Baron Hugh Le Despenser, Earl Of Winchester

   Cause of his death was Hanged at age 66.

  Research Notes:

Hugh le Despenser ("The Elder Despenser"), 1st Lord (Baron) le Despenser of the 1295 Creation and 1st and last Earl of Winchester, so created 10 May 1322; called to Parliament by writ 24 June 1295, thus being deemed to have been created a baron; sole person of rank to take Edward II's part in the quarrel with his nobles over the notorious royal favourite Piers Gaveston, whom Edward was eventually induced to banish; later represented Edward in negotiating a treaty with his nobles at the time of Gaveston's murder by them in 1312; at Battle of Bannockburn 1314; banished from court by the machinations of his enemies Feb 1314/15; disinherited and exiled in perpetuity Aug 1321, through malign influence over Edward; this judgement reversed Jan 1321/2 and May 1322; and after Edward II had fled to Wales was convicted as a traitor and hanged 27 Oct 1326, when all his honours were forfeited. [Burke's Peerage]
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Sir Hugh le Despenser, b. 1 Mar 1260/1, hanged 27 Oct 1326, Earl of Winchester, son of Hugh le Despenser and Aline Basset. [Magna Charta Sureties]
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Sir Hugh le Despenser, b. 1 Mar 1260/1, hanged Oct 1326, Earl of Winchester (son of Sir Hugh le Despenser, summoned 14 Dec 1264 Lord Despenser, d. Evesham Aug 1265, & Aline Basset (m. (2) Roger Bigod), daughter of Sir Philip Basset of Wycombe, Bucks, Justiciar, and Hawise, daughter of Sir Matthew de Louvaine of Little Easton, Essex). [Ancestral Roots]
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Hugh and his son were favorites of King Edward II (a weak king) and helped him throw off the mastery of Thomas, Earl of Lancaster. Edward's reliance on the Despencer's drew the ire of his wife Isabel. She had become the mistress of Roger de Mortimer while on a diplomatic mission to France. In September 1326 the couple invaded England, executed the Despencers, and deposed Edward II in favor of his son, Edward III. See Encyclopedia Britannica, Edward II.

Hugh married Isabel De Beauchamp. (Isabel De Beauchamp was born in 1252 in Warwick Castle, Warwickshire, England and died in 1306.)