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Hugh Despenser the Younger

Hugh Despenser the Younger.
From the Book of Founders and Benefactors of Tewkesbury Abbey, early 1500s.
See full size. From here.

Hugh Despenser the Younger,
1st Baron Despenser, born c.1287/1289.
See wikipedia.
He mar 1306 [her age 14] to Eleanor de Clare [born 1292, grand-dau of Edward I].
Eleanor's uncle succeeded as Edward II in 1307.
Hugh was created Baron Despenser (or Baron le Despencer) 1314.
He became royal chamberlain in 1318. He soon became a favourite of Edward II.
He was believed to be homosexual lover of Edward II. (These claims are old, dating from the 14th century.)
He was captured in the overthrow of Edward II in 1326.
He was executed 24 November 1326, in the centre of Hereford. He possibly had his genitals cut off. Accounts differ but it was a gruesome execution.
Title attainted.
He was buried at Tewkesbury Abbey, Gloucestershire. He appears on stained glass window at Tewkesbury Abbey.
He and his wife had issue:

1. Isabel Despenser.
   She mar Richard Fitzalan, 3rd Earl of Arundel and had issue.

   
   

2. Edward le Despenser.
   He mar Anne Ferrers.
   He died 1342.
   They had issue:
   1. Edward Despenser, 1st Baron Despenser,
      born 24 March 1336.

   
   

3. Elizabeth de Despenser.
   She mar Maurice de Berkeley, 4th Lord Berkeley and had issue.

The gruesome execution in 1326 of Hugh Despenser the younger.
From a manuscript of 1470s.
See full size. From here.

The grave of Hugh Despenser the younger (died 1326), Tewkesbury Abbey, Gloucestershire.
This grave has been much mutilated. There was probably originally a stone figure of him, and many smaller statues.
But this was all mutilated in the 17th century, and replaced with this coffin of John Cotes, Abbot of Tewkesbury (died 1347).
Photo 2026. See larger and full size.
See closer. And plaque.