William de Berkeley, 1st Marquess of Berkeley
Encyclopedia
William de Berkeley, 1st Marquess of Berkeley (1426 – 14 February 1492) was an English
peer
, who also went by the nickname of William 'the Wass all'. He was buried at "St. Augustine's Friars, London" according to one source, but most likeley in the Berkeley family foundation of St Augustine's Abbey
, Bristol.
and Lady Isabel Mowbray at Berkeley Castle
http://www.thepeerage.com/pd76.htm#i5169 in Berkeley, England
in 1426. His first marriage was in 1466 to Elizabeth West, daughter of Reginald West, 6th Baron De La Warr
, but he obtained a divorce on 20 November 1467. In November 1468, he married Joan Strangeways, daughter of Sir Thomas Strangeways and Lady Katherine Neville
. After the death of his second wife, he married Anne Fiennes, sister of Thomas Fiennes, 8th Baron Dacre
, in circa
1486.
by writ after the death of his father James Berkeley, 1st Baron Berkeley
on 22 October 1463.
He was invested as a Knight Bachelor
on 18 April 1475. He was styled as Viscount
of Catherlough (now known as County Carlow
, Ireland
) between 1481 and 10 February 1485.
Williams was created Viscount
Berkeley on 21 April 1481, as a Privy Counsellor (P.C.) on 5 March 1482/83, and as Earl of Nottingham
on 28 June 1483. He assumed the life office of Earl Marshal and Great Marshal of England
on 19 February 1485/86. Finally, he was created Marquess
of Berkeley on 28 January 1488/89.
an Alderman and Mayor of Bristol in 1459, 1462 & 1469. In order to achieve this, the castle, lands and lordships composing the Barony of Berkeley he settled on King Henry VII and his heirs male, failing which to descend to his own rightful heirs. Thus in 1553 on the death of King Edward VI, the unmarried grandson of Henry VII, the Berkeley inheritance returned to the family.
Therefore on the death of the 1st Marquis, only the de jure barony title was passed on, to his younger brother Maurice Berkeley, 3rd Baron Berkeley, that is to say he was Baron Berkeley by right if not actually in possession of the baronial property. The 4th, 5th & 6th Barons were also de jure only, with Henry(d.1613) becoming de facto 7th Baron in 1553.
to settle the claims to his great-uncle Thomas's estates, by combat. Thomas was killed in the combat. The battle, known as the Battle of Nibley Green
, is notable for being the last battle fought in England entirely between the private armies of feudal magnate
s.http://www.rotwang.co.uk/hob_chapter_05.html
William and Maurice were assisted at Nibley Green by a private army raised by Philip Mead, Maurice's father-in-law. It was surely a mark of ingratitude that William disinherited Mead's grandchildren.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
peer
Peerage
The Peerage is a legal system of largely hereditary titles in the United Kingdom, which constitute the ranks of British nobility and is part of the British honours system...
, who also went by the nickname of William 'the Wass all'. He was buried at "St. Augustine's Friars, London" according to one source, but most likeley in the Berkeley family foundation of St Augustine's Abbey
Bristol Cathedral
The Cathedral Church of the Holy and Undivided Trinity is the Church of England cathedral in the city of Bristol, England, and is commonly known as Bristol Cathedral...
, Bristol.
Descent and Marriages
William of Berkley was born to James Berkeley, 1st Baron BerkeleyJames Berkeley, 1st Baron Berkeley
James Berkeley, 1st Baron Berkeley , also known as "James the Just", was an English peer.Berkeley was the son of Sir James de Berkeley and his wife Elizabeth . He was made heir to his uncle Thomas de Berkeley, 5th Baron Berkeley. He was married four times...
and Lady Isabel Mowbray at Berkeley Castle
Berkeley Castle
Berkeley Castle is a castle in the town of Berkeley, Gloucestershire, UK . The castle's origins date back to the 11th century and it has been designated by English Heritage as a grade I listed building.The castle has remained within the Berkeley family since they reconstructed it in the...
http://www.thepeerage.com/pd76.htm#i5169 in Berkeley, England
Berkeley, Gloucestershire
Berkeley is a town and civil parish in Gloucestershire, England. It lies in the Vale of Berkeley between the east bank of the River Severn and the M5 motorway within the Stroud administrative district. The town is noted for Berkeley Castle where the imprisoned Edward II was murdered.- Geography...
in 1426. His first marriage was in 1466 to Elizabeth West, daughter of Reginald West, 6th Baron De La Warr
Reginald West, 6th Baron De La Warr
Reginald West, 6th Baron De La Warr and 3rd Baron West was the second son of Thomas West, 1st Baron West and Joan La Warr, half-sister and heiress of Thomas la Warr, 5th Baron De La Warr...
, but he obtained a divorce on 20 November 1467. In November 1468, he married Joan Strangeways, daughter of Sir Thomas Strangeways and Lady Katherine Neville
Lady Katherine Neville
Katherine Neville or Catherine de Neville was the eldest daughter of Ralph Neville, 1st Earl of Westmorland and Joan Beaufort , daughter of John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster by his mistress Catherine de Roet.Katherine was married firstly to John Mowbray, 2nd Duke of Norfolk...
