Despenser War
Encyclopedia
The Despenser War was a baronial revolt between 1321-2 led by the Marcher Lords
Roger Mortimer, Baron Mortimer and Humphrey de Bohun, 4th Earl of Hereford
against Edward II of England
and his favourite, Hugh Despenser the Younger.Some historians use the label the "Despenser War" to refer to just the second phase of the conflict; others apply it to the entirety of the conflict. Others prefer the term the "Despenser Wars". The Welsh part of the campaign is occasionally termed the "Glamorgan war". After success during the summer of 1321, Edward was able to take advantage of a temporary peace to rally more support, leading to a successful winter campaign in southern Wales and the royal victory at the battle of Boroughbridge
in the north of England in March 1322. The war paved the way for Edward's increasingly harsh rule during the mid-1320s and his fall from power in 1326.
The Lords Ordainers, the powerful baronial hegemony led by Thomas, 2nd Earl of Lancaster despised Hugh Despenser the younger, the Lord of Glamorgan, and the latter's father Hugh le Despenser, 1st Earl of Winchester
on account of the influence they both wielded over King Edward II of England
. The council of Ordainers was formed in 1311 to reform the King's household, restrict his royal prerogatives, supervise the economy, and they insisted on the banishment of his then favourite, Piers Gaveston
.
Marcher Lords Roger Mortimer, Baron Mortimer, his uncle, Roger Mortimer de Chirk
, and Humphrey de Bohun, 4th Earl of Hereford (a staunch Ordainer) were also avowed enemies of the Despensers. The younger Despenser, through his marriage with Eleanor de Clare
, eldest sister of the wealthy noble Gilbert de Clare, 8th Earl of Hertford
, received many expensive gifts, and much property and land grants in the Marcher territory. When Hertford was killed at the Battle of Bannockburn
in 1314, Despenser took most of the vast de Clare inheritance for himself, including almost all of Glamorgan
, despite Eleanor having had two other sisters, who were co-heiresses to their childless brother. This angered his brothers-in-law, Roger d'Amory
and Hugh de Audley
, who were cheated out of their share of lands which rightfully belonged to them. Hostility deepened among the Marcher Lords when Despenser titled himself "Lord of Glamorgan" and "Earl of Gloucester".
declined. Mobilising more forces, Edward marched on to Bristol, and repeated his call for the Marcher Lords to convene with him there in May. They again declined.
Mortimer and Hereford promptly began their attack on the Despenser lands. Newport
, Cardiff
and Caerphilly
were seized by Mortimer in an intense eight day campaign. Mortimer and Hereford then set about pillaging Glamorgan
and Gloucestershire, before marching north to join Lancaster at Pontefract
. The barons then swore an alliance at Sherburn-in-Elmet
in June, naming their faction the "contrariants" and promising to remove the Despensers for good.
Edward had returned to London, where he held his own parliament to discuss courses of action. Mortimer led his army east towards London as well, reaching St Albans
in late July. The city of London refused to let Mortimer's forces in, and his forces placed the capital under effective siege. Lancaster arrived in August to support him and a tense stand-off ensued, with the younger Despenser threatening the rebels from a ship on the River Thames
, and the barons threatening to begin to destroy royal properties and lands outside London unless he desisted.
The Earl of Pembroke
, a moderate baron with strong French links, intervened in an attempt to defuse the crisis. Edward continued to refuse to negotiate or exile the Despensers, so Pembroke arranged for Queen Isabella
to publicly go down on her knees to appeal to Edward to exile the Despensers. This provided him with a face-saving excuse to exile the Despensers and defuse the crisis, but it was clear Edward intended to arrange their return at the first opportunity.
Despite the momentary respite, by the autumn of 1321 the tensions between Edward and the baronial opposition led by Thomas of Lancaster, were extremely high, with both sides retaining mobilised forces across the country. At this point, Isabella undertook a pilgrimage to Canterbury, during which she left the traditional route to stop at Leeds Castle
, a fortification held by Bartholomew de Badlesmere
, steward of the King's household who had by 1321 joined the ranks of Edward's opponents. Historians believe that the pilgrimage was a deliberate act by Isabella on Edward's behalf to create a casus belli
. Lord Badlesmere was away at the time, having left his wife Margaret in charge of the castle. When the latter adamantly refused the Queen admittance, fighting broke out outside the castle between Isabella's guards and the garrison.
Edward mobilised his own faction and placed Leeds castle under siege, giving Isabella the Great Seal
and control of the royal Chancery.The attack on Isabella increased Edward's popular support; the moderate barons moved to support him, as did many volunteers from London. Before long, chroniclers record that Edward had an army of 30,000 men besieging Leeds castle, although this may represent an overestimate. The castle surrendered at the end of October and Edward took a vicious revenge on the constable and his men. Edward's position was now much stronger than in August and he set about revoking the banishment order on the Despensers.
