Hugh (Despenser) le Despenser (1261 - 1326)

Born 1 Mar 1261 in Loughborough, Leicestershire, England

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 27 Oct 1326 at age 65 in Bristol, England

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Biography

Titles of Hugh le Despenser Earl of Winchester (Royal Ancestry):

Justice of the Forest south of Trent 1297-1307, 1308-11, 1312-15, 1324-6

Privy Councilor 1297

Warden of the Coasts south of Trent 1303

Constable of Devizes, Marlbrough, Odiham, St. Briavel's and Striguil Castles

Sir Hugh le Despenser, Earl of Winchester, 1st Lord le Despenser, Justice of the Forest south of Trent^[1]

Parents: Hugh was son and heir of Sir Hugh le Despenser of Loughborough, Leicestershire, Justicar of England, by Aline (or Aveline), daughter and heiress of Sir Philip Basset, Justicar of England.^[2]

born March 1, 1260/1 (aged 14 in 1275)^[2]

Wife: Isabel de Beauchamp, widow of Sir Patrick de Chaworth (died 1283), daughter of Sir William de Beauchamp, Earl of Warwick, by Maud Fitz John^[2]

married between September 10, 1285 and January 27, 1287 (date of fine for marrying without a license)^[2]

Children

Hugh and Isabel had two sons and four daughters:^[2]

• Sir Hugh le Despenser, 2nd Lord Despenser, married Eleanor de Clare^[2]
• Sir Philip le Despenser, married Margaret de Goushill^[2]
• Aline le Despenser, married Sir Edward Burnell^[2]
• Isabel le Despenser, married (1) Gilbert de Clare, (2) Sir John de Hastings, (3) Sir Ralph de Monthermer^[2]
• Margaret le Despenser, married Sir John de St Amand^[2]
• Elizabeth le Despenser, married Sir Ralph de Camoys^[2]

Both Sir Hugh le Despenser and his son, also Sir Hugh le Despenser, were executed as traitors in 1326. His son was executed on November 24, 1326 at Hereford, Herefordshire (see his profile). Sir Hugh was executed October 27, 1326: "Sir Hugh le Despenser, Earl of Winchester, was tried — without being allowed to speak in his own defence — condemned to death as a traitor, and hanged on the common gallows, all his honours forfeited. His head was sent to Winchester."^[2]

Career

Following apparently from #Wikipedia and #The_Peerage

About Hugh "the Elder" le Despenser (Bigod), Earl of Winchester, Chief Advisor to King Edward II

Hugh le Despenser, 1st Earl of Winchester

Hugh le Despenser (1 March 1261 – 27 October 1326), sometimes referred to as "the Elder Despenser", was for a time the chief adviser to King Edward II of England.[1]

He was the son of Hugh le Despencer, 1st Baron le Despencer (or Despenser), and Aliva Basset, sole daughter and heiress of Philip Basset. His father was killed at the Battle of Evesham when Hugh was just a boy, but Hugh's patrimony was saved through the influence of his maternal grandfather (who had been loyal to the king).[2]

He married Isabella de Beauchamp, daughter of William de Beauchamp, 9th Earl of Warwick and Maud FitzJohn. He served Edward I on numerous occasions in battle and in diplomacy and was created a baron by writ of summons to Parliament in 1295. However, when he became close to Edward II his place was always with the king, which worried the barons. To that time, his highest office was justice of the forests.[3]

He was one of the few barons to remain loyal to Edward during the controversy regarding Piers Gaveston. Despenser became Edward's loyal servant and chief administrator after Gaveston was executed in 1312, but the jealousy of other barons - and, more importantly, his own corruption and unjust behaviour - led to his being exiled along with his son Hugh Despenser the younger in 1321, when Edmund of Woodstock, Earl of Kent replaced him as Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports.

Edward found it difficult to manage without them, and recalled them to England a year later, an action which enraged the queen, Isabella, the more so when Despenser was created Earl of Winchester.

Death When Isabella and her lover, Roger Mortimer, led a rebellion against her husband Edward, they captured both Despensers—first the elder, later the younger. Queen Isabella interceded for Hugh the elder, but his enemies, notably Roger Mortimer and Henry, Earl of Lancaster, insisted both father and son should face trial and execution.

The elder Despenser was hanged immediately in his armor at Bristol on 27 October 1326. He was then beheaded and his body cut into pieces for the dogs. His head was sent for display to Winchester, which had supported the king.[4]

Sources

1. ↑ Royal Ancestry, Vol II, p 140, CHAWORTH #7 (#Richardson)
2. ↑ ^{2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11} Royal Ancestry, Vol II, pp 440-443, DESPENSER #10 (#Richardson)

• Richardson, Douglas. Royal Ancestry: A Study in Colonial and Medieval Families, 5 vols, ed. Kimball G. Everingham. Salt Lake City: the author, 2013 (volume II, page 440-443).
• Richardson, Douglas. Magna Carta Ancestry: A Study in Colonial and Medieval Families, 4 vols, ed. Kimball G. Everingham. 2nd edition. Salt Lake City: the author, 2011. Google Books (snippit view)
• Richardson, Douglas. Plantagenet Ancestry: A Study in Colonial and Medieval Families, Royal Ancestry series, 2nd edition, 3 vols., ed. Kimball G. Everingham. Salt Lake City, Utah: the author, 2011. See also WikiTree's source page for Plantagenet Ancestry.
• Hugh le Despenser, 1st and last Earl of Winchester, "The Peerage" (website, compiled by Darryl Lundy, Ngaio, Wellington, New Zealand; accessed October 20, 2015)
• Sir Hugh le Despenser, Earl of Winchester, Constable of Devizes, Marlborough, Odiham, St. Briavel's, & Striguil Castles, "Our Royal, Titled, Noble, and Commoner Ancestors and Cousins" (website, compiled by Mr. Marlyn Lewis, Portland, OR; accessed September 30, 2015), citing
  • "Unknown author, The Complete Peerage, by Cokayne, Vol. IV, p. 262-266; Magna Charta Sureties, 1215 by F. L. Weis, 4th Ed., p. 3."
  • Douglas Richardson's
    • Magna Carta Ancestry (#MCA): Vol I, pp 88, 135, 394-396, 466-468; Vol II, pp 64-67, 355, 525-526; Vol III, pp 232, 327-328
    • Plantagenet Ancestry (#PA): pp 267, 505-507; Vol I, p 438
    • Royal Ancestry (#Richardson): Vol I, pp 218, 287; Vol II, pp 33-34, 67-68, 139-140, 195-198, 440-442; Vol III, pp 254-255; Vol IV, pp 213, 517
• Wikipedia: Hugh le Despenser, 1st Earl of Winchester
• The Greatest Traitor - The Life of Sir Roger Mortimer Ruler of England 1327-1330 by Ian Mortimer pub. 2005 - details the lives and executions of Hugh le Despenser Elder and Younger, and their time as cronies of the despotic King Edward II.
• Genealogy worksheets compiled by Ralph Pryor during his 40 years of research, traveling extensively in the military and in retirement. Entered by Greg Rose, Grandson.
• Calendar of the Fine Rolls Preserved in the Public Record Office (London, 1912) Vol. II. Edward II. A.D. 1307-1319 Page 1: Aug. 18, 1307 "Order to Hugh le Despenser to deliver to him the rolls, memoranda and other things touching the office in his keeping."