Margaret Mortimer, Baroness Berkeley
Encyclopedia
Margaret Mortimer, Baroness Berkeley (2 May 1304 – 5 May 1337) was the wife of Thomas de Berkeley, 3rd Baron Berkeley
. She was the eldest daughter of Roger Mortimer, 1st Earl of March, the de facto
ruler of England from 1327 to 1330, and his wife Joan de Geneville, Baroness Geneville.
and Ludlow
, and Jeanne of Lusignan
.
's son and heir Thomas. From Roger's point-of-view, the marriage was meant to secure an earlier alliance with an important lord of the Welsh Marshes. Margaret was duly married to Thomas de Berkeley
in May 1319. He succeeded his father as 3rd Baron Berkeley in 1326. They had the following issue:
Their eldest son Maurice ironically married Elizabeth le Despenser
, despite the fact that it had been his grandfather Roger Mortimer that was namely responsible for the execution of Elizabeth's father Hugh le Despenser in 1326.
in 1329.
Margaret died on 5 May 1337. She was buried at St. Augustine's Abbey
, Bristol
, Gloucestershire. After her death, her husband remarried to Catherine Clivedon.
Thomas de Berkeley, 3rd Baron Berkeley
Thomas de Berkeley , aka Thomas the Rich, was an English baron and the custodian of the Berkeley Castle.He was the son of Maurice de Berkeley, 2nd Baron Berkeley and Eve la Zouche.-Edward II:...
. She was the eldest daughter of Roger Mortimer, 1st Earl of March, the de facto
De facto
De facto is a Latin expression that means "concerning fact." In law, it often means "in practice but not necessarily ordained by law" or "in practice or actuality, but not officially established." It is commonly used in contrast to de jure when referring to matters of law, governance, or...
ruler of England from 1327 to 1330, and his wife Joan de Geneville, Baroness Geneville.
Family
Margaret Mortimer was the eldest of the twelve children of Roger Mortimer, 1st Earl of March and Joan de Geneville, Baroness Geneville. Her paternal grandparents were Edmund Mortimer, 2nd Baron Mortimer and Margaret de Fiennes. Her maternal grandparents were Piers de Geneville, of Trim CastleTrim Castle
Trim Castle , Trim, County Meath, Ireland, on the shores of the Boyne has an area of 30,000 m². It is the remains of Ireland's largest Anglo-Norman castle...
and Ludlow
Ludlow
Ludlow is a market town in Shropshire, England close to the Welsh border and in the Welsh Marches. It lies within a bend of the River Teme, on its eastern bank, forming an area of and centred on a small hill. Atop this hill is the site of Ludlow Castle and the market place...
, and Jeanne of Lusignan
Jeanne of Lusignan
Joan of Lusignan was a French noblewoman. She succeeded her uncle, Guy de la Marche, Knt., sometime in the period, 1310/13, as Lady of Couhe and Peyrat, but not as Countess of La Marche since after her sister, Yolande's death, it was annexed by Philip IV of France and given as an appanage to...
.
Marriage and death
Her father Roger proposed the marriage of his eldest daughter Margaret to Maurice de Berkeley, 2nd Baron BerkeleyMaurice de Berkeley, 2nd Baron Berkeley
Maurice Berkeley, 2nd Baron Berkeley , sometimes termed The Magnanimous, was an English baron and rebel....
's son and heir Thomas. From Roger's point-of-view, the marriage was meant to secure an earlier alliance with an important lord of the Welsh Marshes. Margaret was duly married to Thomas de Berkeley
Thomas de Berkeley, 3rd Baron Berkeley
Thomas de Berkeley , aka Thomas the Rich, was an English baron and the custodian of the Berkeley Castle.He was the son of Maurice de Berkeley, 2nd Baron Berkeley and Eve la Zouche.-Edward II:...
in May 1319. He succeeded his father as 3rd Baron Berkeley in 1326. They had the following issue:
- Maurice de BerkeleyMaurice de Berkeley, 4th Baron BerkeleyMaurice de Berkeley, 4th Baron Berkeley the Valiant was an English peer born in Berkeley, Gloucestershire, England to Thomas de Berkeley, 3rd Baron Berkeley and Lady Margaret Mortimer.-Marriage and children:...
(born 1320, date of death unknown), who succeeded his father as Baron de Berkeley. - Thomas de Berkeley (born c. 1325, date of death unknown)
- Roger de Berkeley (born 1326, date of death unknown)
- Alphonsus de Berkeley (born 1327, date of death unknown)
- Joan de Berkeley (born 1330, date of death unknown), married Sir Reginald Cobham.
Their eldest son Maurice ironically married Elizabeth le Despenser
Elizabeth le Despenser, Baroness Berkeley
Elizabeth le Despenser was an English noblewoman. She was the youngest daughter of Hugh le Despenser the younger and his wife Eleanor de Clare. Her father is famous for being the favourite of Edward II of England, and being executed as a result of his position and actions...
, despite the fact that it had been his grandfather Roger Mortimer that was namely responsible for the execution of Elizabeth's father Hugh le Despenser in 1326.
Later life
After her father's fall from power in 1322, Margaret was arrested. In 1324, she was sent to Sholdham Priory. Her marriage to Berkeley was confirmed, and her offspring declared legitimate by Pope John XXIIPope John XXII
Pope John XXII , born Jacques Duèze , was pope from 1316 to 1334. He was the second Pope of the Avignon Papacy , elected by a conclave in Lyon assembled by Philip V of France...
in 1329.
Margaret died on 5 May 1337. She was buried at St. Augustine's Abbey
Bristol Cathedral
The Cathedral Church of the Holy and Undivided Trinity is the Church of England cathedral in the city of Bristol, England, and is commonly known as Bristol Cathedral...
, Bristol
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
, Gloucestershire. After her death, her husband remarried to Catherine Clivedon.