Mortimer and Hereford travelled north to discuss the situation with Lancaster, and the three reaffirmed their intent to oppose Edward. Back in the Welsh borders, however, there was an uprising of the local peasantry, and Mortimer and Hereford were forced to return south to deal with the problem. Edward marched to Cirencester
in December, preparing to invade the Welsh borders. In the north, Lancaster was attempting to enlist the support of the Scots in a bid to bring more forces to bear before Edward could retake south Wales. In January 1322 Edward finally overcame the resistance along the Severn River and advanced into the Welsh Marches; the situation was now impossible and Roger Mortimer and his uncle, Roger Mortimer de Chirk surrendered to the King at Shrewsbury
on 22 January 1322.
Edward turned north, assisted by the Despensers who had secretly returned from exile in mid-January. Edward mustered his men at Coventry
in February and engaged Lancaster and his forces at the Battle of Boroughbridge
on 16 March. Edward was victorious. Captured after the battle, Lancaster was promptly executed, leaving Edward and the Despensers firmly in control of England and the Welsh Marches.
giving the King the opportunity to resume the regal powers the Ordainers had denied him since they presented their Ordinances
to him in 1311.
Roger Mortimer was imprisoned in the Tower of London
after his surrender at Shrewsbury. In August 1323 he escaped to France where he later joined Queen Isabella
, who was ostensibly on a peace mission, but was actually seeking assistance from her brother, King Charles IV of France
to oust the Despensers. Mortimer and Isabella obtained the necessary help in Flanders
and in 1326 the successful Invasion of England
was launched.
This invasion led to the executions of the two Despensers, the deposition and killing of Edward II, and the seizure of authority by Queen Isabella and Roger Mortimer, who became the de facto
rulers of England from 1327 to 1330. Mortimer was hanged, drawn and quartered
in November 1330 by the order of Isabella's son King Edward III
after he ousted his mother and Mortimer from power and assumed personal rule.
Marcher Lords
A Marcher Lord was a strong and trusted noble appointed by the King of England to guard the border between England and Wales.A Marcher Lord is the English equivalent of a margrave...
Roger Mortimer, Baron Mortimer and Humphrey de Bohun, 4th Earl of Hereford
Humphrey de Bohun, 4th Earl of Hereford
Humphrey de Bohun, 4th Earl of Hereford was a member of a powerful Anglo-Norman family of the Welsh Marches and was one of the Ordainers who opposed Edward II's excesses.-Family background :...
against Edward II of England
Edward II of England
Edward II , called Edward of Caernarfon, was King of England from 1307 until he was deposed by his wife Isabella in January 1327. He was the sixth Plantagenet king, in a line that began with the reign of Henry II...
and his favourite, Hugh Despenser the Younger.Some historians use the label the "Despenser War" to refer to just the second phase of the conflict; others apply it to the entirety of the conflict. Others prefer the term the "Despenser Wars". The Welsh part of the campaign is occasionally termed the "Glamorgan war". After success during the summer of 1321, Edward was able to take advantage of a temporary peace to rally more support, leading to a successful winter campaign in southern Wales and the royal victory at the battle of Boroughbridge
Battle of Boroughbridge
The Battle of Boroughbridge was a battle fought on 16 March 1322 between a group of rebellious barons and King Edward II of England, near Boroughbridge, northwest of York. The culmination of a long period of antagonism between the king and Thomas, Earl of Lancaster, his most powerful subject, it...
in the north of England in March 1322. The war paved the way for Edward's increasingly harsh rule during the mid-1320s and his fall from power in 1326.
Causes of the war
Hugh le Despenser, 1st Earl of Winchester
Hugh le Despenser , sometimes referred to as "the Elder Despenser", was for a time the chief adviser to King Edward II of England....
on account of the influence they both wielded over King Edward II of England
Edward II of England
Edward II , called Edward of Caernarfon, was King of England from 1307 until he was deposed by his wife Isabella in January 1327. He was the sixth Plantagenet king, in a line that began with the reign of Henry II...
. The council of Ordainers was formed in 1311 to reform the King's household, restrict his royal prerogatives, supervise the economy, and they insisted on the banishment of his then favourite, Piers Gaveston
Piers Gaveston
Piers Gaveston, 1st Earl of Cornwall was an English nobleman of Gascon origin, and the favourite of King Edward II of England. At a young age he made a good impression on King Edward I of England, and was assigned to the household of the King's son, Edward of Carnarvon...
