Hugh le Despenser

Other Events and Attributes:

• Alternate birth: Bef 1224, of Ryhall, Rutland, England

Notes:

"Sir Hugh le Despenser of Loughborough, Burton, Hugglescote, Freeby, and Arnesby, co. Leicester, Parlington and Hilliam, co. York, Sibsey and Aukborough, co. Lincoln, Ryhall and Belmesthorp, Rutland, s. and h. of Sir Hugh le Despenser, of the same (who d. between 23 Feb. and 30 May 1238). He was b. in or before 1223. Had respite of knighthood, 11 July 1244. On 7 Nov. 1255 he was appointed Constable of Horston Castle for five years from the preceding Michaelmas. In Apr. 1257 he accompanied Richard, Earl of Cornwall, to Aachen, for the latter's coronation, on 17 May, as King of the Romans. At the Parl. of Oxford, in Jun 1258, he was one of the twelve elected by the Barons to redress grievances, and also one of the twelve elected to treat with the King's Council in Parl. Appointed Justiciar of England, 25 Oct. 1260, being the nominee of the Barons: he was deprived of his office by the King, May or June 1261. Attended Montfort's Parl. at Oxford in Apr. 1263. Appointed Justiciar of England and Constable of the Tower of London, about 15 July 1263, by the Barons, with the assent of the King. In Mar. 1264, when Constable of the Tower, he led the rioters who sacked the mansion at Isleworth of the King of the Romans. Was at the battle of Lewes, 14 May 1264. Appointed, by the counsel of the Barons, Constable of the Castles of Devizes and Oxford, 12 July, of Orford Castle, 18 July, and of Nottingham Castle, 15 Dec. 1264. Was appointed an arbiter to consider the peace between the King and the Barons, 11 Sep. 1264. He was sum. for Military Service against the Welsh, 14 Mar. (1257/8) 42 Hen. III and 25 May (1263) 47 Hen. III, by writs directed Hugoni le Despenser Justic' Anglie. He was appointed an arbiter between the Earls of Leicester and Gloucester in May 1265. He m., in or before 1260, Aline, da. and h. of Sir Philip Basset, of Wycombe, Bucks, Compton-Bassett and Wootton-Basset, Wilts, &c., Justiciar of England, by his 1st wife, Hawise, da. of Sir Matthew de Lovaine, of Little Easton, Essex. He joined the Earl of Leicester in his last campaign, and with him was slain at the battle of Evesham, 4 Aug. 1265. He was bur. in Evesham Abbey." [Complete Peerage IV:259.]

Hugh married Aline Basset before 1261. Aline (daughter of Philip Basset and Hawise de Hastings) was born about 1240 in of Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, England; died before 11 Apr 1281. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Hugh de Courtenay. Hugh (son of John de Courtenay and Isabel de Vere) was born on 25 Mar 1251 in of Okehampton, Devon, England; died on 28 Feb 1292 in Colecombe, Devon, England; was buried in Cowick Priory, Exeter, Devon, England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Joan married Thomas de Furnival after 13 Jan 1273. Thomas (son of Thomas de Furnival) was born about 1260 in of Sheffield, Yorkshire, England; died on 3 Feb 1332. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Alternate birth: 1 Mar 1261, Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, England

Notes:

Earl of Winchester. Called "The Elder", despite being the second of three consecutive Hughs Despenser. Fought at Falkirk, at the siege of Caerlaverock, and at Bannockburn.

