Saturday 17 May 2025, Ludlow Methodist Church
When Edmund Mortimer, lord of Wigmore and 5th earl of March, died childless in February 1425, the Mortimer inheritance of wealth, lands, and titles passed to his direct male descendant, his nephew and heir, Richard, Duke of York. Thus Edmund was the last male of the senior line to use the name ‘Mortimer’.
As 2025 is the 600th anniversary of Edmund’s death, it is a good time to mark it by reflecting on the significance and importance of the Mortimer family across the whole of the late medieval period. One historian has described their survival for over three and a half centuries as ‘a political and biological feat’. Whilst not qualified to comment on the biological aspects, we can certainly comment on the achievements of a family that grew to become, outside of the direct royal family, the largest landowners across England, Wales and Ireland. They dominated the political affairs of those countries, influencing the course of history, and through marriage acquiring a possible claim to the throne (a claim which resulted in a Mortimer grandson being crowned Edward IV).
The MHS Spring Conference on Saturday 17th May will explore some of the significant achievements of this remarkable family. You can attend the conference in-person (at Ludlow Methodist Church) or live online. Follow the link below for tickets and more details.
Ludlow Methodist Church, SY8 1NH