Biography of Hugh "Younger" Despencer 1st Baron Despencer 1286-1326

Around 1280 Patrick Chaworth (age 30) and [his mother] Isabella Beauchamp (age 17) were married. She the daughter of [his grandfather] William Beauchamp 9th Earl Warwick (age 43) and [his grandmother] Maud Fitzjohn Countess Warwick (age 42).

Before 1286 [his father] Hugh "Elder" Despencer 1st Earl Winchester (age 24) and [his mother] Isabella Beauchamp (age 22) were married. She the daughter of [his grandfather] William Beauchamp 9th Earl Warwick (age 48) and [his grandmother] Maud Fitzjohn Countess Warwick (age 47).

In 1286 Hugh "Younger" Despencer 1st Baron Despencer was born to [his father] Hugh "Elder" Despencer 1st Earl Winchester (age 24) and [his mother] Isabella Beauchamp (age 23).

On 24th June 1295 [his father] Hugh "Elder" Despencer 1st Earl Winchester (age 34) was created 1st Baron Despencer with precedence from 24th June 1264. The precedence is based on his being summoned to a Parliament by Simon de Montfort 6th Earl of Leicester 1st Earl Chester, the validity of which is subject to discussion.

After 3rd May 1302 [his brother-in-law] Edward Burnell (age 16) and [his sister] Aline Despencer Baroness Burnell were married. She the daughter of [his father] Hugh "Elder" Despencer 1st Earl Winchester (age 41) and [his mother] Isabella Beauchamp (age 39). They were fourth cousins. He a great x 4 grandson of King John of England. She a great x 5 granddaughter of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England.

Before 30th May 1306 [his mother] Isabella Beauchamp (age 43) died.

After 14th July 1306 Hugh "Younger" Despencer 1st Baron Despencer (age 20) and Eleanor Clare Baroness Zouche Mortimer (age 13) were married. She the daughter of Gilbert "Red Earl" Clare 7th Earl Gloucester 6th Earl Hertford and Joan of Acre Countess Gloucester and Hertford (age 34). He the son of Hugh "Elder" Despencer 1st Earl Winchester (age 45) and Isabella Beauchamp. They were third cousin once removed. He a great x 5 grandson of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England. She a granddaughter of King Edward I of England.

In 1308 [his son] Hugh Despencer 1st Baron Despencer was born to Hugh "Younger" Despencer 1st Baron Despencer (age 22) and [his wife] Eleanor Clare Baroness Zouche Mortimer (age 15). He a great grandson of King Edward I of England. He married before 27th April 1341 Elizabeth Montagu Baroness Badlesmere and Despencer, daughter of William Montagu 1st Earl Salisbury and Catherine Grandison Countess of Salisbury.

In 1309 [his son] Gilbert Despencer was born to Hugh "Younger" Despencer 1st Baron Despencer (age 23) and [his wife] Eleanor Clare Baroness Zouche Mortimer (age 16). He a great grandson of King Edward I of England.

Before 1310 [his brother-in-law] John Hastings 13th Baron Abergavenny 1st Baron Hastings (age 47) and [his sister] Isabel Despencer Baroness Hastings and Bergavenny were married. She by marriage Baroness Hastings, Baroness Abergavenny Feudal Creation. She the daughter of [his father] Hugh "Elder" Despencer 1st Earl Winchester (age 48) and [his mother] Isabella Beauchamp. They were third cousin once removed. He a great x 5 grandson of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England. She a great x 5 granddaughter of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England.

In 1310 [his son] Edward Despencer was born to Hugh "Younger" Despencer 1st Baron Despencer (age 24) and [his wife] Eleanor Clare Baroness Zouche Mortimer (age 17). He a great grandson of King Edward I of England. He married before 24th March 1335 his second cousin Anne Ferrers, daughter of William Ferrers 1st Baron Ferrers of Groby and Ellen or Margaret Segrave Baroness Ferrers Groby, and had issue.

In 1311 [his son] John Despencer was born to Hugh "Younger" Despencer 1st Baron Despencer (age 25) and [his wife] Eleanor Clare Baroness Zouche Mortimer (age 18). He a great grandson of King Edward I of England.

On 19th December 1311 [his brother-in-law] Edward Burnell (age 25) was created 1st Baron Burnell. [his sister] Aline Despencer Baroness Burnell by marriage Baroness Burnell.

