Battle of Nibley Green

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Battle of Nibley Green
Date March 20, 1469/1470
Location North Nibley, Gloucestershire
Result Berkeley victory
Belligerents
Retainers of Viscount Lisle Retainers and friends of Lord Berkeley
Commanders
Viscount Lisle Lord Berkeley
Strength
300 1,000

The Battle of Nibley Green was fought on March 20, 1469/1470, 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.

Contents

[edit] Prelude

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 and miners from the Forest of Dean. This gave him a considerable advantage in numbers, about 1,000 to 300. Philip Mede, mayor of Bristol sent some men on the Berkeley side. His daughter had married Maurice Berkeley.

[edit] Battle

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.

[edit] Aftermath

As Lisle's army dispersed, Berkeley advanced to Lisle's manor of Wotton-under-Edge and sacked it.

[edit] References

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