Sir Hugh LE DESPENSER, Knt.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Also Known As: Baron Despenser

Notes:

Name:
He was summoned to Parliament from 29 July 1314 by writs directed 'hugoni le Despenser juniori'. he was disinherited and exiled on 19 Aug 1321. He took refuge in the Cinque Ports, and engaging in piracy, with the King's connivance did considerable damage. After the battle of Boroughbridge, he received large grants of the lands forfeited by the rebels. He accompanied the King in his flight to Wales in October 1326, and with the King was captured near Llantrisant, co. Glamorgan, on 16 Nov 1326. Hugh Le Despenser, Lord Le Despenser, was taken to Hereford, tried, without being allowed to speak in his own defence, condemned to death as a traitor, and hanged on 24 Nov 1326, buried some years afterwards at Tewkesbury Abbey.

Hugh married Alianor DE CLARE after 14 Jun 1306 in Westminster. Alianor (daughter of Sir Gilbert DE CLARE, Knt. and Joan (of Acre) Of ENGLAND) was born between Oct and Nov 1292 in Caephilly Castle, Glamorganshire, Wales; died on 30 Jun 1337 in Tewkesbury, Gloucesteshire, England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Sir Edward LE DESPENSER died on 30 Sep 1342 in Siege of Vannes.
2. Isabel LE DESPENSER was born about 1312.
3. Gilbert LE DESPENCER
4. Hugh LE DESPENSER was born about 1308; died between 08 Feb 1348 and 1349; was buried in Tewkesbury Abbey.
5. Elizabeth LE DESPENSER was born in 1322 in Stoke, Gloucestershire, England; died on 13 Jul 1389.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Also Known As: Baron Despenser
• Fact: 1st Earl of Winchester

Notes:

Hugh and his father were beheaded in 1326. Both father and son were loyal to the king, Edward II, the young Despenser being his especial favorite. This engendered great jealousy on the part of Thomas, Earl of Lancaster, cousin-german to the King, and first prince of the blood, the most opulent and powreful subject in England, possessed in his own right of no less than 6 earldoms, who raised an army against the king and was joined by many of the barons who wre dissatisfied with King Edward. In the civil war which followed, Lancaster was defeated and captured and condemned by court-martial and beheaded. The two Despencers were condemned to death by the rebellious barons whithout trial, or witness, or accusation, or answer.

Excerpts from Blood Royal: Hugh was hanged on a gallows 50 feet high, 24 Nov 1326. His head was set up on London Bridge, 4 Dec., and his quarters in four different places (towns). Some years afterwards his bones were collected, and bur. in Tewkesbury Abbey. The permit for his bones to be collected and buried was given on 15 Dec 1330.

Hugh married Isabel DE BEAUCHAMP in 1286. Isabel (daughter of William DE BEAUCHAMP and Lady Maud FITZ JOHN) was born in Warwick, England; died about 30 May 1306 in Elmley Castle, Worcestershire, England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]