View source for Baron Berkeley

{{short description|Title in the Peerage of England}}
{{about||the current holder of the title|Anthony Gueterbock, 18th Baron Berkeley|people with similar titles|Lord Berkeley (disambiguation)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2019}}
[[File:Berkeley arms.svg|thumb|200px|Arms of Berkeley: ''Gules, a chevron between ten [[Cross pattée|crosses pattée]] six in chief and four in base argent''. [[Motto]]: ''Virtute non Vi'', "By virtue not by force"]] 
[[File:BerkeleyTombsStAugustinesBristol.jpg|thumb|200px|Three Berkeley tombs in St Augustine's Abbey, Bristol (now Bristol Cathedral), founded by Robert FitzHarding, 1st. feudal baron. South wall of the south aisle, looking eastward, in receding order: 4th. feudal baron (1243), 7th. feudal baron (1326), 6th. feudal baron (1321). A further [[chest tomb]] exists in the [[Elder Lady Chapel|Lady Chapel]] with effigies of the 9th feudal baron (1368) and his mother [[Margaret Mortimer, Baroness Berkeley]] (d.1337). Many other Barons Berkeley are buried here.<ref>[http://www.bgas.org.uk/tbgas/bgc011.php On the Monumental Effigies of the Family of Berkeley.  by  M. E. Bagnall-Oakeley. Transactions of the Bristol and Gloucestershire Archaeological Society, Vol.15, 1890-91] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120426082040/http://www.bgas.org.uk/tbgas/bgc011.php |date=2012-04-26 }}, pp.89–102</ref>]]
The title '''Baron Berkeley''' originated as a [[English feudal barony|feudal]] title and was subsequently created twice in the [[Peerage of England]] by [[Hereditary peer#Writs of summons|writ]]. It was first granted by writ to [[Thomas de Berkeley, 1st Baron Berkeley]] (1245–1321), 6th feudal Baron Berkeley,  in 1295, but the title of that creation became extinct at the death of his great-great-grandson, the fifth Baron by writ, when no male heirs to the barony by writ remained, although the feudal barony continued. The next creation by writ was in 1421, for the last baron's nephew and heir [[James Berkeley, 1st Baron Berkeley|James Berkeley]]. His son and successor William was created '''Viscount Berkeley''' in 1481, '''Earl of Nottingham''' in 1483, and '''Marquess of Berkeley''' in 1488. He had no surviving male issue, so the Marquessate and his other non-inherited titles became extinct on his death in 1491, whilst the barony passed ''[[de jure]]'' to his younger brother Maurice. However, William had disinherited Maurice because he considered him to have brought shame on the noble House of Berkeley by marrying beneath his status to Isabel, daughter of Philip Mead of Wraxhall, an Alderman and Mayor of [[Bristol]]. Instead, he bequeathed the castle, lands and lordships comprising the Barony of Berkeley to [[Henry VII of England|King Henry VII]] and his heirs male, failing which to descend to William's own rightful heirs. Thus on the death of [[Edward VI of England|King Edward VI]] in 1553, Henry VII's unmarried grandson, the Berkeley inheritance returned to the family. Therefore, Maurice and his descendants from 1492 to 1553 were ''de jure'' barons only, until the return of the title to the senior heir [[Henry Berkeley, 7th Baron Berkeley|Henry]] (and indirectly to his mother [[Anne Berkeley, Baroness Berkeley|Anne]]), becoming ''de facto'' 7th Baron in 1553.<ref>''Debrett's Peerage 1968'', p.139, Berkeley, Baroness, Predecessors</ref> Upon his death he was succeeded by his relative George Harding.

His son, the ninth Baron, was created in 1679 '''Earl of Berkeley''' and '''Viscount Dursley''', which remained united to the barony until the death of the sixth Earl in 1882, when the earldom passed to a male heir and the barony passed to a female one, Louisa Milman. At Louisa's death, the barony went to Eva Mary Foley, upon whose death the barony fell into [[abeyance]]. The abeyance was terminated a few years later in favour of Mary Lalle Foley-Berkeley. Upon her death, the barony went to her nephew Anthony Gueterbock, who is the present holder. In 2000, he was created '''Baron Gueterbock''' for life in the [[Peerage of the United Kingdom]]. The [[epithet]]s of each baron were coined by [[John Smith (antiquarian, born 1567)|John Smith]] of [[North Nibley|Nibley]] (d.1641), steward of the Berkeley estates, the biographer of the family and author of "Lives of the Berkeleys".

