by Edward III. in 1346, and restored to his grand father's title as 2nd earl of March.