Sir Richard Fitz Alan Earl of Arundel, Earl of Surrey

  Information about this person:

• Background Information. ⁷³⁷
Richard Fitz Alan had his lands restored by parliament, 4 Edward III or 1330/31. He became the 9^th Earl of Arundel. He had become the governor of Chirke Castle at Denbigh, in 7 Edward III. He was also made governor of the Porchester Castle the same year he had a command in the wars of Scotland. Later, he was made the admiral of the western seas, and governor of Caernarvon Castle. In 14 Edward III, his embarked in the French wars. He was at the siege of Vannes, the relief of Thouars, and the battle of Crecy in 1346. Besides his military services, the earl was frequently employed in diplomatic missions.

Richard first married Isabel, daughter of Hugh le Despencer with whom he had only one daughter named Phillippa who married Sir Richard Segeaux, Knight of Cornwall. In 1345, he divorced Isabel and married Lady Eleanor Plantagenêt daughter of Henry, Earl of Lancaster, and widow of John, Baron of Beaumont. Their children were:

Richard his eldest and heir
John, marshal of England in 1377, summoned to Parliament 3 Richard II. He married Eleanor, grand-daughter and co-heir of John, Lord Maltravers, in whose right he bore that title, and by her had issue:
John, b 1365, m. Elizabeth, daughter of Hugh le Despencer, and d. 1391
Thomas called Arundel, successively bishop of Ely, archbishop of York, and archbishop of Canterbury, Lord Chancellor of England. This prelate was impeached and banished during the reign of Richard II, but returned with Henry VI, and was restored to Canterbury.
Joane, married to Humphrey de Bohun, Earl of Hereford
Alice, married to Thomas Holland, Earl of Kent
Mary, married to John, Lord Strange of Blackmere
Eleanor, married to Robert, son of William Ufford, Earl of Suffolk.

Richard Fitz Alan died in 1376 and was succeeded by his eldest son, also named Richard.

~Burke's Genealogical and Heraldic Dictionary of the Peerage and Baronatage of The British Empire, pg. 200-2001

• Background Information. ¹⁴¹
Richard Fitz Alan, called "Copped Hat" son and heir of Edmund, 12th Earl of Arundel, born about 1313. In 1330-31 he was fully restored in blood and honours and in December of that year obtained restitution of the Castle and Honour of Arundel from the widow of John, Earl of Kent, becoming Earl of Arundel. He took a distinguished part in the wars with France; was Admiral of the West 1340-41 and 1347-47; commanded the second division at the Battle of Crécy; and was at the fall of Calais in 1347. In June 30, 1347, he succeeded to the vast estates of the family of Warenne, by the death, s.p.legit of his mother's brother, John, Earl of Surrey and Sussex. By fine levied 1349-50, he settled the Castle, town, and manor of Arundel on himself and his (then) wife Eleanor, for their joint lives, with remainder to the heirs male of his body by his said wife. On the death of Joan, the widow of his uncle, John, Earl of Surrey, in 1361, but not before, he assumed the title of Earl of Surrey, and on 12 Apr 1366 settled the Warenne estates on his issue.

Sir Richard Fitz Alan married, 1^st, 9 Feb 1320/1, in the King's Chapel at Havering-atte-Bower (he about 7, she about 8), Isabel, daughter of Sir Hugh le Despenser the younger, Lord le Despenser, by Eleanor, daughter and co-heir of Gilbert de Clare, Earl of Gloucester. Obtained 4 Dec 1344, a Papal mandate for the annulment of his marriage to Isabel le Despenser, on the ground of his minority and of his never willingly consented to the match.

Sir Richard Fitz Alan married 2^nd, 5 February 1344/5, at Ditton, (a lady with whom he had previously cohabited), Eleanor, widow of John de Beaumont (2nd Lord Beaumont), daughter of Henry, Earl of Lancaster, by Maud, daughter and heir of Sir Patrick de Chawices or Chaworth. She, who was 1^st cousin to his 1^st wife, and 2^nd cousin once removed to the Earl, died 11 Jan 1372, at Arundel, and was buried at Lewes. He died 24 Jan 1375/6, also at Arundel, in his 70^th year, and was also buried at Lewes. Will dated 5 Dec 1375.

~ Cokayne's Complete Peerage, 2nd Edition, Vol. I, (Arundel), pp. 242-4, Vol. XIV, p. 38

• Web Reference: Richard FitzAlan from Wikipedia.

Richard FitzAlan, 10th Earl of Arundel & Eleanor, his countess
By James Basire

Arundel Castle, West Sussex, England as seen from a light aircraft
By Miles Sabin from Brighton, UK

Richard married Eleanor Plantagenêt of Lancaster, daughter of Henry Plantagenêt 3rd Earl of Lancaster and Maud de Chaurces ¹⁴¹.^,1078 (Eleanor Plantagenêt of Lancaster was born about 1313 in Grismond Castle, Monmouth,¹⁰⁷⁸ died on 11 Jan 1372 in Arundel Castle, Sussex, England ^141,1078 and was buried in Lewes Priory, Lewes, Sussex ¹⁰⁷⁸.)

Richard next married Isabel le Despenser, daughter of Sir Hugh Despenser Knight Bachelor and Alanore de Clare, on 9 Feb 1321.¹⁴¹ (Isabel le Despenser was born about 1312 in Gloucestershire, England.)