690 years ago today on 24 November 1326, Edward II's notorious 'favourite', chamberlain and nephew-in-law Hugh Despenser the Younger, lord of Glamorgan, was executed in Hereford, in the presence of Edward's queen Isabella and her own 'favourite' Roger Mortimer.
Hugh was most likely in his late thirties at the time of his death; his date of birth is not known but was probably in the late 1280s. He had been married to Edward I's eldest granddaughter Eleanor de Clare for just over twenty years at the time of his death, since 26 May 1306, and they had at least ten children together. As I've pointed out before, Hugh was a high-ranking English nobleman, not a nobody or simply a humble knight: he was the grandson and nephew of earls of Warwick, step-grandson of the earl of Norfolk, and so on, and his marriage to Eleanor de Clare was arranged and attended by her grandfather Edward I, who paid two thousand pounds to Hugh the Elder for the privilege. Hugh the Younger was appointed Edward II's chamberlain in 1318, and used his proximity to the king to work his way into Edward's favour, until Edward - apparently - became as infatuated with him as he ever had been with Piers Gaveston. Edward refused to expel Hugh from his court and his side even when his very kingship depended on it.
Hugh had made a very bad enemy in Queen Isabella, who loathed and feared him. There is no reason, though, to think that he raped her, an invention of two authors of the early twenty-first century and based on no primary source evidence whatsoever. In late 1325, Isabella, at the court of her brother Charles IV in Paris, declared publicly that she would not return to her husband unless he expelled Hugh from his side and his court, and took to wearing widow's weeds to emphasise the death of her marriage thanks to Hugh's intrusion. Edward refused, which left Isabella with little option but to remain on the continent and ally with Edward and Hugh's greatest enemy Roger Mortimer, the only man with the ability and desire to help Isabella rid herself of the hated Hugh Despenser and his father the earl of Winchester.
Hugh was captured in South Wales on 16 November 1326, with the king and a handful of others. Edward II was taken to Kenilworth Castle in Warwickshire and treated with all the honour, respect and dignity due to the king; Hugh was treated with every indignity possible. According to the Brut chronicle, he refused all food and drink and so "was almost dead for fasting." He was tied to a mean horse with the royal sergeant-at-arms Simon of Reading - a man who was not, despite what some modern writers have claimed, one of Hugh's 'henchmen' or his marshall or a knight - forced to carry his coat of arms upside down as a sign of his disgrace. A crown of nettles was placed on Hugh's head, Biblical verses were scrawled over his skin, and trumpets were blown loudly in his ears. In the public square of Hereford, in front of Queen Isabella, Edward II's half-brothers the earls of Norfolk and Kent and a few others, Hugh was given a mock trial and charged with a long list of offences: some were true, some were a little bit true, some were so ridiculous I wonder if anyone present could keep a straight face.The gallows on which he would be hanged had already been constructed before his so-called trial.
Hugh Despenser the Younger, lord of Glamorgan, was tied to four horses and dragged through the streets of Hereford. He was partly strangled on a gallows fifty feet high - the obscure Simon of Reading, who was not charged with any offence, was hanged on a smaller gallows next to him - then cut down and subjected to the most terrible brutalities before death finally claimed him. Hugh had done the same thing to the Welsh nobleman Llywelyn Bren in Cardiff eight years previously. Four years later in December 1330, Edward III gave permission to Hugh's family and friends to retrieve his head and the four parts of his body from London Bridge, Carlisle, York, Bristol and Dover where they had been displayed since November 1326, and to bury him at Tewkesbury Abbey, where his tomb can still be seen.
Hugh was most likely in his late thirties at the time of his death; his date of birth is not known but was probably in the late 1280s. He had been married to Edward I's eldest granddaughter Eleanor de Clare for just over twenty years at the time of his death, since 26 May 1306, and they had at least ten children together. As I've pointed out before, Hugh was a high-ranking English nobleman, not a nobody or simply a humble knight: he was the grandson and nephew of earls of Warwick, step-grandson of the earl of Norfolk, and so on, and his marriage to Eleanor de Clare was arranged and attended by her grandfather Edward I, who paid two thousand pounds to Hugh the Elder for the privilege. Hugh the Younger was appointed Edward II's chamberlain in 1318, and used his proximity to the king to work his way into Edward's favour, until Edward - apparently - became as infatuated with him as he ever had been with Piers Gaveston. Edward refused to expel Hugh from his court and his side even when his very kingship depended on it.
Hugh had made a very bad enemy in Queen Isabella, who loathed and feared him. There is no reason, though, to think that he raped her, an invention of two authors of the early twenty-first century and based on no primary source evidence whatsoever. In late 1325, Isabella, at the court of her brother Charles IV in Paris, declared publicly that she would not return to her husband unless he expelled Hugh from his side and his court, and took to wearing widow's weeds to emphasise the death of her marriage thanks to Hugh's intrusion. Edward refused, which left Isabella with little option but to remain on the continent and ally with Edward and Hugh's greatest enemy Roger Mortimer, the only man with the ability and desire to help Isabella rid herself of the hated Hugh Despenser and his father the earl of Winchester.
