Barony of Berkeley History
S. S.
The Barony of Berkeley is one of the more confusing dignities to be treated in peerage history. The Barony of Berkeley was originally a feudal title as it was attached to the Castle, Honour and Manor of Berkeley etc. There is some confusion about its descent and of the other titles conferred upon its descendant. I am to explain some of the complexities while hoping for insight from those more keen-eyed. I will release my rewrite of The Complete Peerage entry for this dignity in due course.
In tempore William I, Roger de Berkeley the Elder, was granted the lands associated with Berkeley. He d in 1093 when he was succeeded by his son, Roger de Berkeley the Ygr, who d before Michaelmas 1131. He expanded and completed the building of Berkeley Castle, though suffered much during the Anarchy, having his lands removed and given that of Dursley (hence why the Earldom of Berkeley was created with the subsidiary title of Viscount Dursley much later). He would later d ca 1177, leaving issue. The Castle, Honour and Manor of Berkeley etc was then given to King Stephen.
In tempore Henry II, Robert FitzHarding the Devout (the family’s epithets from here on were coined by the 17th century steward to the family, John Smyth/Smith, of Nibley), a rich merchant of Bristol, was granted the Berkeley lands ca 1153 by Henry of Anjou, being later confirmed by Henry II in his first regnal year. Robert was the founder of St Augustine’s Abbey, which would later become Bristol Cathedral. He d in 1170/71 when he was succeeded by his son, Maurice FitzRobert FitzHarding the Make-Peace. He would go on to marry Alice, eldest daughter of Roger, former 3rd feudal Baron of Berkeley (d ca 1177) as previously mentioned to settle the brewing disputes between both families as to the Berkeley lands. He d in 1190 when he was succeeded by his son, Robert de Berkeley the Rebellious. He dsp in 1220 when he was succeeded by his younger brother, Thomas de Berkeley the Observer or Temporiser. He d in 1243, when he was succeeded by his son, Maurice de Berkeley the Resolute. He served against King John and d in 1281, having been succeeded by his 2nd but eldest surviving son.
This son was Thomas de Berkeley the Wise, who is now 9th feudal Baron of Berkeley overall. He was summoned to Parliament as Baron Berkeley in 1295. He was previously summoned to a council at Shrewsbury in 1283, which The Complete Peerage states constituted a peerage in the decision reached by the Mowbray Case 1877. He d in 1321, having been succeeded by his eldest son.
This son was Maurice de Berkeley the Magnanimous, who served during the Scottish Wars with distinction. He CP states that he was summoned to Parliament as Baron Berkeley between 1308 and 1321, but that no record is extant of his sitting. He later served against Edward II during the Lancaster rebellion and was imprisoned at Wallingford Castle, where he would later d in 1326, being succeeded by his son by his 1st w, Thomas de Berkeley the Rich. He married twice and d in 1361, having been succeeded by his son by his 1st wife, Maurice de Berkeley the Valiant, now 4th Baron Berkeley [W] and 9th feudal Baron of Berkeley. He d in 1368 when he was succeeded by his son and heir, Thomas de Berkeley the Magnificent. He dspm in 1417.
Whereupon his death the Barony of Berkeley [W: 1295] passed to his only daughter and heiress, while the Castle, Honour and Manor of Berkeley etc passed to his collateral heir male nephew, James de Berkeley. Note that The Complete Peerage does not include Elizabeth, the daughter, as the next holder of the barony even though she would be entitled to it. It instead states that the Barony of Berkeley [W: 1295] passed to his nephew as the barony was attached to the Castle, Honour and Manor of Berkeley etc, which is probably a rather erroneous supposition in this case (I have indicated Elizabeth as the 6th Baroness Berkeley in my work).
Elizabeth would succeed her mother as 4th Baroness Lisle of Kingston Lisle in 1391/92 and her father as Baron Berkeley in 1417 aforesaid. She married Richard de Beauchamp, 13th Earl of Warwick and dspm in 1422, leaving numerous issue. Upon her death, both baronies became ABEYANT between the descendants of her various children.
Back to the nephew and heir male of the 5th Baron Berkeley, James Berkeley the Just, who is now 9th feudal Baron of Berkeley. He was summoned to Parliament between 1421 and 1461 as Baron Berkeley, and thus we consider him the first holder of the second creation of the Barony of Berkeley. He d in Nov 1463, when he was succeeded by his notorious son.