"Sir Hugh le Despenser, of Loughborough, Arnesby, Parlington, Ryhall, &c., Wycombe, Compton-Basset and Wootton-Basset, &c., s. and h. [of Sir Hugh le Despenser who d. 4 Aug. 1265], b. 1 Mar. 1260/1. In 28 May 1281 he was given the administration of the lands which his father had forfeited, and had livery of his mother's lands, 8 Aug. 1281, although he was not of age till 1 Mar. following. He had livery of the manor of Martley, co. Worcester, 3 Mar. 1281/2, as h. of his father's first cousin, John le Despenser. He was with the King in Gascony in 1287. Was one of those ordered, 22 Aug. 1288, during the King's absence abroad, to abstain from violations of the peace. Was appointed Constable of Odiham Castle, 12 June 1294. Was appointed an envoy to treat with the King of the Romans, June 1294, with the King of France, 1 Jan. 1295/6, and with the King of France and the King of the Romans, Nov. 1296. He accompanied the King to Scotland in 1296. Was one of the proxies who swore to the treaty with the Count of Flanders, 5 Feb. 1296/7 to 18 Aug. 1307. Received instructions to threaten the Clergy, 21 Mar. 1296/7. One of the King's Council, 1297. Accompanied the King to Flanders in Aug. 1297. He was with the King in Scotland in 1300, 1303, 1304, and 1306. Was appointed an envoy to the Pope, Sep. 1300, to treat of peace with the King of France, 25 Apr. 1302, and an envoy to the Pope, Oct. 1305. In 1305 he was appointed and sworn, in Parl., a commissioner to treat with the Scots. At the Coronation of Edward II, 25 Feb. 1307/8, he was one of the four who carried the table (saccarium) on which were laid the royal robes. Constable of the castles of Devizes and Marlborough, 12 Mar. 1307/8 to 2 Dec. 1308. Constable of the Castle of Strigoil and Keeper of the town of Chepstow, 12 Mar. 1307/8 to 17 July (or 21 Aug.) 1310. Appointed Justice of the forests South of Trent during the King's pleasure, 16 Mar. 1307/8, and for life, 28 Aug. 1309. In the quarrel about Gavastone in 1308 he alone sided with the King against the Barons, who induced the King to promise to dismiss him from Court. He took part in the Baron's letter to the Pope, 6 Aug. 1309. Had licence to crenellate all his dwelling houses throughout the kingdom, 29 Sep. 1311. Keeper of the forests South of Trent, 14 June 1312 to 19 Feb. 1314/5. He was one of the King's deputies in the treaty with the magnates concerning the death of Gavastone, 20 Dec. 1312. Was pardoned for all arrears and debts to the King, 25 Mar. 1313, and accompanied him to Pontoise, 23 May following. He was excluded from the peace that was arranged between the King and the discontented barons in the autumn of 1313. Was at the battle of Bannockburn, 24 June 1314, and accompanied the King in his flight to Dunbar, and thence by sea to Berwick. A few months afterwards the party of the Earl of Lancaster obtained his dismissal from Court, and his removal from the council in Feb. 1314/5. A commission was appointed, 13 July 1315, to hear complaints against his acts of oppression as Keeper of the forests South of Trent. He was in the Scottish Wars in 1317. He was again specially excluded when peace was made with the Earl of Lancaster in Aug. 1318: to avoid the Earl, he is said to have gone "on pilgrimage" to Compostella. Was sent to set in order the affairs of Gascony, 28 Feb. 1319/20, and on missions to the King of France and the Pope in Mar. following. Was appointed Constable of Marlborough Castle, 2 May 1321. He was sum. for Military Service from 14 Mar. (1282/3) 11 Edw. I to 11 May (1322) 15 Edw. II, to attend the King at Shrewsbury, 28 June (1283) 11 Edw. II, to attend the King at Salisbury, 26 Jan. (1296/7) 25 Edw. I, to Councils from 8 Jan. (1308/9) 2 Edw. II to 1 July (1317) 10 Edw. II, and to Parl. from 24 June (1295) 23 Edw. I to 14 Mar. (1321/2) 15 Edw. II, by writs directed Hugoni le Despenser, whereby he is held to have become LORD LE DESPENSER. In May and June 1321 the barons of the Welsh Marches and their adherents ravaged the lands of the younger Despenser in Wales, and those of the elder throughout the country. In Aug. of that year both Despensers were accused in Parl., chiefly on account of the son's misconduct, of many misdeeds, viz., of accroaching to themselves royal power, counselling the King evilly, replacing good ministers by bad ones, &c. Wherefore they were disinherited for ever (19 Aug.), and exiled from the realm, not to return without the assent of the King and Parl. The elder Hugh accordingly retired to the Continent. His lands were taken into the King's hand, 15 Sep. 1321. The sentence on the Despensers was pronounced unlawful at a provincial council of the clergy about 1 Jan. 1321/2. In Mar. following the elder Hugh accompanied the King against the contrariants, and was present at the judgment on the Earl of Lancaster. The proceedings against the Despensers were annulled and cancelled in the Parl. of York, the lands of the elder Hugh being formally restored, 7 May 1322. Three days later, 10 May, the King granted him £20 a year from the issues of co. Hants, to be received nomine et honore comitis Wyntonie, and girded him with the sword as EARL OF WINCHESTER. He accompanied the King in his expedition against the Scots in Aug. 1322. He was appointed Keeper of the forests South of Trent, 27 June 1324, for life. He was sum. for Military Service from 20 Sep. (1322) 16 Edw. II to 1 May (1325) 18 Edw. II, to Councils from 20 Nov. (1323) 17 Edw. II to 20 Feb. (1324/5) 18 Edw. II, and to Parl. from 18 Sep. (1322) 16 Edw. II to 10 Oct. (1325) 19 Edw. II, by writs directed Hugoni le Despenser Comiti Wynton. He m. in or before 1286, without the King's lic. (fine of 2,000 marks, afterwards remitted), Isabel, widow of Sir Patric de Chaurces or Chaworces, of Kidwelly, co. Carmarthen, Somborne, Hants, &c. (who d.s.p.m. shortly before 7 July 1283), and da. of William (de Beauchamp), Earl of Warwick, by Maud, sister and coh. of Sir Richard fitz John, of Shere, Surrey, Fambridge, Essex, &c. [Lord FitzJohn], and 1st da. of Sir John fitz Geoffrey, of Shere and Fambridge. She d. shortly before 30 May 1306. On the King's flight to Wales in Oct. 1326 the Earl was dispatched to defend Bristol, which, however, he at once surrendered on the arrival of the Queen, 26 Oct. Next day he was tried--without being allowed to speak in his own defence--condemned to death as a traitor, and hanged on the common gallows. On his death, 27 Oct. 1326, at the age of 65, all his honours were forfeited, the sentence of 'Exile' passed on him in 1321 being re-affirmed in Parl., 1 Edw. III." [Complete Peerage]