Hugh was captured in South Wales on 16 November 1326, with the king and a handful of others. Edward II was taken to Kenilworth Castle in Warwickshire and treated with all the honour, respect and dignity due to the king; Hugh was treated with every indignity possible. According to the Brut chronicle, he refused all food and drink and so "was almost dead for fasting." He was tied to a mean horse with the royal sergeant-at-arms Simon of Reading - a man who was not, despite what some modern writers have claimed, one of Hugh's 'henchmen' or his marshall or a knight - forced to carry his coat of arms upside down as a sign of his disgrace. A crown of nettles was placed on Hugh's head, Biblical verses were scrawled over his skin, and trumpets were blown loudly in his ears. In the public square of Hereford, in front of Queen Isabella, Edward II's half-brothers the earls of Norfolk and Kent and a few others, Hugh was given a mock trial and charged with a long list of offences: some were true, some were a little bit true, some were so ridiculous I wonder if anyone present could keep a straight face.The gallows on which he would be hanged had already been constructed before his so-called trial.
Hugh Despenser the Younger, lord of Glamorgan, was tied to four horses and dragged through the streets of Hereford. He was partly strangled on a gallows fifty feet high - the obscure Simon of Reading, who was not charged with any offence, was hanged on a smaller gallows next to him - then cut down and subjected to the most terrible brutalities before death finally claimed him. Hugh had done the same thing to the Welsh nobleman Llywelyn Bren in Cardiff eight years previously. Four years later in December 1330, Edward III gave permission to Hugh's family and friends to retrieve his head and the four parts of his body from London Bridge, Carlisle, York, Bristol and Dover where they had been displayed since November 1326, and to bury him at Tewkesbury Abbey, where his tomb can still be seen.
If the punishment was called "drawn and quartered" he was punished as a traitor. Just like William Wallace and some others had been. Horrible way to die.
ReplyDeleteLooks like Isabella truly hated this man and let him have it for real, very likely paying back all the insults, real or imagined, caused by him to her in the court and with very heavy interests too.
I suppose the idea of this horrific form of execution was 'a warning' to the general population; a deterrent in other words. But good grief, the executioners must have been very hard-hearted, 'just another day's work'. I must admit the idea of watching this public display makes me feel very ill indeed but, again, it was expected and encouraged in those days with I would imagine a sort of carnival atmosphere - a 'good day out' to see the traitors get their just desserts. Amanda
ReplyDeleteThe recent documentary on Cardiff Castle told the story of Llewelyn Bren. It also claimed only a thigh bone and the head were returned to Eleanor and buried at Tewkesbury, and they showed Reading University examining a skeleton from Hulton Abbey. The person seemed to have suffered the same death as Hugh, dating from about 1050 -1385, with the thigh bone and skull missing. As Hugh had connections to the Audley family, whose remains were at Hulton Abbey, they could possibly be his remains. Surely they could find his descendants and carry out DNA tests? Then he could be re-buried with dignity instead of being packed away in a Cardboard box.
ReplyDeleteI wrote a blog post a few years ago about the Hulton Abbey remains - I'm virtually certain they're not Hugh Despenser's. He was the last person on the planet Hugh Audley would have allowed to be buried on his lands. There is no primary source that states which remains Eleanor was given in December 1330 - I cannot imagine where the people who found the bones got that idea from!
ReplyDeleteI found your post again after my comment. I wish they would DNA the bones, as whoever it is, deserves some dignity and to be buried. It could well be one of the candidates in your post. Be thankful you didn't watch the latest episode of Castles about Leeds Castle - I'm sure you can guess who came out really badly!
ReplyDeleteSomeone on Facebook told me I should have a few drinks before watching it :P Honestly, Dan Jones loves nothing more than to find things about Edward II to criticise!
ReplyDeleteHe seems to be one pf those who mixes personal views and attitudes with else. A bit pathetic.
ReplyDeleteI've nothing against Dan Jones personally, but I have been disappointed with the 'Castles' series mainly because it's too rushed without getting any real substance. As I've mentioned before, sorry Kathryn - yawn, yawn' - I see we're being tortured again with yet ANOTHER series on the Tudors this time from the 6 wives point of view. When oh when, will the BBC and other channels cease this interminable regurgitation of this period of history? Let's have, as said previously, something new - oh, here's an idea - Edward I, II, and III. Amanda
ReplyDeleteI also have nothing at all against Dan Jones personally - I'm sure he's a lovely person - but I'm afraid his excessively judgemental take on historical figures rubs me up the wrong way.
ReplyDeleteOh gosh, really, yet another Tudor series?! :o Gaaaah. Interminable regurgitation is absolutely right, Amanda. There are so many other wonderful, fascinating periods of history. This Tudor obsession was getting old about eight years ago and it's simply absurd now. I remember joking a few years ago that someone should write a book called 'Anne Boleyn: The Missing 10 Minutes'.
Kathryn, just found your reply to the above: 'Anne Boleyn - The Missing 10 Minutes'.
ReplyDeleteAnne, writing in her diary from the Tower, mid May 1536...
Crikey, I think I've gone too far this time. Henry's furious and won't see me. Everyone seems to have blanked me including daddy (but he was always trying to back the right horse); my used sister has escaped to the country, but she was never as pushy and vindictive as me. My brother is accused with me and may die - it's getting very serious now. Hmm, I really can't think of anyone to summon for assistance: I think my flirtatious rise to power is coming to an end. Must stop writing now, the bishop has arrived to hear my final confession...
So, that's that. I'm not laughing at Anne (I think she was innocent); however, that's the 10 minutes dealt with by my amateurish self. No more Tudors please. Onwards with Edward and his story. Amanda