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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 and wikitree.
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.)

Execution, 1326:
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 is "Spenser the Younger" in Christopher Marlowe's play Edward II (1592).

Eleanor mar 2ndly, 1329, to William la Zouche, 1st Baron Zouche of Mortimer.
He was born William de Mortimer. He is not to be confused with William la Zouche, 1st Baron Zouche of Haryngworth. See the two Barons Zouche.
Eleanor gave seven stained glass windows to Tewkesbury Abbey. She died 1337 before the work was finished. The windows survive today.
William la Zouche died 28 Feb 1337.
He was buried at Tewkesbury Abbey, Gloucestershire.
Eleanor died 30 June 1337.
Hugh and Eleanor 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.

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The grave of Hugh Despenser the younger, Tewkesbury Abbey

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 the coffin of John Cotes, Abbot of Tewkesbury (died 1347).
See pp.95-97 of [Masse, 1901].

The grave of Hugh Despenser the younger.
Photo 2026. See larger and full size.
See closer. And plaque.

The grave of Hugh Despenser the younger.
360 view. Click to rotate. From here.
See 2018 photo.