Biography of Hugh Despencer 1st Baron Despencer 1308-1349
Paternal Family Tree: Despencer
Maternal Family Tree: Etienette Countess Provence and Arles
On 07 Dec 1295 [his grandfather] Gilbert "Red Earl" Clare 7th Earl Gloucester 6th Earl Hertford (age 52) died at Monmouth Castle [Map]. He buried at Tewkesbury Abbey [Map]. His son [his uncle] Gilbert de Clare 8th Earl Gloucester 7th Earl Hertford (age 4) succeeded 8th Earl Gloucester, 7th Earl Hertford, 8th Lord Clare, 4th Lord Glamorgan.
Before 30 May 1306 [his grandmother] Isabella Beauchamp Baroness Monthermer (age 43) died.
After 14 Jul 1306 [his father] Hugh "Younger" Despencer 1st Baron Despencer (age 20) and [his mother] Eleanor Clare Baroness Zouche Mortimer (age 13) were married. She the daughter of [his grandfather] Gilbert "Red Earl" Clare 7th Earl Gloucester 6th Earl Hertford and [his grandmother] Joan of Acre Countess Gloucester and Hertford (age 34). He the son of [his grandfather] Hugh "Elder" Despencer 1st Earl Winchester (age 45) and [his grandmother] Isabella Beauchamp Baroness Monthermer. 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.
On 23 Apr 1307 [his grandmother] Joan of Acre Countess Gloucester and Hertford (age 35) died at Clare, Suffolk [Map].
In 1308 Hugh Despencer 1st Baron Despencer was born to Hugh "Younger" Despencer 1st Baron Despencer (age 22) and Eleanor Clare Baroness Zouche Mortimer (age 15). He a great grandson of King Edward I of England.
On 02 Jan 1315 Piers Gaveston 1st Earl Cornwall was buried at King's Langley Priory, Hertfordshire [Map] some two and a half years after his murder. The ceremony was attended by King Edward II of England (age 30) and his wife Isabella of France Queen Consort England (age 20) as well as Humphrey Bohun 4th Earl Hereford 3rd Earl Essex (age 39), Aymer de Valence 2nd Earl Pembroke (age 40), Thomas of Brotherton 1st Earl Norfolk (age 14), Bartholomew Badlesmere 1st Baron Badlesmere (age 39), Hugh Despencer 1st Baron Despencer (age 7) and his son [his father] Hugh "Younger" Despencer 1st Baron Despencer (age 29).
After 15 Sep 1317 [his step-father] William Zouche 1st Baron Zouche Mortimer (age 52) and [his mother] Eleanor Clare Baroness Zouche Mortimer (age 24) were married. The difference in their ages was 27 years. She the daughter of [his grandfather] Gilbert "Red Earl" Clare 7th Earl Gloucester 6th Earl Hertford and [his grandmother] Joan of Acre Countess Gloucester and Hertford. She a granddaughter of King Edward I of England.
On 27 Oct 1326 [his grandfather] Hugh "Elder" Despencer 1st Earl Winchester (age 65) was hanged at Bristol, Gloucestershire [Map]. Earl Winchester, Baron Despencer forfeit as a result of attainder.
Around 1328 Giles Badlesmere 2nd Baron Badlesmere (age 13) and [his future wife] Elizabeth Montagu Baroness Badlesmere and Despencer (age 4) were married. She the daughter of [his future father-in-law] William Montagu 1st Earl Salisbury (age 27) and [his future mother-in-law] Catherine Grandison Countess of Salisbury (age 24). He a great x 4 grandson of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England.
On 15 Nov 1338 Hugh Despencer 1st Baron Despencer (age 30) was created 1st Baron Despencer by writ of summons.
On 24 Jun 1340 King Edward III of England (age 27) attacked the French fleet at anchor during the Battle of Sluys capturing more than 200 ships, killing around 18000 French. The English force included John Beauchamp 1st Baron Beauchamp Warwick (age 24), William Bohun 1st Earl of Northampton (age 30), Henry Scrope 1st Baron Scrope of Masham (age 27), William Latimer 4th Baron Latimer of Corby (age 10), John Lisle 2nd Baron Lisle (age 22), Ralph Stafford 1st Earl Stafford (age 38), Henry of Grosmont 1st Duke Lancaster (age 30), Walter Manny 1st Baron Manny (age 30), Hugh Despencer 1st Baron Despencer (age 32) and Richard Pembridge (age 20).