In 1312 [his daughter] Isabel Despencer Countess Arundel was born to Hugh "Younger" Despencer 1st Baron Despencer (age 26) and [his wife] Eleanor Clare Baroness Zouche Mortimer (age 19). She a great granddaughter of King Edward I of England. She married (1) 9th February 1321 her half third cousin once removed Richard Fitzalan 3rd or 10th Earl of Arundel 8th Earl of Surrey, son of Edmund Fitzalan 2nd or 9th Earl of Arundel and Alice Warenne Countess Arundel, and had issue.

Around 1313 [his brother-in-law] Ralph Monthermer 1st Earl of Gloucester and Hertford (age 43) and [his sister] Isabel Despencer Baroness Hastings and Bergavenny were married. She the daughter of [his father] Hugh "Elder" Despencer 1st Earl Winchester (age 51) and [his mother] Isabella Beauchamp.

On 29th July 1314 Hugh "Younger" Despencer 1st Baron Despencer (age 28) was created 1st Baron Despencer.

In 1315 [his daughter] Eleanor Despencer was born to Hugh "Younger" Despencer 1st Baron Despencer (age 29) and [his wife] Eleanor Clare Baroness Zouche Mortimer (age 22). She a great granddaughter of King Edward I of England.

In 1315 [his brother-in-law] Edward Burnell (age 29) died. Baron Burnell extinct. His widow Aline Despencer Baroness Burnell retained Acton Burnell Castle [Map]. His sister Maud Burnell Baroness Lovel and Burnell (age 25) inherited his estates.

In 1317 [his daughter] Joan Despencer was born to Hugh "Younger" Despencer 1st Baron Despencer (age 31) and [his wife] Eleanor Clare Baroness Zouche Mortimer (age 24). She a great granddaughter of King Edward I of England.

After 15th September 1317 William Zouche 1st Baron Zouche Mortimer (age 52) and [his wife] Eleanor Clare Baroness Zouche Mortimer (age 24) were married. The difference in their ages was 27 years. She the daughter of Gilbert "Red Earl" Clare 7th Earl Gloucester 6th Earl Hertford and [his mother-in-law] Joan of Acre Countess Gloucester and Hertford.

Around 1319 [his daughter] Margaret Despencer was born to Hugh "Younger" Despencer 1st Baron Despencer (age 33) and [his wife] Eleanor Clare Baroness Zouche Mortimer (age 26) at Stoke, Gloucestershire. She a great granddaughter of King Edward I of England.

On 19th April 1319 Thomas Beauchamp 11th Earl Warwick (age 6) and Katherine Mortimer Countess Warwick (age 5) were married. She by marriage Countess Warwick. An arranged marriage although not clear who arranged it or whose ward Thomas Beauchamp 11th Earl Warwick was (his father [his uncle] Guy Beauchamp 10th Earl Warwick had died four years before) - possibly by King Edward II of England (age 34) as a means of securing the Welsh March. The Beauchamp family established, the Mortimer family aspirational. The marriage took place after Roger Mortimer 1st Earl March (age 31) had returned from his tenure as Lord Lieutenant of Ireland and before he rebelled against King Edward II of England in opposition to Hugh "Younger" Despencer 1st Baron Despencer (age 33). She the daughter of Roger Mortimer 1st Earl March and Joan Geneville Baroness Mortimer 2nd Baroness Geneville (age 33). He the son of Guy Beauchamp 10th Earl Warwick and Alice Tosny Countess Warwick (age 34). They were half second cousin once removed. She a great x 4 granddaughter of King John of England.

On 9th February 1321 [his son-in-law] Richard Fitzalan 3rd or 10th Earl of Arundel 8th Earl of Surrey (age 15) and [his daughter] Isabel Despencer Countess Arundel (age 9) were married at Havering atte Bower, Essex [Map]. She by marriage Countess Arundel. He the son of Edmund Fitzalan 2nd or 9th Earl of Arundel (age 35) and Alice Warenne Countess Arundel. They were half third cousin once removed. He a great x 5 grandson of King John of England. She a great granddaughter of King Edward I of England.

On 10th May 1322 [his father] Hugh "Elder" Despencer 1st Earl Winchester (age 61) was created 1st Earl Winchester.

In 1323 William Zouche 1st Baron Zouche Mortimer (age 58) was created 1st Baron Zouche Mortimer. [his wife] Eleanor Clare Baroness Zouche Mortimer (age 30) by marriage Baroness Zouche Mortimer.

