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Maurice de Berkeley, 4th Baron Berkeley

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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(died 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(died 1368) "The Valiant", and his mother Margaret Mortimer(died 1337),[1] St Augustine's Abbey (Bristol Cathedral), Lady Chapel, south wall

Maurice de Berkeley, 4th Baron Berkeley (c. 1320 – 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 (died 1641), steward of the Berkeley estates, the biographer of the family and author of "Lives of the Berkeleys".

Career

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He was the eldest son and heir of Thomas de Berkeley, 3rd Baron Berkeley by his wife Lady Margaret Mortimer.[2]

In the early 1340s he was one of the English knights who joined the forces of Alfonso XI of Castile in his crusade against the Moorish kingdom of Algeciras.[3] He was subsequently retained by the Black Prince[3] and in 1355 joined his campaign in France.[4] Wounded and captured at Poitiers,[5] it took him over three years to raise the money for his ransom. Ill health apparently prevented his taking an active role in public life, following his return to England. [3]

Marriage and Children

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In August 1338 Berkeley married Elizabeth le Despenser, daughter of Hugh Despenser the younger by his wife Eleanor de Clare. By Elizabeth he had four sons and three daughters: [6]

Ancestry

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References

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  1. ^ Identity of female effigy next to Baron Berkeley according to brass plaque in situ
  2. ^ Wells-Furby, Bridget (2004). A Catalogue of the Medieval Manuscripts of Berkeley Castle. Vol. 17. Bristol & Gloucestershire Archaeological Society. p. lv.
  3. ^ a b c Wells-Furby 2004, p. xxxvii.
  4. ^ Barber, Richard (1997). The Life and Campaigns of the Black Prince. pp. 61–2.
  5. ^ Smyth, John (1883). Lives of the Berkeleys. Vol. 1. pp. 367–9.
  6. ^ Smyth 1883, pp. 374–7.

Sources

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  • 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
Peerage of England
Preceded by Baron Berkeley
1361–1368
Succeeded by