.
Marcher Lords Roger Mortimer, Baron Mortimer, his uncle, Roger Mortimer de Chirk
Roger Mortimer de Chirk
Roger Mortimer de Chirk was a 14th century Marcher lord, notable for his opposition to Edward II of England during the Despenser War.-Background and Early Service:...
, and Humphrey de Bohun, 4th Earl of Hereford (a staunch Ordainer) were also avowed enemies of the Despensers. The younger Despenser, through his marriage with Eleanor de Clare
Eleanor de Clare
Eleanor de Clare was the wife of the powerful Hugh Despenser the younger. She was born in 1292 at Caerphilly in Glamorgan, Wales. She was the eldest daughter of Gilbert de Clare, 6th Earl of Hertford and 7th Earl of Gloucester, and Joan of Acre, daughter of Edward I and Eleanor of Castile; thus...
, eldest sister of the wealthy noble Gilbert de Clare, 8th Earl of Hertford
Gilbert de Clare, 8th Earl of Hertford
Gilbert de Clare, 7th Earl of Hertford, 8th Earl of Gloucester was an English nobleman and a military commander in the Scottish Wars. He was unusual among the earls of England at the time, in that his main interest lay in the pursuit of war, not domestic political strife...
, received many expensive gifts, and much property and land grants in the Marcher territory. When Hertford was killed at the Battle of Bannockburn
Battle of Bannockburn
The Battle of Bannockburn was a significant Scottish victory in the Wars of Scottish Independence...
in 1314, Despenser took most of the vast de Clare inheritance for himself, including almost all of Glamorgan
Glamorgan
Glamorgan or Glamorganshire is one of the thirteen historic counties and a former administrative county of Wales. It was originally an early medieval kingdom of varying boundaries known as Glywysing until taken over by the Normans as a lordship. Glamorgan is latterly represented by the three...
, despite Eleanor having had two other sisters, who were co-heiresses to their childless brother. This angered his brothers-in-law, Roger d'Amory
Roger d'Amory
Sir Roger d'Amory, Lord d'Amory, Baron of Amory in Ireland, was a nobleman and Constable of Corfe Castle.He was the younger son of Sir Robert d'Amory, Knight, of Bucknell and Woodperry, Oxfordshire...
and Hugh de Audley
Hugh de Audley, 1st Earl of Gloucester
Hugh II de Audley, 1st Baron Audley and 1st Earl of Gloucester was the English Ambassador to France in 1341.-Family:...
, who were cheated out of their share of lands which rightfully belonged to them. Hostility deepened among the Marcher Lords when Despenser titled himself "Lord of Glamorgan" and "Earl of Gloucester".
First phase: February-August 1321
In February 1321 Mortimer, Hereford and Lancaster agreed on an attack on the Despenser lands in Wales. Edward responded in March by mobilising his forces in Wales, demonstrating that he intended to make any attack on the Despensers an attack on the crown, and therefore treasonable. The king travelled to Gloucester and called upon the Marcher Lords to join him there; Mortimer and HerefordHumphrey de Bohun, 4th Earl of Hereford
Humphrey de Bohun, 4th Earl of Hereford was a member of a powerful Anglo-Norman family of the Welsh Marches and was one of the Ordainers who opposed Edward II's excesses.-Family background :...
declined. Mobilising more forces, Edward marched on to Bristol, and repeated his call for the Marcher Lords to convene with him there in May. They again declined.
Mortimer and Hereford promptly began their attack on the Despenser lands. Newport
Newport
Newport is a city and unitary authority area in Wales. Standing on the banks of the River Usk, it is located about east of Cardiff and is the largest urban area within the historic county boundaries of Monmouthshire and the preserved county of Gwent...
, Cardiff
Cardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
and Caerphilly
Caerphilly
Caerphilly is a town in the county borough of Caerphilly, south Wales, located at the southern end of the Rhymney Valley, with a population of approximately 31,000. It is a commuter town of Cardiff and Newport, which are located some 7.5 miles and 12 miles away, respectively...
were seized by Mortimer in an intense eight day campaign. Mortimer and Hereford then set about pillaging Glamorgan
Glamorgan
Glamorgan or Glamorganshire is one of the thirteen historic counties and a former administrative county of Wales. It was originally an early medieval kingdom of varying boundaries known as Glywysing until taken over by the Normans as a lordship. Glamorgan is latterly represented by the three...
and Gloucestershire, before marching north to join Lancaster at Pontefract
Pontefract Castle
Pontefract Castle is a castle in the town of Pontefract, in the City of Wakefield, West Yorkshire, England. It was the site of the demise of Richard II of England, and later the place of a series of famous sieges during the English Civil War-History:...
