Hugh Despenser (justiciar)

Hugh le Despencer, 1st Baron le Despencer (1223 – 4 August 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.

Hugh le Despencer
Arms of Despencer: Quarterly 1st & 4th: Argent; 2nd & 3rd: Gules, a fret or, over all a bend sable
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 – 4 August 1265[1]
Monarch	Henry III
Preceded by	Philip Basset
Succeeded by	none
Personal details
Born	1223
Died	4 August 1265 Evesham
Nationality	Norman French in England
Political party	Barons
Spouse(s)	Aline Basset
Children	Hugh le Despencer Eleanor le Despencer

The fully clothed and armed dead body of Hugh le Despencer at the Battle of Evesham (with his arms on his surcoat and on his discarded shield), above the naked and dismembered body of Simon de Montfort. Near contemporary drawing, British Library Cotton MS Nero D ii, f. 177

Hugh Le Despenser, chief justiciar of England, first played an important part in 1258, when he was prominent on the baronial side in the Mad Parliament of Oxford. In 1260 the barons chose him to succeed Hugh Bigod as Justiciar, and in 1263 the king was further compelled to put the Tower of London in his hands.

He was the son of Hugh le Despenser and was summoned to Parliament by Simon de Montfort. Hugh was summoned as Lord Despencer Dec. 14, 1264 and was Chief Justiciar of England and a leader of the baronial party, 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 in August, 1265. He was slain by Roger Mortimer, 1st Baron Wigmore; this caused a feud to begin between the Despencer and the Mortimer families.

By his wife, Aline Basset, he was father of Hugh Despenser 'the elder', Earl of Winchester. Aline was the daughter of Philip Basset, who had also served as Justiciar. They also had a daughter named Eleanor le Despencer, who married Sir Hugh de Courtenay, feudal baron of Okehampton.