Eleanor de Clare

Eleanor de Clare was born on 3 October 1292 at Caerphilly Castle in Glamorgan, Wales, the eldest daughter of Gilbert de Clare, 6th Earl of Hertford, 7th Earl of Gloucester, 5th Lord of Glamorgan, and Princess Joan of Acre. In 1306, she married Hugh Despenser the Younger, becoming Baroness le Despenser. Her marriage aligned her with the royal court, as her husband became a favourite of her uncle, King Edward II of England. The couple was visited often by the king, who bestowed upon them many gifts. In 1314, Eleanor, along with her sisters, inherited the de Clare estates after her brother’s death at the Battle of Bannockburn. The partition of these estates was not settled until 1317. Eleanor notably commanded a small garrison during the siege of Caerphilly Castle in 1316, successfully holding out until relief arrived.

Eleanor’s fortunes shifted following the overthrow of Edward II by Queen Isabella and Roger Mortimer, leading to her husband’s execution for high treason in 1326. She was imprisoned in the Tower of London in November 1326 and later transferred to Devizes Castle. Eleanor’s lands were seized, and she was coerced into signing away a significant portion of her inheritance. However, after the fall of Mortimer in 1331, she petitioned King Edward III for the restoration of her lands, which was granted with the condition of paying a fine. Eleanor was married twice, first to Hugh Despenser the Younger and then to William la Zouche, whom she possibly eloped with in 1329. Her life was further complicated by John de Grey’s claim that he had married her first, but she remained with Zouche until his death. Eleanor de Clare died on 30 June 1337 at Monmouth Castle and was buried at Tewkesbury Abbey.