espenser, Hugh le (1262-1326), English nobleman, son of Hugh le Despenser. A supporter of the king against the barons, he fought under Edward I, for whom he secured a papal release from an oath to refrain from excessive taxation. When the barons forced Edward's son and successor, Edward II, to banish his favorite, Piers Gaveston, le Despenser supported Gaveston and in 1312 succeeded him as the royal favorite. Edward II made him earl of Winchester in 1322, and le Despenser, together with his son, Hugh, acquired vast wealth. The barons established a coalition to challenge Edward II and le Despenser, and open warfare broke out between the king and the barons. At the battle of Boroughbridge in 1322, the king's forces defeated the coalition. The elder le Despenser became virtual ruler of England, instituted several important administrative reforms, and concluded peace with Scotland in 1323. In 1326 Isabella, queen consort of England, formed an alliance with the barons against Edward and the le Despensers in favor of Edward's and Isabella's son, young Prince Edward. In a general uprising, the forces of Edward II were defeated and both father and son le Despenser were hanged. [Microsoft Encarta 98 Encyclopedia]

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