DESPEN'SER. .1 powerful English family of the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries. Hrcrr LE DESPENSER (died 1265) was justiciar of Eng land for some time between 1260 and 1265. and was associated with Simon de Montfort in the rising against Henry III. Pe was killed at the battle of Evesham. His son. HUGH LE DESPENsER TILE ELDER (1263-13261 played a very prominent part in the reign of Edward II. lie .erred in the Welsh wars and in Scotland. being present at the battle of Dunbar in 1296. Subsequently he was employed on numerous diplomatic missions to various European powers and to the Pope. Up to the year 1308 be was a member of the Barons' party. in which his prop erty and rank assured him a high position. hut about the time of the fall of Gaveston the King's favorite'. he abandoned the came of the Barons, and became the head of the Court party, and a bitter enemy of Thomas. Earl of Lan caster. Though undoubtedly avaricious and un serupulons in the means he adopted for increas ing his possessions, Hugh was probably no more selfish than most of the great nobles of his time. who took advantage of the presence of a weak king on the throne to further their own inter ests. in 1321 the Barons' party gained the upper hand, and thigh was sentenced by Parlia ment to banishment. lie was recalled, however, in the following year, when the faction was once more in the ascendent. ;Ind contributed no doubt to the fall and death of the Earl of Lancaster. In the sf year he was made Earl of incliester, and his position became nnfre influential than ever. The feeling of hatred with he was regarded by .all the great nobles finally led to the outbreak of a rebellion, in which Isabella, the wife of Edward II., joined.
'Hie Queen's forces marched upon Bristol, which was defended by Hugh le Despenser. The King's favorite was forced to surrender. and was speedily beheaded. lIctot I.E DEsPENsER TILE YOUNGER (died 1326) was the son of the preeeding. In his youth he was the intimate friend of the young Prime of Wales. afterwards Edward III., and served with hint in the Scottish wars, lie obtained great wealth by his marriage to one of the heiresses of the house of tfloucester, and, like his father, was for a time a prominent leader among the Da runs, with whom he made common cause for a long time after his father had gone over to the Court party. It was not until 131S that he went over to the King, being actuated in this move by an insatiable greed for land, which had brought him into repeated con flicts with many of the nobles of the Marches. A league was formed against him, headed by the Earl of Lancaster, and in 132I be was ban ished with his father. With his father. he was recalled in the following year, restored to his old possessions. and overwhelmed with grants and new title,. He met the same fate as the' elder Hugh. In the of 1326 he was taken prisoner. brought to Hereford, tried upon the charge of piracy and complicity in the death of Thomas of Lancaster, and put to death. .1 grandson of Hugh the younger was the 'war like bishop.' Henry of Norwich, who died in 1406. He was chosen by Urban VI. to lead a crusade against the followers of Clement VII. in Flanders. A great-grand-on, Thfunas (1337 14001. was created Earl of Ifloucester.