Thomas le Despenser, 1st Earl of Gloucester
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Thomas le Despenser, 1st Earl of Gloucester KG
(22 September 1373 – 13 January 1400) was the son of Edward le Despenser, 1st Baron le Despencer, whom he succeeded in 1375.
against Thomas of Woodstock and the Lords Appellant
, he was rewarded with an Earldom as Earl of Gloucester
in 1397.
However, he supported Henry Bolingbroke on his return to England to become King Henry IV
, only to be attainted (deprived of his Earldom because of a capital crime) for his role in the death of Thomas of Woodstock.
He then took part in the Epiphany Rising
, a rebellion led by a number of Barons aimed at restoring Richard to the throne by assassinating King Henry IV
; this quickly failed when the conspirators were betrayed by Edward of Norwich, 2nd Duke of York
to Henry. After fleeing to the western counties, a number of the Epiphany Rising conspirators were captured and killed by mobs of townspeople loyal to the king; Despenser was captured by a mob and beheaded at Bristol
on 13 January 1400.
, daughter of Edmund of Langley, 1st Duke of York
. They had issue, of whom:
Order of the Garter
The Most Noble Order of the Garter, founded in 1348, is the highest order of chivalry, or knighthood, existing in England. The order is dedicated to the image and arms of St...
(22 September 1373 – 13 January 1400) was the son of Edward le Despenser, 1st Baron le Despencer, whom he succeeded in 1375.
Royal intrigues
A supporter of Richard IIRichard II of England
Richard II was King of England, a member of the House of Plantagenet and the last of its main-line kings. He ruled from 1377 until he was deposed in 1399. Richard was a son of Edward, the Black Prince, and was born during the reign of his grandfather, Edward III...
against Thomas of Woodstock and the Lords Appellant
Lords Appellant
The Lords Appellant were a group of nobles in the reign of King Richard II who sought to impeach some five of the King's favourites in order to restrain what was seen as tyrannical and capricious rule. The word appellant simply means '[one who is] appealing [in a legal sense]'...
, he was rewarded with an Earldom as Earl of Gloucester
Earl of Gloucester
The title of Earl of Gloucester was created several times in the Peerage of England. A fictional earl is also a character in William Shakespeare's play King Lear. See also Duke of Gloucester.-Earls of Gloucester, 1st Creation :...
in 1397.
However, he supported Henry Bolingbroke on his return to England to become King Henry IV
Henry IV of England
Henry IV was King of England and Lord of Ireland . He was the ninth King of England of the House of Plantagenet and also asserted his grandfather's claim to the title King of France. He was born at Bolingbroke Castle in Lincolnshire, hence his other name, Henry Bolingbroke...
, only to be attainted (deprived of his Earldom because of a capital crime) for his role in the death of Thomas of Woodstock.
He then took part in the Epiphany Rising
Epiphany Rising
The Epiphany Rising was a failed rebellion against Henry IV of England in January 1400.-Background:After the murder of Thomas of Woodstock, 1st Duke of Gloucester in 1397, Richard II rewarded those who had supported him against Gloucester and the Lords Appellant with a plethora of new titles.Upon...
, a rebellion led by a number of Barons aimed at restoring Richard to the throne by assassinating King Henry IV
Henry IV of England
Henry IV was King of England and Lord of Ireland . He was the ninth King of England of the House of Plantagenet and also asserted his grandfather's claim to the title King of France. He was born at Bolingbroke Castle in Lincolnshire, hence his other name, Henry Bolingbroke...
; this quickly failed when the conspirators were betrayed by Edward of Norwich, 2nd Duke of York
Edward of Norwich, 2nd Duke of York
Sir Edward of Norwich, 2nd Duke of York, 2nd Earl of Cambridge, Earl of Rutland, Earl of Cork, Duke of Aumale KG was a member of the English royal family who died at the Battle of Agincourt....
to Henry. After fleeing to the western counties, a number of the Epiphany Rising conspirators were captured and killed by mobs of townspeople loyal to the king; Despenser was captured by a mob and beheaded at Bristol
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
on 13 January 1400.
Marriage
Thomas le Despenser married ConstanceConstance of York
Constance of York, Countess of Gloucester was the only daughter of Edmund of Langley, 1st Duke of York and his wife Isabella of Castile, daughter of Pedro of Castile and Maria de Padilla. On about 7 November 1379, Constance married Thomas le Despenser, 1st Earl of Gloucester , who was eventually...
, daughter of Edmund of Langley, 1st Duke of York
Edmund of Langley, 1st Duke of York
Edmund of Langley, 1st Duke of York, 1st Earl of Cambridge, KG was a younger son of King Edward III of England and Philippa of Hainault, the fourth of the five sons who lived to adulthood, of this Royal couple. Like so many medieval princes, Edmund gained his identifying nickname from his...
. They had issue, of whom:
- Elizabeth le Despenser (died young c. 1398)
- Richard le Despenser, 4th Baron BurghershRichard le Despenser, 4th Baron BurghershRichard le Despenser, 4th Baron Burghersh was the son and heir of Thomas le Despenser, 1st Earl of Gloucester , by Constance...
(1396–1414) - Edward le Despenser (b. bef. 1400), died young
- Hugh le Despenser (c. 1400–1401)
- Isabel le DespenserIsabel le Despenser, Countess of Worcester and WarwickIsabel le Despenser, Countess of Worcester and Warwick was the posthumous daughter and eventually the sole heiress of Thomas le Despenser and his wife, Constance of York...
(1400–1439), she married first Richard Beauchamp, 1st Earl of WorcesterRichard Beauchamp, 1st Earl of WorcesterRichard de Beauchamp, 1st Earl of Worcester, KB was an English peer.The only son of the William de Beauchamp, 1st Baron Bergavenny, he succeeded as 2nd Baron Bergavenny upon the death of his father....
, she married second Richard de Beauchamp, 13th Earl of WarwickRichard de Beauchamp, 13th Earl of WarwickRichard de Beauchamp, 13th Earl of Warwick, Count of Aumale, KG was an English medieval nobleman and military commander.-Early Life:...