==Feudal Barons of Berkeley==
{{Main|Berkeley family}}
The [[English feudal barony|feudal barony]] of Berkeley was created {{circa|1155}}, when [[Henry II of England|King Henry II]] granted the [[Berkeley Castle|royal castle of Berkeley]] to the Anglo-Saxon royal financier [[Robert Fitzharding]] under the [[feudal land tenure]] {{lang|la|per baroniam}}.

Prior to that time, Berkeley Castle had been held in [[Farm (revenue commutation)|fee-farm]] by Roger I "de Berkeley" (d.1093),<ref name=CP2-124>Cokayne, ''[[The Complete Peerage]]'', new edition, II, p.124</ref> a Norman nobleman, possibly a son of [[Roger I of Tosny]] (died {{circa|1040}}),<ref>Platts, Beryl. Scottish Hazard. (Investigation into the origins of the Scottish branch of the Berkeley family)</ref>  who acquired the surname "de Berkeley". Roger I "de Berkeley" held extensive lands [[tenant-in-chief|in-chief]] of the king in 1086, as recorded by [[Domesday Book]], including [[Dursley]] and retired as a monk to [[St Peter's Abbey, Gloucester]] in about 1091.<ref name=CP2-124 /> His son Roger II (d. about 1131) and grandson Roger III (d. after 1177) also held the manor of [[Dursley]] [[tenant-in-chief|in-chief]] of the king. In 1152 Roger III was deprived of the farm of Berkeley during the civil war between [[Stephen, King of England|King Stephen]] and the [[Empress Maud]]. He was later restored to Dursley, and founded the family of "Berkeley of Dursley",<ref>Sanders, English Baronies, pp.114-5, Probable Baronies, Dursley</ref> but Berkeley Castle was granted by barony to Robert FitzHarding, a native Englishman and royal financier of Bristol, whose family also took the name "de Berkeley". To mollify the ill feelings of Roger of Dursley, Henry II encouraged each family to marry their respective male heirs to the eldest daughters of the other, which was successfully accomplished.<ref>Cokayne, ''[[The Complete Peerage]]'', new edition, vol.2, p. 124–5; Sanders, I.J. English Baronies, Oxford, 1960, p.13</ref> The [[epithet]]s below were assigned by [[John Smith (antiquarian, born 1567)|John Smith]] (d.1640) of Nibley, household steward of the Berkeleys and author of ''Lives of the Berkeleys'':

*[[Robert Fitzharding|Robert FitzHarding, 1st feudal baron of Berkeley]] (d.1170/1) ''Robert the Devout''.<ref name=CP2-124/>
*[[Maurice FitzRobert FitzHarding, 2nd feudal baron of Berkeley]] ({{circa|1120}}–1190/1) (otherwise "Maurice I de Berkeley") ''Maurice the Make-Peace'', son, who in accordance with the wishes of King Henry II married Alice de Berkeley, eldest daughter of Roger III "de Berkeley" (d. after 1177) of Dursley.<ref>Cokayne, ''[[The Complete Peerage]]'', new edition, II, p.125-6</ref>
*[[Robert de Berkeley, 3rd feudal baron of Berkeley]] ({{circa|1165}}–1220) ''Robert the Rebellious'', son
*[[Thomas I de Berkeley, 4th feudal baron of Berkeley]] ({{circa|1170}}–1243) ''Thomas the Observer or Temporiser'', brother
*[[Maurice de Berkeley|Maurice II de Berkeley, 5th feudal baron of Berkeley]] (1218–1281) ''Maurice the Resolute'', son

