Alice de Warenne, Countess of Arundel facts for kids

Alice de Warenne, Countess of Arundel (born 15 June 1287 – died 23 May 1338) was an important English noblewoman. She was expected to inherit the Earldom of Surrey, a major title and land ownership. In 1305, she married Edmund FitzAlan, 2nd Earl of Arundel.

Alice's Family Background

Alice was the only daughter of William de Warenne (1256-1286) and Joan de Vere. She was born on 15 June 1287 in Warren, Sussex. Her father had died in an accident during a tournament six months before she was born.

When her grandfather, John de Warenne, 6th Earl of Surrey, passed away in 1304, Alice's only brother, John de Warenne, 7th Earl of Surrey, became the new Earl. However, her brother and his wife did not have any children and they stayed separated. This meant that Alice was the next in line to inherit the Surrey lands and title if her brother had no other children. This made her an important heir presumptive.

Marriage to the Earl of Arundel

In 1305, Alice married Edmund Fitzalan, 2nd Earl of Arundel. Edmund was the son of Richard Fitzalan, 1st Earl of Arundel. At first, Edmund did not want to marry Alice, but he changed his mind by 1305.

They had nine children together. Their main home was Arundel Castle in Sussex. Edmund became the Earl of Arundel in 1302 after his father died. He was called to the English Parliament in 1306. He also took part in wars against Scotland.

The Earl of Arundel and Alice's brother, John de Warenne, were two of the few nobles who stayed loyal to King Edward II. This was even after Queen Isabella and her ally, Roger Mortimer, 1st Earl of March, returned to England in 1326. Edmund had become friends with the King's favorite, Hugh le Despenser. He even agreed for his son to marry Despenser's granddaughter.

The Earl of Arundel had been given many lands that once belonged to Mortimer, who was seen as a traitor. Edmund was also made Justice of Wales in 1322 and was in charge of the Welsh Marches (border areas) in 1325. He was also made the leader of Montgomery Castle, which became his main base.

In 1326, the Earl of Arundel was captured in Shropshire by the Queen's group. On 17 November 1326, in Hereford, he was executed by the Queen's command. This made Alice de Warenne a widow. Her husband's lands and titles were taken by the Crown after his execution. However, they were later given back to her oldest son, Richard.

Alice de Warenne died before 23 May 1338, when she was 50 years old. Her brother died in 1347 without any legitimate children. Because of this, the title of Surrey eventually went to Alice's son, Richard.

Alice's Children

Alice and Edmund FitzAlan had nine children:

• Richard FitzAlan, 3rd Earl of Arundel, also known as Copped Hat, was born in 1306 at Arundel Castle. He became the Earl of Arundel and later the Earl of Surrey in 1361. He married twice and had several children, including Richard FitzAlan, 11th Earl of Arundel and Joan de Bohun, Countess of Hereford.
• Edward FitzAlan (1308–1398)
• Alice FitzAlan (born 1310), who married John de Bohun, 5th Earl of Hereford.
• Joan FitzAlan (born 1312), who married Warin Gerard, Baron L'Isle.
• Aline FitzAlan (1314–1386), who married Roger le Strange, 5th Baron Strange of Knockyn. They had children.
• John FitzAlan (around 1348-1379), who became the 1st Baron Arundel. He was a Marshall of England and sadly drowned in 1379. The current Duke of Norfolk is a descendant of John FitzAlan.
• Catherine FitzAlan (died 1376), who married two times and had children with her second husband.
• Elizabeth FitzAlan (1320–1389), who married William Latimer, 4th Baron Latimer. They had one daughter named Elizabeth.
• Eleanor FitzAlan

Images for kids

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  Arundel Castle, a main home for the Earls of Arundel