Maurice de Berkeley Maurice de Berkeley Sir Maurice de Berkeley "the Resolute" (1218 - 4 April 1281), 5th (feudal) Baron de Berkeley, was an English soldier and rebel, residing at Berkeley Castle in the English county of Gloucestershire. Maurice was born in 1218 to Thomas de Berkeley and Joan de Somery. He married Isabel FitzRoy, the daughter of Richard FitzRoy, Baron of Chilham (an illegitimate son of King John of England) and Rose de Douvres, sometime before 12 July 1247. Berkeley fought in the French Wars and was invested as a knight before 1242. He inherited the title of Baron de Berkeley in
Dudley Castle Somery, died in 1321. It is thought that the fortifications were complete by this date. The castle and estates passed to John Somery's sister Margaret and her husband John de Sutton. Subsequently, members of this family often used Dudley as a surname. John and Margaret were only in possession of the castle for a few years before the property was seized by the younger Hugh Despenser, a favourite of King Edward II. Despenser owned the castle from 1325-1326, being dispossessed when the king fell from power. The castle was returned to John and Margaret in 1327. It was probably during