He succeeded his father in 1302 as Earl of Arundel. He was loyal to King Edward II but was captured in Shropshire by supporters of Queen Isabelle and beheaded without trial, and subsequently attainted whereupon his honours were forfeited. 1
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The last use of the surname Fitz Alan by any member of this family dates c.1312-3, when Earl Edmund brought a writ as "Edmund Fitz Alan." Thereafter, all further references to this family employ the surname Arundel to the complete exclusion of the surname Fitz Alan. Specifically, Earl Edmund, both of his brothers, two of his sons, and all four of his grandsons employed the Arundel surname. Edmund's sister Alice is likewise styled "de Arundel" in an ancient Segrave family pedigree....
Edmund de Arundel (or Fitz Alan), Knt., 9th Earl of Arundel, of the Castle and honor of Arundel, Sussex, of Clun and Oswestry, Shropshire, Chief Butler of England, Captain General north of the Trent, 1316, Privy Councillor, 1318, Chief Justice of North and South Wales, 1322, Warden of the Welsh Marshes, 1325...
Sometime in the period, 1307-11, Gilbert de Clare, Earl of Gloucester and Hertford, Henry de Lacy, Earl of Lincoln, and other earls and barons, including "Edmund Fitz Aleyn, Earl of Arundel," while assembled in the Parliament in London, wrote to the Pope praying for the canonization of Thomas de Cantelowe, late Bishop of Hereford.
He was knighted with Edward, the King's son, and many others in 1306, prior to an expedition to Scotland.
He was summoned to Parliament 9 Nov. 1306 as Earl of Arundel. In 1308 he officiated as Chief Butler at the Coronation of King Edward II....
In 1309, as "Edmund, Earl of Arundel," made a complaint against his cousin, Robert de Mohaut, regarding a ¼ knight's fee in Alspath, Warwickshire. In Hilary term 1310, as "Edmund FitzAleyn, Earl of Arundell," he sued John de Chauvent and Eve his wife for the manor of Wepham, Sussex, which he claimed his great-grandfather, John Fitz Alan, was seised in his demesne as of fee on the day of his death....
In 1314 he was granted the manors of Wing, Buckinghamshire, and Blackwell, Roding, Ovesham (in Matching), Prittlewell, and Margaretting, Essex by his brother-in-law, John de Warenne, Earl of Surrey.
From 1321 onward, Edmund was one of the few nobles who adhered to the King. Sir Edmund de Arundel, 9th Earl of Arundel, was captured in Shropshire by Queen Isabel's party and beheaded without a trial at Hereford 17 Nov. 1326. He was subsequently attainted and his honours became forfeited... 2
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[Edmund's] father, Richard FitzAlan, 2nd Earl of Arundel, died on 9 March 1301, while Edmund was still a minor. He therefore became a ward of John de Warenne, Earl of Surrey, and married Warenne's granddaughter Alice. In 1306 he was styled Earl of Arundel, and served under Edward I in the Scottish Wars, for which he was richly rewarded.
After Edward I's death, Arundel became part of the opposition to the new king Edward II, and his favourite Piers Gaveston. In 1311 he was one of the so-called Lords Ordainers who assumed control of government from the king. Together with Thomas, Earl of Lancaster, he was responsible for the death of Gaveston in 1312. From this point on, however, his relationship to the king became more friendly. This was to a large extent due to his association with the king's new favourite Hugh Despenser the Younger, whose daughter was married to Arundel's son. Arundel supported the king in suppressing rebellions by Roger Mortimer and other Marcher Lords, and eventually also Thomas of Lancaster. For this he was awarded with land and offices.
His fortune changed, however, when the country was invaded in 1326 by Mortimer, who had made common cause with the king's wife, Queen Isabella. Immediately after the capture of Edward II, the queen, Edward III's regent, ordered Arundel executed, his title forfeit and his property confiscated. Arundel's son and heir Richard only recovered the title and lands in 1331, after Edward III had taken power from the regency of Isabella and Mortimer. In the 1390s, a cult emerged around the late earl. He was venerated as a martyr, though he was never canonised. 3
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Inquisition Post Mortem
752. Edmund, Earl of Arundel
Writ (missing)
Sussex. Extent made at Arundell on Monday after the Circumcision, 20 Edward II.
Limemenstre. The manor (extent given).
Bourne with Stanstede. The manor, pertaining to the honour of the castle of Arundel (extent given), with the pleas and perquisites of the hundred of Oulethourne.
Sangleton. The manor, pertaining to the honour of the castle of Arundel (extent given), including the advowsons of the churches of Sangleton and Estden, parks called Estden Park, Brunnescoumbe, Dounle and Selers, and foreign woods called Westholt, Alfredesholt, Wangrave and Selers.
Southampton. Extent, Tuesday the feast of St. Hilary, 20 Edward II. (defaced)
Bedhampton. The manor (extent given), with the advowson of the church, held of the abbot of Hyde, Winchester, by service of a knight's fee, and of Sir John de Sancto Johanne by service of ½ knight's fee.
Wilts. Extent. Wednesday the morrow of the Epiphany, 20 Edward II.
Cuvele. The manor (full extent given, with names of free tenants), including pastures called Oxenlese and Cowenlese, and a wood called 'le Park' and the following fees &c.—
Gloucester and Wilts. Thormerton. The manor, co. Gloucester, and other tenements in Hechelhampton, Calston and Paulesholt, co. Wilts, held by John de Wylynton of the lord of the above manor by service of 3 knights' fees.
Wilts. Paulesholt. The manor held by Nicholas Bourdon by service of a knight's fee, and suit at court.
Gloucester. Badmynton. Certain tenements held by William le Butiler of Wemme by service of a knight's fee.
Wilts. Yatton. Certain tenements held by William Kaynel by service of a knight's fee, and suit of court.
Blountesdon. Certain tenements held by Adam Walraund by service of ½ knight's fee ; and a carucate of land held by William Musard by service of 1/4 and 1/8 knight's fee.
The manor is held of the king in chief by service of 1½ knight's fee ; and 20s. are payable thereout to the constable of the castle of Devyses in aid of the guard of the same, and 20s. 8d. to the sheriff of Wilts for assarts.
C. Edw. II. File 103. (1.) 4
Also called Edmund DE ARUNDEL.