. The barons then swore an alliance at Sherburn-in-Elmet
Sherburn-in-Elmet
Sherburn-in-Elmet is a town and civil parish in the Selby district of North Yorkshire, England, situated close to Selby. It is one of only three places in the area to be explicitly associated with the ancient Celtic kingdom of Elmet via featuring the kingdom's title in its name, the others being...
in June, naming their faction the "contrariants" and promising to remove the Despensers for good.
Edward had returned to London, where he held his own parliament to discuss courses of action. Mortimer led his army east towards London as well, reaching St Albans
St Albans
St Albans is a city in southern Hertfordshire, England, around north of central London, which forms the main urban area of the City and District of St Albans. It is a historic market town, and is now a sought-after dormitory town within the London commuter belt...
in late July. The city of London refused to let Mortimer's forces in, and his forces placed the capital under effective siege. Lancaster arrived in August to support him and a tense stand-off ensued, with the younger Despenser threatening the rebels from a ship on the River Thames
River Thames
The River Thames flows through southern England. It is the longest river entirely in England and the second longest in the United Kingdom. While it is best known because its lower reaches flow through central London, the river flows alongside several other towns and cities, including Oxford,...
, and the barons threatening to begin to destroy royal properties and lands outside London unless he desisted.
The Earl of Pembroke
Aymer de Valence, 2nd Earl of Pembroke
Aymer de Valence, 2nd Earl of Pembroke was a Franco-English nobleman. Though primarily active in England, he also had strong connections with the French royal house. One of the wealthiest and most powerful men of his age, he was a central player in the conflicts between Edward II of England and...
, a moderate baron with strong French links, intervened in an attempt to defuse the crisis. Edward continued to refuse to negotiate or exile the Despensers, so Pembroke arranged for Queen Isabella
Isabella of France
Isabella of France , sometimes described as the She-wolf of France, was Queen consort of England as the wife of Edward II of England. She was the youngest surviving child and only surviving daughter of Philip IV of France and Joan I of Navarre...
to publicly go down on her knees to appeal to Edward to exile the Despensers. This provided him with a face-saving excuse to exile the Despensers and defuse the crisis, but it was clear Edward intended to arrange their return at the first opportunity.
Second phase: October 1321-March 1322
Leeds Castle
Leeds Castle, southeast of Maidstone, Kent, England, dates back to 1119, though a Saxon fort stood on the same site from the 9th century. The castle is built on islands in a lake formed by the River Len to the east of the village of Leeds....
, a fortification held by Bartholomew de Badlesmere
Bartholomew de Badlesmere, 1st Baron Badlesmere
Bartholomew de Badlesmere, 1st Baron Badlesmere , English nobleman, was the son and heir of Gunselm de Badlesmere , and fought in the English army both in France and Scotland during the later years of the reign of Edward I of England.-Life:In 1307 he became governor of Bristol Castle. Edward II...
, steward of the King's household who had by 1321 joined the ranks of Edward's opponents. Historians believe that the pilgrimage was a deliberate act by Isabella on Edward's behalf to create a casus belli
Casus belli
is a Latin expression meaning the justification for acts of war. means "incident", "rupture" or indeed "case", while means bellic...
. Lord Badlesmere was away at the time, having left his wife Margaret in charge of the castle. When the latter adamantly refused the Queen admittance, fighting broke out outside the castle between Isabella's guards and the garrison.
Edward mobilised his own faction and placed Leeds castle under siege, giving Isabella the Great Seal
Great Seal of the Realm
The Great Seal of the Realm or Great Seal of the United Kingdom is a seal that is used to symbolise the Sovereign's approval of important state documents...
and control of the royal Chancery.The attack on Isabella increased Edward's popular support; the moderate barons moved to support him, as did many volunteers from London. Before long, chroniclers record that Edward had an army of 30,000 men besieging Leeds castle, although this may represent an overestimate. The castle surrendered at the end of October and Edward took a vicious revenge on the constable and his men. Edward's position was now much stronger than in August and he set about revoking the banishment order on the Despensers.
