Battle of Nibley Green

View towards NW from Top of Tyndale Monument on Nibley Knoll. A mile beyond the church of North Nibley in foreground is Nibley Green. 4 miles NW into the distance is Berkeley Castle, with the River Severn visible 2 miles beyond. Wotton-Under-Edge lies 1 mile behind the viewing position

Date	20 March 1469
Location	North Nibley, Gloucestershire
Result	Berkeley victory

Belligerents

Retainers of Viscount Lisle

Retainers and friends of Lord Berkeley

Commanders and leaders

Thomas Talbot, 2nd Viscount Lisle †

William Berkeley, 2nd Baron Berkeley

Strength

1,000

The Battle of Nibley Green was fought on 20 March 1469 (modern historians would date the battle in 1470 - prior to the adoption of the Gregorian calendar in England the start of the new year was 25 March; the battle being fought on 20 March meant it fell into the previous year), between the troops of Thomas Talbot, 2nd Viscount Lisle and William Berkeley, 2nd Baron Berkeley. It is notable for being the last battle fought in England entirely between the private armies of feudal magnates.

Lisle and Berkeley had long been engaged in a dispute over the inheritance of Berkeley Castle and the other Berkeley lands, Lisle being heir-general to Thomas de Berkeley, 5th Baron Berkeley and Berkeley heir-male. Lisle impetuously challenged Berkeley to a battle, and the latter agreed, the battle to be fought the next day at Nibley Green.

In the little time available, Lisle could only raise a force among his ill-equipped local tenants. Berkeley, however, could draw upon a garrison from Berkeley Castle as well as his local levies, and he was reinforced by men led by his brother Maurice Berkeley, 3rd Baron Berkeley and miners from the Forest of Dean. This gave him a considerable advantage in numbers, about 1,000 to 300. Philip Mede of Wraxall an Alderman and Mayor of Bristol in 1459, 1462 & 1469 sent some men on the Berkeley side. Maurice Berkeley, William's younger brother, had married Isabel Mede, Philip's daughter, for which act of marrying beneath his social status he had been disinherited of the Berkeley lands by his elder brother, William. This was hardly a mark of gratitude for Mede's assistance.

Lisle led his men in a charge against Berkeley's troops as they emerged from a stand of woods. Berkeley's archers opened fire and broke up the charge. One of the Dean Foresters, an archer named "Black Will", shot Lisle in the left temple through his open visor and unhorsed him. A few dagger-strokes from the archers ensured Lisle's death, and his leaderless army broke and fled.

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