Maurice de Berkeley, 4th Baron Berkeley

Restored effigy of Maurice de Berkeley, 4th Baron Berkeley, "The Valiant", in St Augustine's Abbey (now Bristol Cathedral), founded by his ancestor. Adjacent at his right hand is the effigy of his mother Margaret Mortimer(d.1337). The arms of Berkeley are shown on his tunic. His head rests on his helm atop which is visible the crest of Berkeley a bishop's mitre

Arms of Berkeley: Gules, a chevron between ten crosses pattée six in chief and four in base argent

Chest tomb supporting restored effigies of Maurice Berkeley, Baron Berkeley(d.1368) "The Valiant", and his mother Margaret Mortimer(d.1337),^[1] St Augustine's Abbey (Bristol Cathedral), Lady Chapel, south wall

Maurice de Berkeley, 4th Baron Berkeley (ca. 1330 – 8 June 1368), The Valiant, feudal baron of Berkeley, of Berkeley Castle in Gloucestershire, was an English peer. His epithet, and that of each previous and subsequent head of his family, was coined by John Smyth of Nibley (d.1641), steward of the Berkeley estates, the biographer of the family and author of "Lives of the Berkeleys".

Origins

He was born in Berkeley Castle in Gloucestershire, the eldest son and heir of Thomas de Berkeley, 3rd Baron Berkeley by his wife Lady Margaret Mortimer.

Marriage and progeny

In August 1338 Berkeley married Elizabeth le Despenser, daughter of Hugh Despenser the younger by his wife Eleanor de Clare, by whom he had progeny seven children as follows:

• Thomas de Berkeley, 5th Baron Berkeley (1352/3-1417), eldest son and heir, who married Margaret de Lisle, Baroness Lisle
• Sir James de Berkeley (born ca. 1355 – 13 June 1405) married Elizabeth Bluet; one of their sons was James Berkeley, 1st Baron Berkeley
• John de Berkeley (born ca. 1357–1381)
• Maurice de Berkeley (born ca. 1358 death date unknown) married Jone Hereford
• Catherine de Berkeley (born ca. 1360 death date unknown)
• Agnes de Berkeley (born ca. 1363 death date unknown)
• Elizabeth de Berkeley (born ca. 1365 death date unknown)

Ancestry

Ancestors of Maurice de Berkeley, 4th Baron Berkeley

16. Sir Maurice de Berkeley               8. Thomas de Berkeley, 1st Baron Berkeley                       17. Isabel FitzRoy               4. Maurice de Berkeley, 2nd Baron Berkeley                             18. William de Ferrers, 5th Earl of Derby               9. Joan de Ferrers                       19. Margaret de Quinci               2. Thomas de Berkeley, 3rd Baron Berkeley                                   20.               10. Eon la Zouche                       21.               5. Eve la Zouche                             22.               11. Millicent de Cauntelo                       23.               1. Maurice de Berkeley, 4th Baron Berkeley                                         24. Roger Mortimer, 1st Baron Mortimer               12. Edmund Mortimer, 2nd Baron Wigmore                       25. Maud de Braose               6. Roger Mortimer, 1st Earl of March                             26. William de Fiennes, Baron of Tingry and Fiennes               13. Margaret de Fiennes                       27. Blanche de Brienne               3. Margaret Mortimer                                   28. Geoffrey de Geneville, 1st Baron Geneville               14. Sir Piers de Geneville                       29. Maud de Lacy               7. Joan de Geneville, Baroness Geneville                             30. Hugh XII of Lusignan               15. Jeanne of Lusignan                       31. Jeanne de Fougères

Sources

• thepeerage.com Accessed April 21, 2008
• Richardson, Douglas, Kimball G. Everingham, and David Faris. Plantagenet Ancestry: A Study in Colonial and Medieval Families. Royal ancestry series. (p. 99) Baltimore, Md: Genealogical Pub. Co, 2004. Retrieved April 21, 2008

References

1. Identity of female effigy next to Baron Berkeley according to brass plaque in situ