Mortimer and Hereford travelled north to discuss the situation with Lancaster, and the three reaffirmed their intent to oppose Edward. Back in the Welsh borders, however, there was an uprising of the local peasantry, and Mortimer and Hereford were forced to return south to deal with the problem. Edward marched to Cirencester
Cirencester
Cirencester is a market town in east Gloucestershire, England, 93 miles west northwest of London. Cirencester lies on the River Churn, a tributary of the River Thames, and is the largest town in the Cotswold District. It is the home of the Royal Agricultural College, the oldest agricultural...
in December, preparing to invade the Welsh borders. In the north, Lancaster was attempting to enlist the support of the Scots in a bid to bring more forces to bear before Edward could retake south Wales. In January 1322 Edward finally overcame the resistance along the Severn River and advanced into the Welsh Marches; the situation was now impossible and Roger Mortimer and his uncle, Roger Mortimer de Chirk surrendered to the King at Shrewsbury
Shrewsbury
Shrewsbury is the county town of Shropshire, in the West Midlands region of England. Lying on the River Severn, it is a civil parish home to some 70,000 inhabitants, and is the primary settlement and headquarters of Shropshire Council...
on 22 January 1322.
Edward turned north, assisted by the Despensers who had secretly returned from exile in mid-January. Edward mustered his men at Coventry
Coventry
Coventry is a city and metropolitan borough in the county of West Midlands in England. Coventry is the 9th largest city in England and the 11th largest in the United Kingdom. It is also the second largest city in the English Midlands, after Birmingham, with a population of 300,848, although...
in February and engaged Lancaster and his forces at the Battle of Boroughbridge
Battle of Boroughbridge
The Battle of Boroughbridge was a battle fought on 16 March 1322 between a group of rebellious barons and King Edward II of England, near Boroughbridge, northwest of York. The culmination of a long period of antagonism between the king and Thomas, Earl of Lancaster, his most powerful subject, it...
on 16 March. Edward was victorious. Captured after the battle, Lancaster was promptly executed, leaving Edward and the Despensers firmly in control of England and the Welsh Marches.
Aftermath of the Despenser War
The Despenser War "totally changed the political scene in England". Edward's victory provided the catalyst for the disintegration of the baronial oligarchyOligarchy
Oligarchy is a form of power structure in which power effectively rests with an elite class distinguished by royalty, wealth, family ties, commercial, and/or military legitimacy...
giving the King the opportunity to resume the regal powers the Ordainers had denied him since they presented their Ordinances
Ordinances of 1311
The Ordinances of 1311 were a series of regulations imposed upon King Edward II by the peerage and clergy of the Kingdom of England to restrict the power of the king. The twenty-one signatories of the Ordinances are referred to as the Lords Ordainers, or simply the Ordainers...
to him in 1311.
Roger Mortimer was imprisoned in the Tower of London
Tower of London
Her Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress, more commonly known as the Tower of London, is a historic castle on the north bank of the River Thames in central London, England. It lies within the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, separated from the eastern edge of the City of London by the open space...
after his surrender at Shrewsbury. In August 1323 he escaped to France where he later joined Queen Isabella
Isabella of France
Isabella of France , sometimes described as the She-wolf of France, was Queen consort of England as the wife of Edward II of England. She was the youngest surviving child and only surviving daughter of Philip IV of France and Joan I of Navarre...
, who was ostensibly on a peace mission, but was actually seeking assistance from her brother, King Charles IV of France
Charles IV of France
Charles IV, known as the Fair , was the King of France and of Navarre and Count of Champagne from 1322 to his death: he was the last French king of the senior Capetian lineage....
to oust the Despensers. Mortimer and Isabella obtained the necessary help in Flanders
Flanders
Flanders is the community of the Flemings but also one of the institutions in Belgium, and a geographical region located in parts of present-day Belgium, France and the Netherlands. "Flanders" can also refer to the northern part of Belgium that contains Brussels, Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp...
and in 1326 the successful Invasion of England
Invasion of England (1326)
The invasion of England in 1326 by Isabella of France and Roger Mortimer, 1st Earl of March, led to the capture of Hugh Despenser the Younger and Edward II of England....
was launched.
This invasion led to the executions of the two Despensers, the deposition and killing of Edward II, and the seizure of authority by Queen Isabella and Roger Mortimer, who became the de facto
De facto
De facto is a Latin expression that means "concerning fact." In law, it often means "in practice but not necessarily ordained by law" or "in practice or actuality, but not officially established." It is commonly used in contrast to de jure when referring to matters of law, governance, or...
rulers of England from 1327 to 1330. Mortimer was hanged, drawn and quartered
Hanged, drawn and quartered
To be hanged, drawn and quartered was from 1351 a penalty in England for men convicted of high treason, although the ritual was first recorded during the reigns of King Henry III and his successor, Edward I...
in November 1330 by the order of Isabella's son King Edward III
Edward III of England
Edward III was King of England from 1327 until his death and is noted for his military success. Restoring royal authority after the disastrous reign of his father, Edward II, Edward III went on to transform the Kingdom of England into one of the most formidable military powers in Europe...
after he ousted his mother and Mortimer from power and assumed personal rule.