==Barons Berkeley, by writ, First Creation (1295)==
From 1295 the feudal barony continued concurrently with the barony by writ. The feudal barony continued until the [[Tenures Abolition Act 1660]]. The feudal barony of Berkeley is especially important in that the barony by writ was deemed, extraordinarily, to be in effect a feudal barony (or barony by tenure), dependent on the tenure of Berkeley Castle. Thus when [[William Berkeley, 1st Marquess of Berkeley|William Berkeley, 1st Marquess of Berkeley, 2nd Baron Berkeley]] (1426–1492), ''William the Waste-All'', alienated Berkeley Castle to the king, he effectively disinherited his younger brother from the barony by writ.<ref>Sir [[John Maclean (historian)|John Maclean]], editor of ''Lives of the Berkeleys'', refers to "the vexed question of the baronial tenure of Berkeley" and comments on this issue in: Smith, John, ''Lives of the Berkeleys'', Vol.2, Preface, p.viii [https://archive.org/stream/berkeleymanuscri00smytuoft#page/n17/mode/2up]</ref>
*[[Thomas de Berkeley, 1st Baron Berkeley|Thomas de Berkeley, 1st Baron Berkeley, 6th feudal baron of Berkeley]] (1245–1321) ''Thomas the Wise'', son.<ref>Cokayne, ''[[The Complete Peerage]]'', new edition, II, p.127-8</ref>
*[[Maurice de Berkeley, 2nd Baron Berkeley|Maurice de Berkeley, 2nd Baron Berkeley, 7th feudal baron of Berkeley]] (1271–1326), ''Maurice the Magnanimous'', son.<ref>Cokayne, ''[[The Complete Peerage]]'', new edition, II, p.128-9</ref>
*[[Thomas de Berkeley, 3rd Baron Berkeley|Thomas de Berkeley, 3rd Baron Berkeley, 8th feudal baron of Berkeley]] (1293/6–1361) ''Thomas the Rich'', son.
*[[Maurice de Berkeley, 4th Baron Berkeley|Maurice de Berkeley, 4th Baron Berkeley, 9th feudal baron of Berkeley]] (1320–1368) ''Maurice the Valiant'', son.<ref>Cokayne, ''[[The Complete Peerage]]'', new edition, II, p.130</ref>
*[[Thomas de Berkeley, 5th Baron Berkeley|Thomas de Berkeley, 5th Baron Berkeley, 10th feudal baron of Berkeley]] (1353–1417) ''Thomas the Magnificent'',<ref>For biography of ''Thomas the Magnificent'', see Smith, Lives of the Berkeleys, Vol.II, pp.447 et seq [https://archive.org/stream/berkeleymanuscri00smytuoft#page/n17/mode/2up]</ref> son, died without male progeny.

==Barons Berkeley, by writ, Second Creation (1421)==
*[[James Berkeley, 1st Baron Berkeley]] ({{circa|1394}}–1463), ''James the Just'', nephew and [[heir male]].<ref>Cokayne, ''[[The Complete Peerage]]'', new edition, II, p.132</ref>
*[[William de Berkeley, 1st Marquess of Berkeley|William Berkeley, 1st Marquess of Berkeley, 2nd Baron Berkeley]] (1426–1492), ''William the Waste-All'', son.<ref>Cokayne, ''[[The Complete Peerage]]'', new edition, II, p.133</ref>
*[[Maurice Berkeley, 3rd Baron Berkeley|Maurice Berkeley, ''de jure'' 3rd Baron Berkeley]] (1436–1506), ''Maurice the Lawyer'', brother.<ref>Cokayne, ''[[The Complete Peerage]]'', new edition, II, p.135</ref>
*[[Maurice Berkeley, 4th Baron Berkeley|Maurice Berkeley, ''de jure'' 4th Baron Berkeley]] (1467–1523), ''Maurice the Courtier'', son. Died without legitimate progeny.<ref>Cokayne, ''[[The Complete Peerage]]'', new edition, II, p.135</ref>
*[[Thomas Berkeley, 5th Baron Berkeley|Thomas Berkeley, ''de jure'' 5th Baron Berkeley]] (1472–1533), ''Thomas the Sheepmaster'', brother.<ref>Cokayne, ''[[The Complete Peerage]]'', new edition, II, p.136</ref>
*[[Thomas Berkeley, 6th Baron Berkeley|Thomas Berkeley, ''de jure'' 6th Baron Berkeley]] (1505–1534), ''Thomas the Hopeful'', son.<ref>Cokayne, ''[[The Complete Peerage]]'', new edition, II, p.137</ref>
*[[Henry Berkeley, 7th Baron Berkeley]] (1534–1613), ''Henry the Harmless / Posthumous Henry'', posthumous son.<ref>Cokayne, ''[[The Complete Peerage]]'', new edition, II, p.138</ref>
*[[George Berkeley, 8th Baron Berkeley]] (1601–1658), grandson. (No epithets coined after the death of [[John Smith (antiquarian, born 1567)|John Smith]] (d.1640) of Nibley)
*[[George Berkeley, 1st Earl of Berkeley|George Berkeley, 1st Earl of Berkeley, 9th Baron Berkeley]] (1627–1698), son (created '''Earl of Berkeley''' in 1679)
*[[Charles Berkeley, 2nd Earl of Berkeley|Charles Berkeley, 2nd Earl of Berkeley, 10th Baron Berkeley]] (1649–1710)
*[[James Berkeley, 3rd Earl of Berkeley|James Berkeley, 3rd Earl of Berkeley, 11th Baron Berkeley]] (1680–1736)
*[[Augustus Berkeley, 4th Earl of Berkeley|Augustus Berkeley, 4th Earl of Berkeley, 12th Baron Berkeley]] (1716–1755)
*[[Frederick Berkeley, 5th Earl of Berkeley|Frederick Augustus Berkeley, 5th Earl of Berkeley, 13th Baron Berkeley]] (1745–1810)
*[[Thomas Moreton Fitzhardinge Berkeley, 6th Earl of Berkeley|Thomas Moreton Fitzhardinge Berkeley, 6th Earl of Berkeley, 14th Baron Berkeley]] (1796–1882)
*[[Louisa Milman, 15th Baroness Berkeley|Louisa Mary Milman, 15th Baroness Berkeley (by birth: Berkeley)]] (1840–1899)
*[[Eva Foley, 16th Baroness Berkeley|Eva Mary Foley, 16th Baroness Berkeley (by birth: Milman)]] (1875–1964) (abeyant 1964)
*[[Mary Foley-Berkeley, 17th Baroness Berkeley|Mary Lalle Foley-Berkeley, 17th Baroness Berkeley]] (1905–1992) (abeyance terminated 1967)
*[[Anthony Gueterbock, 18th Baron Berkeley|Anthony Fitzhardinge Gueterbock, 18th Baron Berkeley]] (b. 1939), her nephew

