Hanging, Drawing and Quartering: the Anatomy of an Execution
I found this an incredibly hard post to write - not just because of its length but also the amount of research into the act of execution....
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Lady Despenser's blog has been dragged out of retirement, given a makeover and a few vitamin pills and will be having lots more juicy posts about the early 14th Century. Of course there will be new articles about your favourite bad boy of the time - Hugh Despenser the younger - but also much more about social history. And if that isn't enough, I am also incorporating a new section featuring my popular Medieval Bits: snippets of interesting and odd facts about the middle ages.
- 4 min
The Execution of Hugh Despenser the Younger: November 24th 1326
The problem with a study of Hugh Despenser’s execution is that although it appears in detail in several secondary sources, the authors...
- 9 min
Who Was Hugh Despenser the Younger? - In a (very large) Nutshell
The Early Years The exact date of Hugh’s birth is not known but it was most likely between 1286 and 1290. He was the eldest son of Hugh...
- 2 min
Bannockburn: the Scottish Army
Note: There are some details about the Battle of Bannockburn that we may never know for sure, such as the numbers involved on either...
- 4 min
Bannockburn: the English Army
Note: There are some details about the Battle of Bannockburn that we may never know for sure, such as the numbers involved on either...
- 4 min
The Cause of the Battle of Bannockburn
Edward II had last invaded Scotland in the years 1309 and 1310, but every time he rode north, the Scots seemed to disappear into their...
- 3 min
Review: Edward II: The Unconventional King by Kathryn Warner
First of all I need to make a little disclaimer. I know Kathryn Warner well and have been friends with her for a long time. We have...
- 4 min
Edward II’s Works at the Palace of Westminster in 1307
In 1298, there was a disastrous fire at Westminster Palace which devastated many of the buildings and rendered it practically useless as...
- 3 min
Hugh's Last Journey 1326
There are only glimpses of what happened between Hugh and Edward’s capture at Pant-Y-Brad and Hugh’s arrival at Hereford, so much of what...
- 7 min
The Flight and Capture of Hugh Despenser and Edward II 1326
Invasion When Isabella, Edward’s estranged queen, and his foremost enemy, Roger de Mortimer landed on British soil near to the manor of...
- 21 min
Thomas, Earl of Lancaster b. (c) 1278-1322 - Part1
Minority to 1313 Throughout the majority of Edward II’s reign there can be little doubt that one of the biggest thorns in his side was...
- 3 min
Medieval Easter
After the strictures and fasting of Lent, the arrival of Easter Sunday must have been an occasion to be looked forward to. At last,...
- 8 min
The Battle of Boroughbridge and its Consequences
The Battle of Boroughbridge was fought on 16th March 1322. It was a small battle and probably didn't last very long, but its consequences...
- 10 min
Hugh the Elder (Hugh the Younger's dad)
A fairly long post on Hugh the Younger's father, a man who is quite fascinating in his own right. Hugh the Elder's Career and the Early...
- 15 min
Eleanor de Clare, Lady Despenser
This is a post about a remarkable woman, without whom Hugh’s rise to power (and later notoriety) would probably have never happened. This...
- 2 min
How Piers Gaveston Stole the Show at the Coronation of Edward II
The coronation of Edward II, previously known as Prince Edward of Caernarvon, was actually a double coronation, as Edward’s 12-year-old...
- 9 min
Who Was Hugh Despenser the Younger? - In a (very large) Nutshell
The Early Years The exact date of Hugh’s birth is not known but it was most likely between 1286 and 1290. He was the eldest son of Hugh...
- 8 min
The Pembroke Inheritance and the Strange Tale of Elizabeth Comyn Part 2
The most-often heard version of what happened to Elizabeth Comyn goes something like this: Elizabeth was taken prisoner at the manor of...
Lady Despenser's Scribery
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