Edmund Mortimer's Later Life

Although he was a thorn in the side of King Henry IV, because he had a greater claim to the throne and was used as a focal point for rebellion, Edmund Mortimer was nevertheless kept alive and safe. Near the end of Henry IV's reign, Edmund and his brother Roger were kept in the Tower of London. In 1409 they were given into the custody of the Prince of Wales, Henry, who was five years older than Edmund.Edmund had a greater aim to the throne than the younger Henry as well, but when Henry IV died in March 1413 and the Prince of Wales became king, he had to make a decision about Edmund. He had no doubt come to know Edmund well, not only personally but through Henry's siblings (Edmund and Roger had originally been raised alongside Henry's younger brother and sister), and decided he was not a threat by himself, despite what his older relatives might have tried in the past.Henry (illustration) gave Edmund and Roger their freedom. Not only that, on 8 April 1413 (the day before Henry's…