"When the queen landed in England with an armed force in September 1326, she put out a proclamation against the Despensers. On the king's flight to Wales in October 1326, Earl Hugh was dispatched to defend Bristol, which, however, he at once surrendered on the arrival of the Queen. The next day, 27 October 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 honors forfeited. His head was sent to Winchester." [Douglas Richardson, Royal Ancestry]

Hanged in his armor, then beheaded and his body cut into pieces for the dogs.

Hugh married Isabel de Beauchamp between 10 Sep 1285 and 27 Jan 1287. Isabel (daughter of William de Beauchamp and Maud fitz John) died before 30 May 1306. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Alternate death: Abt 1 Oct 1335
• Alternate death: Bef 11 Oct 1335

Notes:

Also called Edeline.

Family/Spouse: Robert de Scales. Robert (son of Robert de Scales and Isabel Burnell) was born in 1279 in of Newsells in Barkway, Hertfordshire, England; died on 20 Mar 1325. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: John de St. John. John (son of John de St. John and Agnes Fitz Reynold) was born between 1272 and 1274 in of Basing, Hampshire, England; died before 4 Apr 1329. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Alternate birth: Between 1275 and 1276
• Alternate birth: 13 Sep 1276

Notes:

9th Earl of Devon.

Hugh married Agnes de St. John in 1292. Agnes (daughter of John de St. John and Agnes Fitz Reynold) died on 11 Jun 1345; was buried in Cowick Priory, Exeter, Devon, England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Alternate death: Aft 1348
• Alternate death: Abt 1360

Maud married John Marmion about 4 Jul 1306. John (son of John Marmion and Isabel) was born about 1292 in of West Tanfield, Yorkshire, England; died on 30 Apr 1335. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Eleanor married Peter de Mauley before 1299. Peter (son of Peter de Mauley and Nichole de Gant) was born on 10 Mar 1281 in Mulgrave Castle, Yorkshire, England; was christened on 19 Mar 1281 in Mulgrave Castle, Yorkshire, England; died after 1352. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Alternate death: 7 Oct 1339
• Alternate death: 14 Oct 1339

Notes:

Summoned to Parliament by writs dated 25 Aug 1318 to 25 Aug 1339.

