Hugh le Despencer, 2nd Baron le Despencer

Arms of Despencer: Quarterly 1st & 4th: Argent; 2nd & 3rd: Gules, a fret or, over all a ribbon sable

Hugh le Despencer (1308–1349) was the eldest son and heir of Hugh the younger Despenser, son of Hugh the elder Despenser. His father and grandfather were both executed in 1326. His mother was Eleanor de Clare, daughter of Gilbert de Clare, 6th Earl of Hertford and Joan of Acre. Through his mother, Hugh was a great grandson of Edward I of England. He was married to Elizabeth Montague (d.1359), and both are buried in Tewkesbury Abbey, Gloucestershire.

Death and inheritance

Hugh was restored to his grandfather's title of Baron le Despencer in 1338. He died without issue in 1349. His heir was his nephew, Edward le Despenser, who was created Baron le Despencer of a new creation in 1375.

In fiction

Hugh is the protagonist portrayed in the 2007 historical fiction novel Hugh and Bess, by author Susan Higginbotham.

Ancestry

Family of Hugh le Despencer, 2nd Baron le Despencer

16. Hugh le Despenser I               8.Hugh le Despencer, 1st Baron le Despencer                       4.Hugh le Despenser, 1st Earl of Winchester                             18. Philip Basset               9. Aline Bassett                       19. Hawise de Gray               2.Hugh Despenser the Younger                                   20. William de Beauchamp               10. William de Beauchamp, 9th Earl of Warwick                       21. Isabel Mauduit               5. Isabella de Beauchamp                             22. John Fitzgeoffrey               11. Maud FitzJohn                       23. Isabel Bigod               1. Hugh le Despenser                                         24. Gilbert de Clare, 4th Earl of Hertford               12. Richard de Clare, 5th Earl of Hertford                       25. Isabel Marshal               6.Gilbert de Clare, 6th Earl of Hertford                             26. John de Lacy, 1st Earl of Lincoln               13. Maud de Lacy                       27. Margaret de Quincy, Countess of Lincoln               3.Eleanor de Clare                                   28. Henry III of England               14. Edward I of England                       29. Eleanor of Provence               7. Joan of Acre                             30. Ferdinand III of Castile               15. Eleanor of Castile                       31. Joan, Countess of Ponthieu

Notes

Peerage of England
Preceded by Hugh Despenser	Baron le Despencer	Succeeded by extinct