Edmund Fitzalan, 2nd Earl of Arundel
A powerful English earl whose shifting loyalties in the deadly game between a king and his barons ultimately cost him his head.
1285–1326 (age 41)·English nobleman·Birthday: May 1
Biography
Edmund Fitzalan inherited the earldom of Arundel as a boy, his fate tied to the turbulent reign of Edward II. Initially aligned with the king's baronial opponents, including the powerful Thomas of Lancaster, he even participated in the execution of the king's favorite, Piers Gaveston. But in a pivotal shift, Fitzalan reconciled with Edward II around 1321, a move sealed by his marriage to the king's niece. This alliance transformed him into one of the crown's staunchest supporters and a key military commander in the brutal suppression of the baronial rebellion. His loyalty was richly rewarded with lands and influence, making him one of the wealthiest men in England. His fortune, however, turned with the king's. After Edward II's deposition, the vengeful regime of Queen Isabella and Roger Mortimer saw Fitzalan as a dangerous remnant of the old order. He was executed without trial, a stark end for a magnate who played the high-stakes game of medieval politics and lost.
#1 When Edmund Was Born
The biggest hits of 1285
Edmund's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1285Born
1290Started school
1298Became a teenager
1301Could drive
1303Could vote
1306Turned 21
1315Turned 30
1325Turned 40
1326Died at 41
Key Achievements
- Served as Chief Justiciar of North and South Wales, a key judicial and administrative role in the Marches.
- Was a leading commander for Edward II at the decisive royalist victory at the Battle of Boroughbridge in 1322.
- Amassed a vast estate through royal grants following the defeat of the Contrariant barons.
- Held the prestigious hereditary title of Earl Marshal of England for a brief period.
Did You Know?
He was the first Earl of Arundel of the Fitzalan line, which would continue to hold the title for centuries.
His severed head was displayed on London Bridge, and his body was initially buried at the Church of the Friars Minor in Hereford.
He was posthumously attainted for treason, but his son successfully petitioned to have the attainder reversed and the earldom restored.
The magnificent Arundel Castle in West Sussex passed into the Fitzalan family through his marriage to Alice de Warenne.
“My loyalty is to the crown, and I will defend it with my sword and my lands.”