[his uncle] Thomas Monthermer 2nd Baron Monthermer (age 38) died from wounds. His daughter Margaret Monthermer Baroness Montagu 3rd Baroness Monthermer succeeded 3rd Baroness Monthermer.
Before 27 Apr 1341 Hugh Despencer 1st Baron Despencer (age 33) and Elizabeth Montagu Baroness Badlesmere and Despencer (age 17) were married. She by marriage Baroness Despencer. She the daughter of William Montagu 1st Earl Salisbury (age 40) and Catherine Grandison Countess of Salisbury (age 37). He a great grandson of King Edward I of England.
On 30 Sep 1342 the French army attacked the English besiegers of Morlaix forcing the English to retreat to the nearby woods. William Bohun 1st Earl of Northampton (age 32) commanded, John de Vere 7th Earl of Oxford (age 30) and Hugh Despencer 1st Baron Despencer (age 34) fought.
On 24 Aug 1346 the Battle of Blanchetaque was fought between the English and French. The English had become trapped in an area denuded of supplies and needed to cross the River Somme to access food. The French army had destroyed all the bridges across the River Somme. At the 1800m wide ford at Blanchetaque, ten miles inland from the sea, Edward III's (age 33) army crossed the river despite resistance from the French. Hugh Despencer 1st Baron Despencer (age 38) led a force of English longbowmen across the ford to engage the French crossbowmen. Following the archery battle a force of English mounted men-at-arms, probably led by William Bohun 1st Earl of Northampton (age 36), engaged with the French. Following the battle the whole English army crossed the river then marched to Crécy to prepare for the next battle.
On 26 Aug 1346 the army of King Edward III of England (age 33) defeated the French army at the Battle of Crécy. The English army was commanded by King Edward III of England, his son Edward "Black Prince" (age 16), Thomas Beauchamp 11th Earl Warwick (age 33), William Bohun 1st Earl of Northampton (age 36) and John Beauchamp 1st Baron Beauchamp Warwick (age 30).
The English army was included: Bishop Thomas of Hatfield (age 36), Hugh Despencer 1st Baron Despencer (age 38), Bernard Brocas (age 16), Thomas Felton (age 16), James Audley (age 28), Robert Bourchier 1st Baron Bourchier, Bartholomew "The Elder" Burghesh 1st Baron Burghesh (age 59), Bartholomew "The Younger" Burghesh 2nd Baron Burghesh (age 18), Reginald Cobham 1st Baron Cobham (age 51), John Darcy 1st Baron Darcy of Knayth (age 66), Robert Ferrers 3rd Baron Ferrers of Chartley (age 37), Richard Scrope 1st Baron Scrope of Bolton (age 19), William Scrope (age 21), Stephen Scrope (age 21), William Latimer 4th Baron Latimer of Corby (age 16), John Lisle 2nd Baron Lisle (age 28), Gerard Lisle 1st Baron Lisle (age 42), Nicholas Longford (age 61), Edward Montagu 1st Baron Montagu, Walter Paveley 4th Baron Burghesh (age 27), Michael Poynings 1st Baron Poynings (age 28), Robert Ufford 1st Earl Suffolk (age 48), John de Vere 7th Earl of Oxford (age 34), Thomas West (age 34), John Willoughby 2nd Baron Willoughby (age 43), John Wingfield (age 26), Henry Percy 11th and 3rd Baron Percy (age 25), Hugh Courtenay 10th Earl Devon (age 43) (possibly), Walter "Elder" Devereux (age 37), John Devereux (age 44), Enion Sais Brecon, John Chandos (age 26), Richard Pembridge (age 26) and John Sully (age 63).
The French army suffered significant casualties. King Philip "Fortunate" VI of France (age 52) was wounded. William de Coucy (age 60) and his son Enguerrand 6th Lord de Coucy (age 33) and were killed.
Charles Valois Count Alençon (age 49) was killed. His son Charles Valois Archbishop of Lyons (age 9) succeeded Count Alençon.
Louis Chatillon II Count Blois I Count Chatillon was killed. His son Louis Chatillon III Count Blois Count Soissons succeeded III Count Blois.
Louis Dampierre II Count Nevers I Count Flanders (age 42) was killed. His son Louis Dampierre III Count Nevers II Count Flanders (age 15) succeeded III Count Nevers, II Count Flanders.
