James Berkeley, 1st Baron Berkeley

Who was 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. His third wife was Lady Isabel, daughter of Thomas Mowbray, 1st Duke of Norfolk; and his fourth wife was the Lady Joan Talbot, daughter of John Talbot, 1st Earl of Shrewsbury. Lord Berkeley was involved in a bitter feud with his cousin Elizabeth, daughter of the fifth Baron Berkeley and wife of Richard de Beauchamp, 13th Earl of Warwick. He was unable initially to claim Berkeley Castle, as it was taken in possession by the Earl and Countess of Warwick. In 1421, when the Warwicks finally gave up Berkeley Castle, James was summoned to Parliament by writ as Lord Berkeley. The feud did not end there as his third wife Isabel was captured by the Countess of Warwick's son-in-law the Earl of Shrewsbury, and held imprisoned until her death in 1452.

Lord Berkeley was succeeded by his son from his third marriage, William, who was created Marquess of Berkeley in 1489.