The Torturous Death of Hugh Despenser, Possible Lover of Edward II

From History Calling

It might have been the WORST MEDIEVAL EXECUTION ever. In November 1326, the death of Hugh Despenser, former royal favourite and suspected gay lover of Edward II, was witnessed by a crowd baying for his blood in Hereford and was enacted partly at the behest of Queen Isabella of France, wife of Edward and one of the she-wolves of France. The execution was barbaric and humiliating, even by 14th century standards, but why was it so bad and what had Hugh Despenser done to become one of the most hated men in England? In today’s medieval history documentary from History Calling we look at why Hugh Despenser was executed, at what happened at the trial of Hugh Despsenser, at how Hugh Despenser tried to cheat the executioner and at why the mode of his death (which included being hanged, drawn and quartered, mutilated first and bits of him burnt) was so horrific and slow. I’ll also reveal what happened to the body of Hugh Despenser after it had been dismembered. I’ll explain the role Isabella of France and her lover, Roger Mortimer, played in his death and look at the possible rediscovery of the remains of Hugh Despenser in 2008 (at least what was left of him) and at what an analysis of his remains tells us about his death. I’ll use primary sources to reveal what happened to Hugh Despenser the Younger (as he is sometimes called to distinguish him from his father) that ugly November day, including the work of Jean de Bel and Jean Froissart and show a medieval drawing of the execution. If you’re interested in medieval England, Edward II, Isabella of France, Roger Mortimer, the Hundred Years’ War, medieval executions, royal favourites, and the violent politics of the 14th century, this is the story of one of medieval England’s most dramatic downfalls.