Despenser family

E503109

The Despenser family was a powerful and controversial English noble lineage of the 13th and 14th centuries, closely associated with King Edward II and central to the political conflicts that led to their violent downfall.

All labels observed (3)

Label Occurrences
Despenser family canonical 9
House of Despenser 2
Despenser 1

How this entity was disambiguated

Statements (47)

Predicate Object
instanceOf English noble family
activeInCentury 13th century
14th century
associatedWith Edward II of England
coatOfArms Quarterly argent and gules, in the second and third quarters a fret or, over all a bend sable
conflictType baronial rebellion
country Kingdom of England
dynasticStatus attainted
ethnicGroup Anglo-Norman nobility
feudalStatus Marcher lords
linked to: Marcher lordships
hereditaryOccupation landed nobility
historicalReputation controversial
unpopular with many contemporary barons
involvedIn Despenser War
baronial conflicts during the reign of Edward II
knownFor conflict with English barons
forfeiture of lands and titles
influence over Edward II of England
violent downfall
landholdings estates in the Welsh Marches
lordship of Glamorgan
language Anglo-Norman French
linked to: Anglo-Norman

Middle English
lostPowerDuringReignOf Edward III of England
nobleFamilyOf England
notableEvent execution of Hugh Despenser the Elder in 1326
execution of Hugh Despenser the Younger in 1326
notableMember Edward le Despenser, 1st Baron Despenser
Hugh Despenser the Elder
Hugh Despenser the Younger
Hugh le Despenser, 1st Baron le Despenser
Thomas le Despenser, 1st Earl of Gloucester
opposedBy Isabella of France
Roger Mortimer, 1st Earl of March
originOfName occupational surname derived from dispenser or steward
politicalAlignment royalist
politicalRole royal favourites of Edward II
region Glamorgan
Gloucestershire
religion Roman Catholicism
restorationOfBranch later partial restoration under Edward III
riseToPowerDuringReignOf Edward II of England
socialClass peerage of England
timeOfDownfall 1326
titleHeldByMembers Baron le Despenser
Earl of Gloucester
Earl of Winchester

How these facts were elicited

Referenced by (12)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Despenser War opponent Despenser family
Hugh Despenser the Younger nobleFamily Despenser family
Hugh Despenser the Elder memberOf Despenser family
Hugh Despenser the Elder nobleFamily Despenser family
Lordship of Glamorgan ruledBy Despenser family
Isabella de Beauchamp marriedIntoFamily Despenser family
Isabella le Despenser familyName Despenser
linked to: Despenser family
Isabella le Despenser nobleFamily Despenser family
Lady Despenser associatedWithFamily House of Despenser
linked to: Despenser family
Neville family maritalAlliance House of Despenser
linked to: Despenser family