Thomas le Despenser, 1st Earl of Gloucester
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Thomas le Despenser, 1st Earl of Gloucester (22 September 1373 – 13 January 1400, Bristol) was the son of Edward le Despenser, 1st Baron le Despencer, whom he succeeded in 1375.
[edit] Royal intrigues
A supporter of Richard II against Thomas of Woodstock and the Lords Appellant, he was rewarded with an Earldom as Earl of Gloucester in 1397.
However, he supported Henry Bolingbroke on his return to England to become King Henry IV, only to be deprived of his Earldom for his role in the death of Thomas of Woodstock.
He then took part in the Epiphany Rising, a rebellion aimed at restoring Richard; this quickly failed, and he was attainted. He was captured by a mob and beheaded at Bristol in January 1400.
[edit] Marriage
Thomas le Despenser married Constance, daughter of Edmund of Langley, 1st Duke of York. They had issue, of whom:
- Elizabeth le Despenser (died young c. 1398)
- Richard le Despenser, 4th Baron Burghersh (1396–1414)
- Edward le Despenser (b. bef. 1400), died young
- Hugh le Despenser (c. 1400–1401)
- Isabel le Despenser (1400–1439), she married first Richard Beauchamp, 1st Earl of Worcester, she married second Richard de Beauchamp, 13th Earl of Warwick
| Peerage of England | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Edward le Despenser |
Baron le Despencer 1375–1400 |
Succeeded by Attainted |
| Preceded by New Creation |
Earl of Gloucester 1397–1399 |
Succeeded by Deprived |
[edit] References
This article incorporates text from the Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition, a publication now in the public domain.