The heir apparent is his son Thomas FitzHardinge Gueterbock (b. 1969)

==Earls of Berkeley (after 1882, continuing the creation of 1679)==
The Earldom of Berkeley, together with the Viscountcy of Dursley, was separated from the barony in 1882, but the succession was not fully established. In 1942 both titles became extinct or dormant.

*[[George Lennox Rawdon Berkeley, 7th Earl of Berkeley]] (1827–1888), son of [[George Berkeley (British Army officer)|George Berkeley]], who was a grandson of the 4th Earl
*[[Randal Thomas Mowbray Berkeley, 8th Earl of Berkeley]] (1865–1942) (dormant 1942)

== Family tree ==
{{Berkeley family tree}}

==See also==
*[[Viscount Fitzhardinge|Baron Berkeley of Rathdowne]] (subsidiary to the viscountcy Fitzhardinge, both in the Peerage of Ireland, 1663–1712)
*[[Baron Berkeley of Stratton]] (the last of whom left his estate to the senior line)
*[[Michael Berkeley|Michael Berkeley, Baron Berkeley of Knighton]] (descendant of the 7th Earl of Berkeley)

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Sources==
*[[George Edward Cokayne]]. ''[[The Complete Peerage]]. Volume 2: Bass to Canning'', ed. [[Vicary Gibbs (St Albans MP)|Gibbs, Vicary]], London, 1912, pp.&nbsp;118–149, Berkeley
*Sanders, I.J. ''English Baronies'', Oxford, 1960, p.&nbsp;13, Berkeley
*[[John Smith (antiquarian, born 1567)|Smyth, John]] (1567–1640). ''The Lives of the Berkeleys, Lords of the [[Honour (England)|Honour]], Castle and Manor of Berkeley from 1066 to 1618'', ed. [[John Maclean (historian)|Maclean, Sir John]], 3 vols., Gloucester, 1883–1885 (First published {{circa|1628}}){{page needed|date=November 2021}}
*{{cite book |last=Hesilrige |first=Arthur G. M. |date=1921| title=Debrett's Peerage and Titles of courtesy| url=https://archive.org/details/debrettspeeraget00unse | location=London |publisher=London: Dean & son, limited|pages=112, 113}}
**[https://archive.org/stream/berkeleymanuscri01smyt/berkeleymanuscri01smyt_djvu.txt  Vol 1, 1883]
**[https://archive.org/stream/berkeleymanuscri00smytuoft/berkeleymanuscri00smytuoft_djvu.txt  Vol 2, 1883]
**[https://archive.org/stream/berkeleymanuscri03smyt/berkeleymanuscri03smyt_djvu.txt Vol.3, 1885]

{{Extant Barons of England}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Berkeley}}
[[Category:Baronies in the Peerage of England]]
[[Category:Berkeley family|Baron]]
[[Category:1295 establishments in England]]
[[Category:Extinct baronies in the Peerage of England]]
[[Category:Noble titles created in 1295]]
[[Category:Noble titles created in 1421]]