Thomas de Berkeley, 1st Baron Berkeley

[3] His epithet, and that of each previous and subsequent head of his family, was coined by John Smyth of Nibley (d.1641), steward of the Berkeley estates, the biographer of the family and author of "Lives of the Berkeleys".

[5] He inherited the feudal baron of Berkeley in 1281 following the death of his father and on 28 June 1283 was created 1st Baron Berkeley by writ of summons to Parliament by King Edward I (1272-1307).

In June 1292 he was a commissioner to examine the claims to the crown of Scotland.

[5] He was on an embassy to France in January 1296 and held the office of Vice-Constable of England in 1297.

[5] He fought in the Battle of Bannockburn on 24 June 1314, where he was taken prisoner, and obliged to pay a large sum for his ransom.