This son was William Berkeley the Waste All. He actually fought with Thomas Talbot, 2nd Viscount Lisle at the Battle of Nibley Green (the last feudal war between magnates in England) and eventually won. The reason? Lord Berkeley had protested against the claims of Margaret, Countess of Shrewsbury (wife of John Talbot, 1st Earl of Shrewsbury) and the other heirs general of his great-uncle (the 5th Baron Berkeley) as to who would inherit the Berkeley estates. Lord Berkeley of course won the battle and Lord Lisle was slain.
In 1481, he released his right to the reversion of a moiety of the estates of Anne, 8th Countess of Norfolk suo jure if she happened to dsp (which did happen in 1477/78), who was the child bride of Prince Richard, Duke of York (one of the two brothers mysteriously disappeared in the Tower of London). For this consideration, he was created Viscount Berkeley in 1481. In 1483, he was granted the title of Earl of Nottingham as he was coheir to the vast Mowbray estates (the title was associated with the family), while at the same time the other coheir, John Howard, 6th Baron Mowbray [W], was created Duke of Norfolk. Finally in Jan 1488/89, he alienated the Castle, Honour and Manor of Berkeley etc unto the King, and was thus created Marquess of Berkeley as a result.
It is important to note that this action effectively caused the Barony of Berkeley [E: 1421] to become attached to the feudal Castle, Honour and Manor of Berkeley etc dignity. The Complete Peerage would later consider the next son and heir of Lord Berkeley to only hold the barony de jure. The Marquess of Berkeley d in 1510, when he was succeeded by his younger brother and heir of the whole blood, being second and younger son by his third wife of the Marquess of Berkeley.
This son was Maurice Berkeley the Lawyer, now 3rd Baron Berkeley, who was able to recover about 50 manors or so due to his brother’s alienation. He d in 1506 and was suc by his son, Maurice Berkeley the Courtier, who dspl in 1423, being succeeded by his younger brother, Thomas Berkeley the Sheepmaster, who in turn d in 1533 and was suceeded by his son, Thomas Berkeley the Hopeful, who later d in 1534. He was thus succeeded by his posthumous son, Henry Berkley the Harmless or Posthumous Henry, now 7th Baron Berkeley de facto, as he had been restored to the Castle, Honour and Manor of Berkeley etc and had livery of it in 1555. He d in 1613 and was succeeded by his grandson, George Berkeley, now 8th Baron Berkeley (there are no more epithets coined as John Smyth d in 1640). He d in 1658 when he was succeeded by his son.
This was George Berkeley, 9th Baron Berkeley, who was additionally created Viscount Dursley and Earl of Berkeley in 1679. From here the succession was straightforward so we now go to his great-great-grandson, Frederick Augustus Berkeley, 5th Earl of Berkeley and 14th Baron Berkeley [W]. Frederick had married (as he alleged) on 30 March 1785 a Mary Cole. Mary by then was expecting their 7th child. However, the earliest proof of marriage with incontrovertible proof was on 16 May 1785. This now presented a problem as his eldest son could not inherit the family’s titles. To remedy the issue, his eldest son, William FitzHardinge Berkeley, was created Earl FitzHardinge in 1841. Similarly, his immediate younger brother, Maurice Frederick FitzHardinge Berkeley, also illegitimate due to their parent’s marriage, was created Baron FitzHardinge in 1861 (this title would become extinct in 1916). Upon the death of the 5th Earl of Berkeley in 1810, the Castle, Honour and Manor of Berkeley etc passed to his eldest son, Earl FitzHardinge and later from him to the next Earl of Berkley, i.e the cousin.
The Earldom of Berkeley passed to his cousin while the Barony of Berkeley passed to his niece, Louisa Mary Berkeley (later Milman), now 15th Baroness Berkeley and so that line continued, later giving us the present 18th Baron Berkeley and Baron Gueterbock [L]. The cousin was Thomas Morton FitzHardinge Berkeley, now 6th Earl of Berkeley de jure as he never established his right. He in turn was succeeded by his cousin, George Lennox FitzHardinge Berkeley, now 7th Earl of Berkeley de jure as he also never proved his claim. He in turn was succeeded by his 2nd and younger surviving son, Randal Mowbray Thomas Berkeley, 8th Earl of Berkeley as he proved his claim in 1891. He dsp in 1942, when the Earldom of Berkeley became EXTINCT. Berkeley Castle was inherited by Capt Robert George Wilmot Berkeley (b 1898; d 1969), who was 13th cousin to the 8th Earl of Berkeley.
Any comments or corrections would be appreciated.
S.S.
