Richard Fitzalan, 4th Earl of Arundel facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Richard FitzAlan
|
|
|---|---|
| Earl of Arundel, Earl of Surrey | |
.svg)
gules, a lion rampant or
|
|
| Born | 1346 |
| Died | 21 September 1397 (aged 50–51) London, England |
| Spouse(s) | Elizabeth de Bohun Philippa Mortimer |
| Issue |
|
| Father | Richard Fitzalan |
| Mother | Eleanor of Lancaster |
Richard Fitzalan, 4th Earl of Arundel, 9th Earl of Surrey (born 1346 – died September 21, 1397) was an important English nobleman and military leader in the Middle Ages. He was also a Knight of the Garter, a special honor given by the King.
Contents
Early Life and Family
Richard Fitzalan was born in 1346. His parents were Richard Fitzalan, 3rd Earl of Arundel and Eleanor of Lancaster. When his father died in 1376, Richard became the new Earl of Arundel.
His brother was Thomas Arundel, who became a powerful church leader. Thomas was a Bishop of Ely, an Archbishop of York, and later the Archbishop of Canterbury.
At the coronation of Richard II, Richard Fitzalan had an important role. He was chosen to carry the King's crown.
Richard as a Commander
In 1377, Richard Fitzalan became the Admiral of the North and West. This meant he was in charge of the navy in those areas. In 1378, he led an attack on Harfleur in France, but his forces had to retreat. Later, he and John of Gaunt tried to capture Saint-Malo, but they were not successful.
Admiral of England
In 1386, King Richard II made Richard Fitzalan the Admiral of all England. This was a very high position. As Admiral, he led the English fleet to a big victory in March 1387. They defeated a combined fleet from France, Spain, and Flanders off the coast of Margate.
Challenges with the King
Richard Fitzalan was a close friend of Thomas, Duke of Gloucester. Thomas was King Richard II's uncle. Gloucester and Fitzalan often disagreed with King Richard II, especially about making peace with France during the Hundred Years' War.
Power Struggles
In 1386, Gloucester and Fitzalan forced King Richard II to name them to the King's Council. This Council was like a group of advisors who helped the young King rule. They had a lot of power for a year.
However, in 1387, the King removed Gloucester and Fitzalan from his Council. He replaced them with his own favorite advisors.
Battle of Radcot Bridge
King Richard II called Gloucester and Fitzalan to a meeting. But instead, they gathered their own soldiers. They defeated the King's new advisors at the Battle of Radcot Bridge in December 1387. They captured the King's favorites.
The next year, a special meeting of Parliament, called the Merciless Parliament, punished the King's favorite advisors. Fitzalan was one of the Lords Appellant, a group of powerful nobles who accused the King's advisors of wrongdoing.
Richard Fitzalan and Gloucester refused to spare the life of one of the King's friends, Sir Simon de Burley. Even the Queen, Anne of Bohemia, begged them on her knees for mercy. King Richard II never forgot this and planned to get his revenge later.
In 1388, Arundel was made Governor of Brest, an important port city.
Against Peace with France
In 1389, England made peace with France. But Richard Fitzalan, following Gloucester's lead, said he would never agree to this peace treaty.
Family Life
Richard Fitzalan was married two times.
His first wife was Elizabeth de Bohun. They married around 1359 and had seven children:
- Thomas Fitzalan, 5th Earl of Arundel
- Lady Eleanor Fitzalan
- Elizabeth Fitzalan
- Joan FitzAlan
- Alice Fitzalan
- Margaret Fitzalan
- William (or Richard) Fitzalan
After Elizabeth died in 1385, Richard married Philippa Mortimer. She was the daughter of Edmund Mortimer, 3rd Earl of March. Philippa was also a granddaughter of King Edward III. Richard and Philippa did not have any children together.
Death and Legacy
By 1394, Richard Fitzalan was back on the royal council. However, he had a big argument with John of Gaunt in Parliament that year. He also angered King Richard II by arriving late to the Queen's funeral. The King was so angry that he hit Fitzalan in the face.
The King pretended to make up with Fitzalan, but he was just waiting for the right moment to get his revenge. Richard Fitzalan's brother, Thomas, convinced him to surrender to the King, trusting the King's promise of kindness.
On July 12, 1397, Richard Fitzalan was arrested. He was accused of opposing King Richard II and plotting against him. He was put on trial in Westminster and found guilty. He was beheaded on September 21, 1397, in London. It is said that his last words to the executioner were, "Torment me not long, strike off my head in one blow."
In October 1400, the decision against him was reversed. His son, Thomas, then inherited his father's lands and titles.