Thomas married Joan de Verdun on 24 Feb 1318. Joan (daughter of Thebaud de Verdun and Maud de Mortimer) was born on 9 Aug 1303 in Wootton in Stanton Lacy, Shropshire, England; died on 2 Oct 1334 in Alton, Staffordshire, England; was buried in Croxden Abbey, Staffordshire, England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Alternate birth: Abt 1290, Stoke, Gloucestershire, England

Notes:

The Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, in its article on Hugh the elder, calls Hugh the younger his father's "only son," evidently in error.

Family/Spouse: Margaret de Goushill. Margaret (daughter of Ralph de Goushill and Hawise Fitzwarine) was born on 12 May 1294 in Whittington, Oswestry, Shropshire, England; was christened in Whittington, Oswestry, Shropshire, England; died on 29 Jul 1349. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Alternate death: 5 Dec 1344

Family/Spouse: Ralph de Monthermer. Ralph died on 5 Apr 1325; was buried in Church of the Grey Friars, Salisbury, Wiltshire, England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Isabel married John de Hastings before 1309. John (son of Henry de Hastings and Joan de Cantelowe) was born in of Abergavenny, Monmouthshire, Wales; died on 10 Feb 1313; was buried in Grey Friars, Salisbury, Wiltshire, England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Alternate birth: of Hanley Castle, Worcestershire, England
• Alternate death: 29 Nov 1326, Hereford, Herefordshire, England

Notes:

"The Younger". Favorite of Edward II; ultimately convicted of treason. "Outside the city he was stripped and then reclothed with his arms reversed, and he was crowned with stinging nettles. Condemned to death as a traitor, on 24 November 1326 he was drawn on a hurdle to the gallows, and then hanged from a height of 50 feet. Still alive, he was cut down and eviscerated before finally being beheaded. His head was displayed on London Bridge; his quarters were sent to Bristol, Dover, York, and Newcastle. In December 1330 Eleanor de Clare received royal permission to collect her husband's bones and inter them in Tewkesbury Abbey." [Oxford Dictionary of National Biography]

Hugh married Eleanor de Clare after 14 Jun 1306 in Westminster, Middlesex, England. Eleanor (daughter of Gilbert de Clare and Joan of Acre) was born in Oct 1292 in Caerphilly, Glamorgan, Wales; died on 30 Jun 1337. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Elizabeth married Ralph de Camoys before 20 May 1316. Ralph (son of John de Camoys and Margaret de Gatesden) was born about 1282 in of Flockthorpe in Hardingham, Norfolk, England; died before Jun 1336. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

He was summoned to Parliament by writs, 25 Feb 1342 to 6 Apr 1369. He served in the 1st division at Crécy, and was at the siege of Calais.

Robert married Katherine de Ufford before 2 Apr 1335. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: John de Beauchamp. John (son of John de Beauchamp and Joan) was born about 1306 in of Hatch Beauchamp, Taunton, Somerset, England; died on 19 May 1343. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Keeper of Pamber Forest. King's yeoman.

Hugh married Mirabel Wake before 16 Sep 1329. Mirabel (daughter of Hugh Wake and Joan de Belauney) died after Jun 1355. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Alternate birth: 1315, of Wootton Courtenay, Somerset, England
• Alternate death: 1356

Thomas married Muriel de Moels before 27 Aug 1337. Muriel (daughter of John de Moels and Joan Lovel) was born about 1322 in Dorset, England; died on 12 Aug 1369. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

10th Earl of Devon. Summoned to Parliament by writ 23 Apr 1337. He was a founding knight of the Order of the Garter.

