Elizabeth le Despenser, Baroness Berkeley

Elizabeth le Despenser (c. 1327 – 13 July 1389) 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; he was executed as a result of his position and actions. Through her mother, Elizabeth was a great granddaughter of King Edward I of England.

Primary Sources

Inquisitions Post Mortem for Elizabeth late the wife of Maurice Berkeley of Berkeley, knight. Writ, 25 July, 13 Richard II [1389]. She died on 13 July [1389]. Thomas Berkeley, son of the aforesaid Maurice Berkeley, is her heir and is 36 years of age and more.

Biography: wikipedia.org

In August 1338, she married Maurice de Berkeley, 4th Baron Berkeley, who was ironically a grandson of Roger Mortimer, 1st Earl of March, the man largely responsible for the execution of Elizabeth's father Hugh. She and her husband had seven children:

1. Thomas de Berkeley, 5th Lord Berkeley (born 5 January 1352/53 – 13 July 1417); married Margaret de Lisle, Baroness Lisle
2. Sir James de Berkeley (born c. 1355 – 13 June 1405), married Elizabeth Bluet; sired James Berkeley, 1st Baron Berkeley
3. John de Berkeley (born c. 1357–1381)
4. Maurice de Berkeley (born c. 1358; death date unknown), married Jane Hereford
5. Catherine de Berkeley (born c. 1360; death date unknown)
6. Agnes de Berkeley (born c. 1363; death date unknown)
7. Elizabeth de Berkeley (born c. 1365; death date unknown)

Possibly she married again: “Reviewing the evidence, it is clear now that Sir Maurice Wythe's wife, lady Elizabeth de Berkeley, was Elizabeth le Despenser, widow of Maurice de Berkeley, Knt., 4th Lord Berkeley. …” but a credible contemporaneous source claimed she died without remarrying. See the soc.genealogy.medieval mail group discussion from 2004: <“Elizabeth de Berkeley, wife of Sir Maurice Wyth” >

Please note that on August 2020, and still there as of April 2022, < FindAGrave > shows an image labeled “Portrait of Elizabeth (de Spencer) Berkeley which hangs at Berkeley Castle. A Victorian period portrait based on an earlier likeness.” It is widespread on family trees.

But this is not a portrait of Elizabeth le Despenser (1326-1389). It is of Mary Frances Elizabeth, suo jure Baroness le Despenser (1822-1891).

References

• Magna Carta Ancestry: A Study in Colonial and Medieval Families, 2nd Edition ... . Page 178. < GoogleBooks >
• Richardson, Douglas, Royal Ancestry: A Study in Colonial and Medieval Families, 5 vols., ed. Kimball G. Everingham, (Salt Lake City, Utah, 2013): Vol. I pp.334-335., Vol. II p.447
• http://fmg.ac/Projects/MedLands/ENGLISH%20NOBILITY%20MEDIEVAL2.htm#...
• https://our-royal-titled-noble-and-commoner-ancestors.com/p462.htm#... Last Edited 4 Apr 2020 cites (in addition to Richardson)
  • Unknown author, The Complete Peerage, by Cokayne, Vol. II, p. 130; **Magna Charta Sureties, 1215, 4th Ed., by F. L. Weis, p. 84;
  • Wallop Family, p. 88;
  • Royal Highness, Ancestry of the Royal Child, by Moncreiffe, p. 29.