Hugh le Despencer, 1st Baron le Despencer

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Hugh le Despencer
Chief Justiciar
In office 1260 – May 1261[1]
Monarch	Henry III
Preceded by	Hugh Bigod
Succeeded by	Philip Basset[1]
Chief Justiciar
In office July 1263 – August 4, 1265[1]
Monarch	Henry III
Preceded by	Philip Basset
Succeeded by	none
Born	1223
Died	August 4, 1265 Evesham
Political party	Barons
Spouse	Aline Bassett
Children	Hugh le Despencer

Sir Hugh (1223 – August 4, 1265) was an important ally of Simon de Montfort during the reign of Henry III. He served briefly as Justiciar of England in 1260 and as Constable of the Tower of London.

He was the son of Hugh le Despenser I and was summoned to Parliament by Simon de Montfort, and so might be deemed a baron, though the legality of that assembly is doubtful. He remained allied with Montfort to the end, and was present at the Battle of Lewes. He was killed fighting on de Montfort's side at the Battle of Evesham. He was slain by Roger Mortimer, 1st Baron Wigmore; this caused a feud to begin between the Despenser and Mortimer families.

By his wife, Aline Bassett, he was father of Hugh the elder Despenser. She was the daughter of Philip Basset, who had also served as Justiciar.

[edit] Reference

1. ^ ^{a b c} Susan Higginbotham. The Last Justiciar: Hugh le Despenser in the Thirteenth Century (html). Retrieved on 2008-02-15.

Preceded by Hugh Bigod	Chief Justiciar 1260-1261	Succeeded by Philip Basset
Preceded by Philip Basset	Chief Justiciar 1263-1265	Succeeded by none
Peerage of England
Preceded by New Creation	Baron le Despencer	Succeeded by Hugh le Despencer