John R. Tayloe

The Mortimers took their name from Mortimer-en-Brai, a lordship in Normandy, and they became established in England by Ralph, who, if he was not at (the Battle of) Hastings, certainly followed William (the Conqueror) across the Channel soon afterwards. The latter bestowed upon the family their role as Marcher Lords, and the township and Wigmore Castle , in north Herefordshire, was adopted by them as their seat. Their span of influence lasted for the next four centuries. Their line ended with Edmund Mortimer, the fifth Earl of March, who died without issue. However, Edward IV was the grandson of Anne, Edmund's sister, so it could be said that a Mortimer did eventually become King of England. While there were a couple of occasions when Mortimer power ebbed and all the house's lordships were confiscated by the crown, its story is generally one of looking for the "main chance" to expand their authority and territory. They did this by force, by expedient marriage arrangements and settlements, or by mixture of both.