King John I of Bohemia (age 50) was killed. His son Charles IV King Bohemia Holy Roman Emperor Luxemburg (age 30) succeeded IV King Bohemia.
Rudolph "Valiant" Metz I Duke Lorraine (age 26) was killed. His son John Metz I Duke Lorraine succeeded I Duke Lorraine.
Jean IV de Harcourt (age 39) was killed.
In 1349 Hugh Despencer 1st Baron Despencer (age 41) died. Baron Despencer extinct.
Before 10 Jul 1350 Guy de Bryan (age 31) and [his former wife] Elizabeth Montagu Baroness Badlesmere and Despencer (age 26) were married. She the daughter of [his former father-in-law] William Montagu 1st Earl Salisbury and [his former mother-in-law] Catherine Grandison Countess of Salisbury.
On 31 May 1359 [his former wife] Elizabeth Montagu Baroness Badlesmere and Despencer (age 35) died. Monument in Tewkesbury Abbey [Map].
Kings Wessex: Great x 9 Grand Son of King Edmund "Ironside" I of England
Kings Gwynedd: Great x 12 Grand Son of Maredudd ab Owain King Deheubarth King Powys King Gwynedd
Kings Seisyllwg: Great x 14 Grand Son of Hywel "Dda aka Good" King Seisyllwg King Deheubarth
Kings Powys: Great x 12 Grand Son of Maredudd ab Owain King Deheubarth King Powys King Gwynedd
Kings England: Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Kings Scotland: Great x 8 Grand Son of King Duncan I of Scotland
Kings Franks: Great x 5 Grand Son of Louis VII King Franks
Kings France: Great x 9 Grand Son of Robert "Pious" II King France
Great x 4 Grandfather: Geoffrey Despencer
Great x 3 Grandfather: Thomas Despencer
Great x 2 Grandfather: Hugh Despencer
Great x 3 Grandmother: Recuara Harcourt
Great x 1 Grandfather: Hugh Despencer
GrandFather: Hugh "Elder" Despencer 1st Earl Winchester 4 x Great Grand Son of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Thomas Basset 
Great x 3 Grandfather: Alan Basset
Great x 4 Grandmother: Adeliza Dunstanville
Great x 2 Grandfather: Philip Basset 2 x Great Grand Son of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Philip Fitzrobert 
Grand Son of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Aline Fitzrobert Great Grand Daughter of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
Great x 1 Grandmother: Aline Basset 3 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Godfrey Reginar
Great x 3 Grandfather: Matthew Reginar
Great x 4 Grandmother: Alice Hastings 
Great x 2 Grandmother: Hawise Reginar
Father: Hugh "Younger" Despencer 1st Baron Despencer 5 x Great Grand Son of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
Great x 4 Grandfather: William Beauchamp 2nd Baron Beauchamp
Great x 3 Grandfather: Walter Beauchamp
Great x 4 Grandmother: Jeanne de Saint Valéry Saint Valéry Baroness Beauchamp
Great x 2 Grandfather: William Beauchamp
Great x 4 Grandfather: Roger Mortimer 
Great x 3 Grandmother: Joan Mortimer
Great x 4 Grandmother: Isabel Ferrers
Great x 1 Grandfather: William Beauchamp 9th Earl Warwick
Great x 3 Grandfather: William Maudit
Great x 2 Grandmother: Isabel Maudit
Great x 4 Grandfather: Waleran Beaumont 4th Earl Warwick 
Great x 3 Grandmother: Alice Beaumont
Great x 4 Grandmother: Alice Harcourt Countess Warwick
GrandMother: Isabella Beauchamp Baroness Monthermer
Great x 3 Grandfather: Geoffrey Fitzpeter 1st Earl Essex
Great x 2 Grandfather: John Fitzgeoffrey
Great x 4 Grandfather: Roger Clare 2nd Earl Hertford
Great x 3 Grandmother: Aveline Clare Countess Essex
Great x 4 Grandmother: Maud St Hilary Countess Hertford
Great x 1 Grandmother: Maud Fitzjohn Countess Warwick
Great x 4 Grandfather: Roger Bigod 2nd Earl Norfolk 
Great x 3 Grandfather: Hugh Bigod 3rd Earl Norfolk
Great x 4 Grandmother: Ida Tosny Countess Norfolk 
Great x 2 Grandmother: Isabel Bigod
Great x 4 Grandfather: William Marshal 1st Earl Pembroke 
Great x 3 Grandmother: Maud Marshal Countess Norfolk and Surrey
Great x 4 Grandmother: Isabel Clare Countess Pembroke
Hugh Despencer 1st Baron Despencer Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Roger Clare 2nd Earl Hertford
Great x 3 Grandfather: Richard Clare 3rd Earl Hertford
Great x 4 Grandmother: Maud St Hilary Countess Hertford
Great x 2 Grandfather: Gilbert Clare 5th Earl Gloucester 4th Earl Hertford 2 x Great Grand Son of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
