Hugh le Despenser, 1st Earl of Winchester

Notes:

Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hugh_le_Despenser,_1st_Earl_of_Winchester

Sometimes referred to as "the Elder Despenser", he was for a time the chief adviser to King Edward II of England.

He was the son of Hugh le Despencer, 1st Baron le Despencer (or Despenser), and Aline Basset, only daughter and heiress of Philip Basset. His father was killed at the Battle of Evesham when Hugh was just a boy, but Hugh's inheritance was saved through the influence of his maternal grandfather (who had been loyal to the king). 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. His son, Hugh Despenser the Younger, became a favorite of Edward II, in what is believed to be a homosexual relationship. Hugh the Elder was loyal to his son and the King, which worried the barons. To that time, his highest office was justice of the forests.

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 behavior - led to his being exiled along with his son Hugh Despenser the younger in 1321.

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 in 1322. Although not as bad as his son, Despencer the Elder was accused by a significant number of people of widespread criminality during the next few years, often involving false accusations of trespass or theft and the extortion of money or land.

When Isabella, Queen of England, 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 armour 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.

Pardons were issued to thousands of people who had been falsely accused by Despencer following his death.



Buried:
Grave location, biography, historical photo of death, annd photo of tomb:
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=16441434

Hugh married Isabella de Beauchamp, Baroness Despenser. Isabella (daughter of William de Beauchamp, 9th Earl of Warwick and Maude Fitzjohn, Countess of Warwick) was born ca 1263, Warwickshire, England; died Bef 30 May 1306, Worcestershire, England; was buried , St Mary the Virgin Church, Elmley Castle, Worcestershire, England. [Group Sheet]

1. Hugh le Despenser, The Younger was born 1286, Gloucestershire, England; died 24 Nov 1326, Hereford Herefordshire, England; was buried , Tewkesbury Abbey, Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, England.

Notes:

Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hugh_le_Despencer,_1st_Baron_le_Despencer

The son of He was the son of Hugh le Despenser I, he was an important ally of Simon de Montfort during the reign of Henry III. He served briefly as Justiciar of England in 1260 and as Constable of the Tower of London.

Hugh Le Despenser, chief justiciar of England, first played an important part in 1258, when he was prominent on the baronial side in the Mad Parliament of Oxford. In 1260 the barons chose him to succeed Hugh Bigod as Justiciar, and in 1263 the king was further compelled to put the Tower of London in his hands.

He was summoned to Parliament by Simon de Montfort. Hugh was summoned as Lord Despencer Dec. 14, 1264 and was Chief Justiciar of England and a leader of the baronial party. He remained allied with Montfort to the end, and was present at the Battle of Lewes. He was killed fighting on de Montfort's side at the Battle of Evesham in August, 1265. He was slain by Roger Mortimer, 1st Baron Wigmore; this caused a feud to begin between the Despencer and the Mortimer families.

By his wife, Aline Bassett, he was father of Hugh the elder Despenser. She was the daughter of Philip Basset, who had also served as Justiciar. They also had a daughter named Eleanor, who married Hugh de Courtenay, feudal baron of Okehampton.

Buried:
Grave location, memorial tablet inscriptions, and momument:
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=8885957

Hugh married Aline Bassett. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hugh_le_Despencer,_1st_Baron_le_Despencer

By his wife, Aline Bassett, he was father of Hugh the elder Despenser. She was the daughter of Philip Basset, who had also served as Justiciar. They also had a daughter named Eleanor, who married Hugh de Courtenay, feudal baron of Okehampton.

Notes:

Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hugh_le_Despenser_I

He was a wealthy landowner in the East Midlands of England, with eleven manors in England: in Leicestershire, Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and Rutland. Hugh served as High Sheriff of Berkshire. Among his descendants were the infamous Despensers who became favorites of Edward II.

Notes:

Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philip_Basset

He was was the Justiciar of England and inherited the manor of Wycombe.

Basset served as the Justiciar of England between the two terms served by his son-in-law, Hugh le Despencer, 1st Baron le Despencer. He served during the period that Henry III regained control of the government from the Barons.