Maurice de Berkeley, 2nd Baron Berkeley

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.

[2] He was appointed governor of Gloucester by Edward II in 1312, shortly after the execution of Piers Gaveston.

[5] He was also appointed Justiciar of South Wales in 1316 and Steward of the Duchy of Aquitaine in 1319[6] He succeeded his father in 1321, but within a few months joined Thomas, 2nd Earl of Lancaster in his rebellion against the king.

[9] He married: Berkeley died a prisoner in Wallingford Castle on 31 May 1326 and was initially buried there.

The following year his son and heir Thomas, having been released from imprisonment himself, removed his father's body to St Augustine's Abbey, Bristol.

Effigy of Maurice de Berkeley, 2nd Baron Berkeley (died 1326) "The Magnanimous", St Augustine's Abbey, Bristol ( Bristol Cathedral )
Arms of Berkeley: Gules, a chevron between ten crosses pattée six in chief and four in base argent
Effigy of Maurice de Berkeley, 2nd Baron Berkeley (died 1326) "The Magnanimous", St Augustine's Abbey, Bristol (Bristol Cathedral). The Berkeley arms are visible on his shield
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