In 1325 [his daughter] Elizabeth Despencer Baroness Berkeley was born to Hugh "Younger" Despencer 1st Baron Despencer (age 39) and [his wife] Eleanor Clare Baroness Zouche Mortimer (age 32). She a great granddaughter of King Edward I of England. She married August 1338 her half third cousin once removed Maurice Berkeley 9th and 4th Baron Berkeley, son of Thomas Berkeley 8th and 3rd Baron Berkeley and Margaret Mortimer Baroness Berkeley, and had issue.

After 1326. Tewkesbury Abbey [Map]. The remnants of the monument to Hugh "Younger" Despencer 1st Baron Despencer (age 40).

Froissart Book 1: 1307-1340. 15. After this execution had taken place, as you have heard, the king and Sir Hugh Despenser (age 40), who found themselves besieged in such anguish and peril, and saw no hope of comfort or rescue from anywhere, set out one morning, the two of them with only a small company, in a small boat, by sea, from behind the castle, intending to flee to the kingdom of Wales, if they could for they would gladly have escaped. But God did not will to allow it, for their sins weighed against them. And what happened was a great wonder and a great miracle: for they spent eleven full days in that little boat, trying as hard as they could to row, but no matter how far they tried to go, every day the wind, by God's will, blew against them and carried them back, once or twice each day, to within barely a quarter-league of the same castle [Map] from which they had departed. So every day, they were clearly seen by those in the queen's army.

15. Apriès ce que ceste justice fu faite, si com vous avés oy, li rois et messires Hues li Despensiers, qui se veoient assegiet à tèle angousse et à tel meschief, et ne savoient nul confort qui leur peuist là endroit de nulle part venir, se misent à une matinée, entre yaus deus, à peu de mesnie, en un petit batiel, en mer, par derrière le chastiel, pour aler ou royaume de Galles, s'il peuissent, comme cil qui volentiers se fuissent sauvé. Mais Diex ne le volt mies souffrir, car leurs pechiés les encombra. Si lor avint grant merveille et grant miracle, car il furent onze jours tous plains en ce batelet, et s'efforçoient de nagier tant qu'il pooient, mais il ne pooient si lonch nagier que tous les jours li vens, qui leur estoit contraires par le volenté de Dieu, les ramenoit çascun jour, une fois ou deus, à mains de le quarte partie d'une liewe priès dou dit chastiel dont il estoient parti; si ques tous les jours les veoient bien cil de l'ost le royne.

On 30th June 1337 [his former wife] Eleanor Clare Baroness Zouche Mortimer (age 44) died.

Founders and Benefactors of Tewkesbury Abbey. fol. 021r: Hugh II Despenser, Earl of Gloucester (d. 1326), became lord through marriage to Gilbert III's sister [[his former wife] Eleanor Clare Baroness Zouche Mortimer]. A youthful figure in a ruff, wearing a hat with the three feathers of the Prince of Wales, plate armour and a mantle over his heraldic surcoat; he holds a hawk on his unprotected left hand. He was Lord Chamberlain to King Edward of Carnarvon. Three shields.

Chronicle of Geoffrey le Baker of Swinbroke. An old hatred against the Earls of Winchester and Gloucester, Hugh and Hugh, resurfaced. Though it had somewhat abated after the king's victory at Boroughbridge, or had at least been hidden out of fear of royal power, it now regained strength, rekindled with even greater clarity than before. Many nobles who had taken up arms under the Earl of Lancaster had, as mentioned, been spared by royal clemency. But these earls, Hugh Despenser the Elder and Hugh Despenser the Younger, manipulated the king's will, as if he were under a spell, and brought about the execution of men who had only survived due to that same royal mercy. These men believed they could only escape death by purchasing the goodwill of the two Hughs. As a result, many of them, not out of joy but under pressure and grief, gave up beautiful manors from their hereditary estates to the said earls in exchange for the promise of safety.

Contra comites Wintonie et Gloucestrie Hugonem et Hugonem procerum regni odium antiquum, post regis victoriam apud Borowbrigge aliqualiter mitigatum aut cercius timore potencie regalis occultatum, causa clariore quam fuerat antiquum vires non erectum set repens resumpsit. Multis nempe nobilibus sub comite Lancastrie contra regem armatis pepercit, ut dictum est, regia clemencia, quibus comites prefati, animum regis quasi fascinatum ad libitum tractantes, intulerunt mortem de merito, quam non nisi per graciam predictorum comitum Hugonis et Hugonis evadere se posse non putabant; unde multi istorum diversas manerias pulcherrimas de sua hereditate pro securitate vite promissa predictis comitibus sepe nominandis non hilares datores set ex tristicia et ex necessitate vendiderunt.

