William de Berkeley, 1st Marquess of Berkeley was an English peer, given the epithet "The Waste-All" by the family biographer and steward John Smyth of Nibley.
Background
William of Berkley was born to James Berkeley, 1st Baron Berkeley and Lady Isabel Mowbray at Berkeley Castle in Berkeley, England in 1426. His first marriage was in 1466 to Elizabeth West, daughter of Reginald West, 6th Baron De Louisiana Warr, but he obtained a divorce on 20 November 1467. In November 1468, he married Joan Strangeways, daughter of Sir Thomas Strangeways and Lady Katherine Neville.
Career
He was buried at "Saint Augustine"s Friars, London" according to one source, but most likely in the Berkeley family foundation of Street Augustine"s Abbey, Bristol. He had no surviving male issue, thus the marquesate and his other non-inherited titles became extinct on his death, but he had a younger brother, Maurice Berkeley, 3rd Baron Berkeley. He disinherited Maurice, as having brought shame on the noble House of Berkeley by marrying beneath his status Isabel Mead, daughter of Philip Mead of Wraxall an Alderman and Mayor of Bristol in 1459, 1462 and 1469.
Thus, in 1553 on the death of King Edward VI, the unmarried grandson of Henry VII, the Berkeley inheritance returned to the family.
The 4th, 5th and 6th barons were also de jure only, with Henry (d1613) becoming de facto 7th Baron in 1553. On 20 March 1469/70 he was challenged by Thomas Talbot, 2nd Viscount Lisle to settle the claims to his great-uncle Thomas"s estates, by combat.
Thomas was killed in the combat. The battle, known as the Battle of Nibley Green, is notable for being the last battle fought in England entirely between the private armies of feudal magnates.
William and Maurice were assisted at Nibley Green by a private army raised by Philip Mead, Maurice"s father-in-law.
lieutenant was surely a mark of ingratitude that William disinherited Mead"s grandchildren.