Thomas de Berkeley, 1st Baron Berkeley

Who was Thomas de Berkeley, 1st Baron Berkeley?

Thomas de Berkeley, 1st Baron Berkeley, aka The Wise, was an English baron, soldier and diplomat.

Thomas de Berkeley was born in 1245 at Berkeley Castle in the English county of Gloucestershire, the son of Sir Maurice de Berkeley and Isabel FitzRoy. Isabel FitzRoy was the granddaughter of John, King of England, by his cousin and mistress, Adela de Warenne, daughter of Hamelin de Warenne and Isabel de Warenne, 4th Countess of Surrey. In 1267, Thomas de Berkeley married Joan de Ferrers, the daughter of William de Ferrers, 5th Earl of Derby and Margaret de Quinci. He was succeeded in his titles by his son Maurice de Berkeley II.

Thomas de Berkeley is also known by his epithet Thomas 'the Wise'. He fought in the Battle of Evesham. He inherited the title of Baron de Berkeley [feudal baron] in 1281 and was created 1st Baron Berkeley [England by writ] on 28 June 1283. He was a commissioner to examine the claims to the crown of Scotland in June 1292.

He was on an embassy to France in January 1296 and held the office of Vice-Constable of England in 1297. He fought in the Battle of Falkirk on 22 July 1298 and fought in the siege of Caerlaverock in July 1300.