John Fitzalan

John Fitzalan was born on 14 September 1246 in Arundel, Sussex, England.¹ He was the son of John Fitzalan and Maud (Matilda) De Botiller (Verdon).¹ John Fitzalan married Isabella De Mortimer, daughter of Roger De Mortimer and Maud De Braose, in 1260.¹ John Fitzalan died on 18 March 1272 at age 25.¹
According to other sources, we know that John Fitz Alan was born 14 Sep. 1246, whereas the fi ne was dated 14 May 1260. As such, the fine was recorded a mere four months before John Fit z Alan reached his 14th birthday. The fine was evidently part of the preparations the parent s of the two parties took immediately prior to the consumation of the marriage. The wording of this fine reflects the fact that by medieval custom, couples betrothed as chil dren were considered married, regardless of the fact that their marriage had not yet been con sumated. As such, I believe it is incorrect to say there was a difference in Latin phrases, ' led in marriage' or 'married' in this time period. As we can see in this fine, the bethrothe d couple are called 'married,' even though the fine makes it clear that the marriage was no t consumated. As a side note, the bride in this fine, Isabel de Mortimer, was grandaughter of the ever popu lar Gladys Dhu, daughter of Llewelyn ap Iowerth, Prince of North Wales. The marriage betwee n Isabel de Mortimer and John Fitz Alan was in due course consumated and surviving children b orn to the marriage. The manor of Chipping Norton, co. Oxford mentioned in the fine descende d in the Fitz Alan family until about 1385, when it was settled by Richard de Arundel, 11th E arl of Arundel, on his niece, Philippe Arundel, wife of Richard Sergeaux, in satisfaction o f her claims on her grandfather, the 10th Earl's estate. The manor was subsequently held by P hilippe (Arundel) Sergeaux's descendants. Best always, Douglas Richardson, Salt Lake City, Utah, Home of the Winter 2002 Olympics E-mail: royalancestry@msn.com - - - - - - - - - Rev. H. E. Salter The Feet of Fines for Oxfordshire, 1195-1291 (Oxfordshire Record Society, v ol. 12)(1930), pp. 241-242. 378. 44 Hen. III. Westm', morrow of the Ascension [14 May, 1260]; Rog. de Mortuo Mari quer. , Ioh. fil. Alani deforc; 100 marcates of land in Norton [Chipping Norton] and Acton'; ple a of covenant; Ioh. recognized that if he outlives John his son who married Isabella, the dau ghter of R. before he was 14 14 years old, the 100 marcates shall remain to I. for life as do s; also if John when he reaches 14 years refuses the contract of marriage, she shall have th e money for life for her maintenance; in return R. granted to Isabella 40 librates of land i n Andinton in Shropshire as matrimonium, to be held by John and Isabella and the issue of th e marriage; if there is no issue, it shall revert aftet the death of Isabella to R. and his h eirs.' (C.P. 25. 283. 15).¹ He became the father of Maud Fitzalan about 1263.¹ John Fitzalan became the father of Richard Fitzalan on 3 February 1267.¹ John Fitzalan became the father of John Fitzalan about 1271.¹ John Fitzalan became the father of Amy Fitzalan about 1273.¹ John Fitzalan became the father of Eleanor Fitzalan (Arundel) about 1277.¹