Great x 4 Grandfather: William Fitzrobert 2nd Earl Gloucester Grand Son of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Amice Fitzrobert Countess Hertford Great Grand Daughter of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Hawise Beaumont Countess Gloucester
Great x 1 Grandfather: Richard de Clare 6th Earl Gloucester 5th Earl Hertford 3 x Great Grand Son of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
Great x 4 Grandfather: John Fitzgilbert
Great x 3 Grandfather: William Marshal 1st Earl Pembroke
Great x 4 Grandmother: Sybil of Salisbury
Great x 2 Grandmother: Isabel Marshal Countess Cornwall, Gloucester and Hertford
Great x 4 Grandfather: Richard "Strongbow" Clare 2nd Earl Pembroke
Great x 3 Grandmother: Isabel Clare Countess Pembroke
Great x 4 Grandmother: Aoife NI Diarmait Macmurrough Countess Pembroke and Buckingham
GrandFather: Gilbert "Red Earl" Clare 7th Earl Gloucester 6th Earl Hertford 4 x Great Grand Son of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
Great x 4 Grandfather: John Fitzrichard 6th Baron Halton 
Great x 3 Grandfather: Roger Lacy 6th Baron Pontefract 7th Baron Halton 
Great x 4 Grandmother: Alice Essex
Great x 2 Grandfather: John Lacy Earl Lincoln
Great x 3 Grandmother: Maud Clere Baroness Lacy Baroness Warkworth 
Great x 1 Grandmother: Maud Lacy Countess Gloucester and Hertford 4 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Saer Quincy 1st Earl Winchester
Great x 3 Grandfather: Robert Quincy Earl Lincoln
Great x 4 Grandmother: Margaret Beaumont Countess Winchester
Great x 2 Grandmother: Margaret Quincy 3rd Countess Lincoln and Pembroke 3 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Hugh de Kevelioc Gernon 5th Earl Chester Great Grand Son of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Hawise Gernon 2nd Countess Lincoln 2 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Bertrade Montfort Countess Chester
Mother: Eleanor Clare Baroness Zouche Mortimer Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England Grand Son of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
Great x 3 Grandfather: King John of England Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Eleanor of Aquitaine Queen Consort Franks and England
Great x 2 Grandfather: King Henry III of England Son of King John of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Aymer Angoulême I Count Angoulême
Great x 3 Grandmother: Isabella of Angoulême Queen Consort England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Alice Courtenay Countess Angoulême
Great x 1 Grandfather: King Edward I of England Son of King Henry III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Alfonso Barcelona II Count Provence 
Great x 3 Grandfather: Raymond Berenguer Provence IV Count Provence
Great x 4 Grandmother: Gersenda II Sabran Countess Provence
Great x 2 Grandmother: Eleanor of Provence Queen Consort England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Thomas Savoy I Count Savoy
Great x 3 Grandmother: Beatrice Savoy Countess Provence
Great x 4 Grandmother: Margaret Geneva Countess Savoy
GrandMother: Joan of Acre Countess Gloucester and Hertford Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Ferdinand II King Leon 
Great x 3 Grandfather: Alfonso IX King Leon
Great x 4 Grandmother: Urraca Burgundy Queen Consort Leon 
Great x 2 Grandfather: Ferdinand III King Castile III King Leon Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Alfonso VIII King Castile
Great x 3 Grandmother: Berengaria Ivrea I Queen Castile Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Eleanor Plantagenet Queen Consort Castile Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 1 Grandmother: Eleanor of Castile Queen Consort England 2 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Alberic Dammartin
Great x 3 Grandfather: Simon Dammartin
Great x 4 Grandmother: Mathilde Clermont
Great x 2 Grandmother: Joan Dammartin Queen Consort Castile and Leon
Great x 4 Grandfather: William Montgomery IV Count Ponthieu
Great x 3 Grandmother: Marie Montgomery Countess Ponthieu
Great x 4 Grandmother: Alys Capet Countess Ponthieu