Earl of Oxford and Earl Mortimer
| Earldom of Oxford and Earldom of Mortimer |
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|---|---|
 
Or, a bend cotised sable
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| Creation date | 24 May 1711 |
| Monarch | Queen Anne |
| Peerage | Peerage of Great Britain |
| First holder | Robert Harley |
| Last holder | Alfred Harley, 6th Earl of Oxford and Earl Mortimer |
| Remainder to | Heirs male of the first earl's body lawfully begotten; with special remainder to heirs male of his grandfather (Sir Robert Harley) failing heirs male |
| Subsidiary titles | Baron Harley |
| Extinction date | 19 January 1853 |
| Former seat(s) | Brampton Bryan Hall Eywood House |
| Armorial motto | Virtute et fide ("By virtue and faith") |
Earl of Oxford and Earl Mortimer was a title in the Peerage of Great Britain. It was created in 1711 for the statesman Robert Harley, with remainder, failing heirs male of his body, to those of his grandfather, Sir Robert Harley. He was made Baron Harley, of Wigmore in the County of Hereford, at the same time, also in the Peerage of Great Britain and with similar remainder as for the earldom. Harley was the eldest son of Sir Edward Harley and the grandson of the aforementioned Sir Robert Harley.
The style Earl of Oxford and Earl Mortimer was chosen because the ancient earldom of Oxford, held for many centuries by the de Vere family, had become dormant but not extinct in 1703, meaning a descendent could conceivably have stepped forward to claim his title. Harley claimed the Oxford title because of his relationship through marriage to the de Veres. Despite its form (unique in the history of the peerages of the British Isles), it was a single peerage.
The Harley family traces its origin prior to the Norman conquest of England, and was prominent in Shropshire (taking their name from the town of Harley, Shropshire) and Radnorshire. It was so eminent that the House de Harlai (or de Harley, de Harlay) family of France descended from the English branch. Their titles included Marquis de Champvallon and Compte de Beaumont in the French peerage.
The Harley family acquired Brampton Castle in Herefordshire when Sir Robert de Harley (died 1349), eldest son of Sir Richard de Harley, married Margaret de Brampton. Margaret was the eldest daughter and co-heir of Sir Bryan de Brampton, Lord of Kinlet, and Maud de Braose, widow of Roger Mortimer, 1st Baron Mortimer. Sir Robert's great-grandson Sir John Harley was knighted by Edward IV at the battlefield at Gaston during the Battle of Tewkesbury. In 1481, Sir John was appointed Sheriff of Shropshire.
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