Hugh married Margaret de Bohun on 11 Aug 1325. Margaret (daughter of Humphrey de Bohun and Elizabeth of England) was born on 3 Apr 1311; died on 16 Dec 1391; was buried in Exeter Cathedral, Exeter, Devon, England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Avice married John de Grey before 1341. John (son of John de Grey and Margaret de Odingsells) was born on 9 Oct 1300; died on 1 Sep 1359 in Rotherfield, Oxfordshire, England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Alternate death: 2 Oct 1361
• Alternate death: 13 Oct 1361

Family/Spouse: John de Bernake. John (son of William de Bernake and Alice de Driby) was born about 1305 in of Buckenham, Norfolk, England; died on 20 Mar 1346; was buried in Hethersett, Norfolk, England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

He was summoned to Parliament by writs, 29 Nov 1336 to 15 Mar 1354. Fought at the battle of Neville's Cross, 17 Oct 1346.

In 1355 he was ordered to appear at the Council at York to answer for various contempts. In Sep 1336 the sheriff of Yorkshire was ordered to seize him and take him to the Tower of London because he left the king's service in Scotland without license. He was released in December via the intervention of Henry de Percy; his lands and goods were restored to him the following March. In 1347 he, with others, was the subject of a complaint of having carried away a whale and a porpoise, together with wreck and money washed ashore on the coast of Cleveland.

Peter married Margaret de Clifford before 16 Apr 1322. Margaret (daughter of Robert de Clifford and Maud de Clare) died on 8 Aug 1382. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Maud married Walter de Montgomery before 1364. Walter (son of William de Montgomery and Philippa) was born about 1314 in of Cubley, Derbyshire, England; died before 29 Sep 1374. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Summoned to Parliament by writs dated 20 Jan 1366 to 7 Jan 1383.

William married Thomasine between 1363 and 20 Jan 1366. Thomasine died on 20 Jul 1409. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Alternate death: 23 Aug 1349

Philip married Joan de Cobham after Jun 1339. Joan (daughter of John de Cobham and Joan de Beauchamp) was born in of Cobham, Kent, England; died before 15 May 1357; was buried in Newhouse Abbey, Lincolnshire, England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Alternate birth: of Elsing, Norfolk, England

Notes:

Steward to Philippe of Hainault, queen consort to Edward III. Fought at Crécy and at the siege of Calais; toward the end of the latter, he was appointed seneschal of Gascony, but died before he could take up that post.

"Hastings's life as a man of action is admirably commemorated by one of the most celebrated of all English brasses, in which his armoured image is flanked by smaller figures bearing the arms of some of the great men with whom he had been associated during his military career, including the king and the earls of Lancaster, Warwick, and Pembroke. Investigation of the contents of Hastings's tomb in September 1978 revealed a man about 5 feet 10 inches tall, who had been buried wearing a cow-hair wig or hat. The cause of death was not revealed, but various injuries, including damaged incisor teeth, apparently the result of a severe blow to the mouth, and the presence of osteoarthritis in shoulder and elbow joints, suggest that Hastings's military career had taken its toll." [Oxford DNB, citation details below.]

Hugh married Margery Foliot before 18 May 1330. Margery (daughter of Richard Foliot and Joan de Brewes) was born between 1312 and 1313; died on 8 Aug 1349; was buried in Friars Minor, Doncaster, Yorkshire, England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Slain at the Battle of Morlaix.

Edward married Anne de Ferrers on 20 Apr 1335 in Groby in Ratby, Leicestershire, England. Anne (daughter of William de Ferrers and (Unknown) de Segrave) died on 8 Aug 1367. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Elizabeth married Maurice de Berkeley about 1340. Maurice (son of Thomas de Berkeley and Margaret de Mortimer) was born about 1330; died on 3 Jun 1368 in Berkeley Castle, Berkeley, Gloucestershire, England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Isabel married Richard Fitz Alan on 9 Feb 1321 in Havering-atte-Bower, Middlesex, England. Richard (son of Edmund Fitz Alan and Alice de Warenne) was born about 1313 in of Arundel, Sussex, England; died on 24 Jan 1376 in Arundel, Sussex, England; was buried in Lewes Priory, Sussex, England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

He fought at Crécy and was present at the siege of Calais.

John married Elizabeth le Latimer before 1351. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]