. After the death of his second wife, he married Anne Fiennes, sister of Thomas Fiennes, 8th Baron Dacre
Thomas Fiennes, 8th Baron Dacre
Sir Thomas Fiennes, 8th Baron Dacre was an English peer and soldier, the son of Sir John Fiennes.- Career :He was born in 1472, the son of Sir John Fiennes and Alice FitzHugh. He had one sister, Anne, Marchioness Berkeley . Thomas was invested as a Knight of the Bath in 1484 at the age of 12...
, in circa
Circa
Circa , usually abbreviated c. or ca. , means "approximately" in the English language, usually referring to a date...
1486.
Titles
William was invested as a Knight circa 1438. William assumed the title of Baron BerkeleyBaron Berkeley
The title Baron Berkeley originated as a feudal title and was subsequently created twice in the Peerage of England by writ. It was first granted by writ to Thomas II de Berkeley, 1st Baron Berkeley, 6th feudal Baron Berkeley, in 1295, but the title of that creation became extinct at the death of...
by writ after the death of his father James Berkeley, 1st Baron Berkeley
James Berkeley, 1st Baron Berkeley
James Berkeley, 1st Baron Berkeley , also known as "James the Just", was an English peer.Berkeley was the son of Sir James de Berkeley and his wife Elizabeth . He was made heir to his uncle Thomas de Berkeley, 5th Baron Berkeley. He was married four times...
on 22 October 1463.
He was invested as a Knight Bachelor
Knight Bachelor
The rank of Knight Bachelor is a part of the British honours system. It is the most basic rank of a man who has been knighted by the monarch but not as a member of one of the organised Orders of Chivalry...
on 18 April 1475. He was styled as Viscount
Viscount
A viscount or viscountess is a member of the European nobility whose comital title ranks usually, as in the British peerage, above a baron, below an earl or a count .-Etymology:...
of Catherlough (now known as County Carlow
County Carlow
County Carlow is a county in Ireland. It is part of the South-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Carlow, which lies on the River Barrow. Carlow County Council is the local authority for the county...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
) between 1481 and 10 February 1485.
Williams was created Viscount
Viscount
A viscount or viscountess is a member of the European nobility whose comital title ranks usually, as in the British peerage, above a baron, below an earl or a count .-Etymology:...
Berkeley on 21 April 1481, as a Privy Counsellor (P.C.) on 5 March 1482/83, and as Earl of Nottingham
Earl of Nottingham
Earl of Nottingham is a title that has been created seven times in the Peerage of England.-Earls of Nottingham, First creation :* John de Mowbray , 5th Baron Mowbray-Earls of Nottingham, Second creation :...
on 28 June 1483. He assumed the life office of Earl Marshal and Great Marshal of England
Earl Marshal
Earl Marshal is a hereditary royal officeholder and chivalric title under the sovereign of the United Kingdom used in England...
on 19 February 1485/86. Finally, he was created Marquess
Marquess
A marquess or marquis is a nobleman of hereditary rank in various European peerages and in those of some of their former colonies. The term is also used to translate equivalent oriental styles, as in imperial China, Japan, and Vietnam...
of Berkeley on 28 January 1488/89.
Disinherits brother
He had no surviving male issue, thus the Marquesate and his other non-inherited titles became extinct on his death, but had a younger brother, Maurice. The latter however he disinherited as having brought shame on the noble House of Berkeley by marrying beneath his status to Isabel Mead, da. of Philip Mead of WraxallWraxall, Somerset
Wraxall is a village in North Somerset in England. The parish of the same name also included Nailsea and Flax Bourton until 1811. It is now within the parish of Wraxall and Failand.-History:...
an Alderman and Mayor of Bristol in 1459, 1462 & 1469. In order to achieve this, the castle, lands and lordships composing the Barony of Berkeley he settled on King Henry VII and his heirs male, failing which to descend to his own rightful heirs. Thus in 1553 on the death of King Edward VI, the unmarried grandson of Henry VII, the Berkeley inheritance returned to the family.
Therefore on the death of the 1st Marquis, only the de jure barony title was passed on, to his younger brother Maurice Berkeley, 3rd Baron Berkeley, that is to say he was Baron Berkeley by right if not actually in possession of the baronial property. The 4th, 5th & 6th Barons were also de jure only, with Henry(d.1613) becoming de facto 7th Baron in 1553.
Accomplishments
On 20 March 1469/70 he was challenged by Thomas Talbot, 2nd Viscount LisleThomas Talbot, 2nd Viscount Lisle
Thomas Talbot, 2nd Baron Lisle and 2nd Viscount Lisle , English nobleman, was the son of John Talbot, 1st Viscount Lisle and Joan Cheddar.He married Margaret Herbert, the daughter of William Herbert, 1st Earl of Pembroke....
to settle the claims to his great-uncle Thomas's estates, by combat. Thomas was killed in the combat. The battle, known as the Battle of Nibley Green
Battle of Nibley Green
The Battle of Nibley Green was fought on March 20, 1469 , between the troops of Thomas Talbot, 2nd Viscount Lisle and William Berkeley, 2nd Baron Berkeley...
, is notable for being the last battle fought in England entirely between the private armies of feudal magnate
Magnate
Magnate, from the Late Latin magnas, a great man, itself from Latin magnus 'great', designates a noble or other man in a high social position, by birth, wealth or other qualities...
s.http://www.rotwang.co.uk/hob_chapter_05.html
William and Maurice were assisted at Nibley Green by a private army raised by Philip Mead, Maurice's father-in-law. It was surely a mark of ingratitude that William disinherited Mead's grandchildren.