Chronicle of Geoffrey le Baker of Swinbroke. In the following year, by the counsel and ordinance of the prelates and other nobles, Hugh Despenser the Younger was appointed chamberlain of the king,¹ in place of Peter, who had previously been removed. Unless the common reports are entirely false, the king had not only never loved him before but had even hated him. And so they more willingly chose him for this office, though later, when the king's disposition toward him changed for the better, those who had first promoted him came to despise him. Hugh's father was then still alive and prospering, a knight of great virtue, prudent in counsel, and valiant in arms. However, the downfall and ignominious end that eventually befell him were largely due to the excessive and disordered love he bore for his son, a man of striking physical beauty, but possessed of an insufferable arrogance and utterly depraved in his actions. Driven by ambition and greed, he advanced from disinheriting widows and orphans to the destruction of the king's chief nobles, and ultimately to his own ruin and that of his father.

Anno sequenti, ex consilio et ordinacione prelatorum et aliorum nobilium, Hugo Despenser filius fuit ordinatus camerarius regis loco Petri prius de medio subtracti, quem, nisi valentes dicere wlgo menciantur, rex antea nedum minime dilexit immo odivit; et eo libencius ad idem officium ipsum elegerunt, qui postmodum, regis animo erga ipsum in benignius commutato, eundem exosum habuerunt. Istius Hugonis pater tunc feliciter superstes erat, magne probitatis miles, consilio providus, armis strenuus, cuius confusionem et ignominiosum finem accumulavit amor naturalis set deordinatus quem visceribus paternis gessit erga predictum filium suum, corpore formosissimum, spiritu superbissimum, actu flagiciosissimum; quem spiritus ambicionis et cupiditatis a viduarum et orfanorum exheredacione in necem nobilium regis precipuorum et sui ipsius atque patris interitum precipitarunt.

Note 1. For a summary of the different estimates formed by contemporary writers of the conduct of the two Despensers, see Bishop Stubbs's Introduction to his Chronicles of the Reigns of Edward I and Edward II, volume 2 pp. 1. The younger Despenser was at first of Lancaster's party. He was continued in his office of chamberlain by the parliament of 1318, in which Lancaster's influence predominated.

Chronicle of Geoffrey le Baker of Swinbroke. These matters concluded, the queen turned her attention to the Marches and remained at Hereford for a month. There, she divided her army and sent part of it with Henry, Earl of Leicester, and Master Rhys ap Howell,¹ a Welsh cleric, to capture the king and those with him. The aforementioned earl was the brother and heir of the oft-mentioned Earl Thomas of Lancaster, and the said Rhys, who was sent with him, had once been imprisoned by royal justice in the Tower of London, but had been restored to liberty through the queen's power. Both the said earl and Rhys held estates and wide dominions near the place where the king was hiding; moreover, Rhys was very well known throughout the entire region. At last, the said earl and the cleric, through the corruption of the Welsh with a large sum of money, found the king in the monastery of Neath, along with Hugh Despenser the Younger, who had been left behind, seeking safety in flight. They were discovered by Welsh spies. Thus the king was captured, along with the said Hugh, the Earl of Gloucester, Master Robert de Baldock, and Simon de Reading; the others were left behind without pursuit.

Hiis ita confectis, ad partes marchie regina conversa, apud Herefordiam per mensem commorata, exercitum dividit, et cum eius una parte misit Henricum comitem Laicestrie et magistrum Resum ap Howel clericum, nacione Wallicum, comprehendere regem et sibi aderentes. Predictus comes erat germanus sepenominati et heres comitis Thome Lancastrie; et iste Resus, secum missus, quondam iusticia regali in turri Londoniarum incarceratus erat, set per regine potenciam sue libertati restitutus. Tam comes predictus quam iste Resus habuerunt possessiones et ampla dominia iuxta locum in quo rex latitabat; fuitque preterea Reso tota patria valde nota. Predicti finaliter comes et clericus, non sine magne pecunie interventu Wallicis corruptis, regem in monasterio de Neth, Hugonem Dispenser filium, desertum pro fuge presidio capescentem, per exploratores Wallicos invenerunt.

Note 1. Rhys ap Howell was implicated in the rebellion of 1322 but surrendered to the king. He was sent prisoner to Dover. .