Elizabeth le Despenser, Baroness Berkeley
Encyclopedia
Elizabeth le Despenser (c. 1327 – 13 July 1389) was an English noblewoman. She was the youngest daughter of Hugh le Despenser the younger and his wife Eleanor de Clare
. Her father is famous for being the favourite of Edward II of England
, and being executed as a result of his position and actions. Through her mother, Elizabeth was a great granddaughter of King Edward I of England.
after her mother Eleanor's death the previous year.
, who was ironically a grandson of Roger Mortimer, 1st Earl of March, the man largely responsible for the execution of Elizabeth's father Hugh. She and her husband had seven children:
Elizabeth died on 13 July 1389. She was buried at St Botolph's Aldgate
, London, England.
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...
. Her father is famous for being the favourite of 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 being executed as a result of his position and actions. Through her mother, Elizabeth was a great granddaughter of King Edward I of England.
Early life
The exact date of her birth is disputed; it is possible that she (or her brother John) was born in December 1325. She may have been born to her mother sometime after her father's death, as she was not forced to take the veil like three of her older sisters. Not much else is known about her youth until August 1338, when she was sent to the care of her maternal aunt Elizabeth de ClareElizabeth de Clare
Elizabeth de Clare was the heiress to the lordships of Clare, Suffolk in England and Usk in Wales. She was the youngest of the three daughters of Gilbert de Clare, 6th Earl of Hertford and Joan of Acre, and sister of Gilbert de Clare, who later succeeded as the 7th Earl...
after her mother Eleanor's death the previous year.
Marriage and later life
In August 1338, she married Maurice de Berkeley, 4th Baron BerkeleyMaurice de Berkeley, 4th Baron Berkeley
Maurice de Berkeley, 4th Baron Berkeley the Valiant was an English peer born in Berkeley, Gloucestershire, England to Thomas de Berkeley, 3rd Baron Berkeley and Lady Margaret Mortimer.-Marriage and children:...
, who was ironically a grandson of Roger Mortimer, 1st Earl of March, the man largely responsible for the execution of Elizabeth's father Hugh. She and her husband had seven children:
- Thomas de Berkeley, 5th Lord BerkeleyThomas de Berkeley, 5th Baron BerkeleyThomas de Berkeley, 5th Baron Berkeley the Magnificent was an English peer born in the Berkeley Castle, Berkeley, Gloucestershire, England to Maurice de Berkeley, 4th Baron Berkeley and Elizabeth le Despencer....
5 January 1352/53 – 13 July 1417) married Margaret de Lisle, Baroness Lisle - Sir James de Berkeley (born ca. 1355 – 13 June 1405) married Elizabeth Bluet
- John de Berkeley (born ca. 1357–1381)
- Maurice de Berkeley (born ca. 1358 death date unknown) married Jone Hereford
- Catherine de Berkeley (born ca. 1360 death date unknown)
- Agnes de Berkeley (born ca. 1363 death date unknown)
- Elizabeth de Berkeley (born ca. 1365 death date unknown)
Elizabeth died on 13 July 1389. She was buried at St Botolph's Aldgate
St Botolph's Aldgate
St Botolph's Church, Aldgate, St Botolph-without-Aldgate, or just Aldgate Church, is a Church of England liberal and inclusive parish church in the City of London, standing at the junction of Houndsditch and Aldgate High Street. The current 18th century church is made of brick with stone quoins...
, London, England.