John Fitzalan (1223–1267)


John Fitzalan II, Lord of Oswestry, Clun, and Arundel, was an English nobleman and Marcher Lord with lands in the Welsh Marches.

Family

The son and heir of John Fitzalan, Lord of Oswestry and Clun, from Shropshire. His mother was Isabel, the daughter of William d'Aubigny, 3rd Earl of Arundel by his wife, Mabel of Chester. John obtained possession of his paternal estates on 26 May 1244, aged 21 years.
After the death of his mother's childless brother Hugh d'Aubigny, 5th Earl of Arundel, he inherited jure matris the castle and honour of Arundel in 1243, by which, according to Henry VI's "admission" of 1433, he was later retrospectively held to have become de jure Earl of Arundel. He was never styled as such during his lifetime, however.

Welsh Conflicts

In 1257 the Welsh Lord Gruffydd ap Gwenwynwyn, in the southern realm of the Kingdom of Powys, sought the aid of the Lord of Oswestry against Llywelyn ap Gruffudd. John Fitzalan was a surviving member of the English force that was defeated at the hands of the Welsh at Cymerau in Carmarthenshire.
In 1258 he was one of the key English military commanders in the Welsh Marches and was summoned yet again in 1260 for further conflict against the Welsh.
John vacillated in the conflicts between Henry III and the Barons. He fought on the King's side at the Battle of Lewes in 1264, where he was taken prisoner.
By 1278 to 1282 his sons were engaged in Welsh border hostilities, attacking the lands of Llywelyn.
He is buried at Haughmond Abbey in Shropshire.

Marriage

He married Maud de Verdon, daughter of Theobald le Botiller by his wife Rohesia de Verdon alias Rohese ; by whom he had children including: