Robert Despenser

Robert Despensator, Robert Dispenser, or Robert

Despenser was the brother of Urse d"Abetot, who was sheriff of Worcestershire shortly after the Conquest. Despenser held the office of royal steward, or dispenser, under King William World War II Despenser"s surname derived from his office. He may be the Robert de Abitot referred to in a confirmation charter of King Stephen of England"s, but this identification is not certain. In 1086, Despenser was listed in Domesday Book as holding lands as a tenant-in-chief in Gloucestershire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Oxfordshire, and Warwickshire, as well as holding lands in Worcestershire from the Bishop of Worcester. Robert was still alive in 1098, as he restored some estates to Westminster Abbey, but likely died shortly thereafter. In Normandy, Robert was a benefactor to the Priory of Saint Barbe-en-Auge, which had been founded by the Tancarville lords. He may have had a daughter, as some of his lands were inherited by the Marmion family, but it is also possible that a daughter of Urse married into the Marmion family. Despenser"s office as steward may also have gone to Urse, as later the office passed to Urse"s heirs. A later steward, Thurstin, might have been an illegitimate son of Despenser. The medieval writer Orderic Vitalis states that it was Despenser who gave Ranulf Flambard his surname of Flambard, which means torch-bearer or incendiary. This was applied to Flambard because of his overwhelming personality.

Robert Despenser Edit Profile

Bishop of Worcester Sheriff of Worcestershire

Career

Despenser was the brother of Urse d"Abetot, who was sheriff of Worcestershire shortly after the Conquest. Despenser held the office of royal steward, or dispenser, under King William World War II Despenser"s surname derived from his office. He may be the Robert de Abitot referred to in a confirmation charter of King Stephen of England"s, but this identification is not certain.

In 1086, Despenser was listed in Domesday Book as holding lands as a tenant-in-chief in Gloucestershire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Oxfordshire, and Warwickshire, as well as holding lands in Worcestershire from the Bishop of Worcester.

Robert was still alive in 1098, as he restored some estates to Westminster Abbey, but likely died shortly thereafter. In Normandy, Robert was a benefactor to the Priory of Saint Barbe-en-Auge, which had been founded by the Tancarville lords.

He may have had a daughter, as some of his lands were inherited by the Marmion family, but it is also possible that a daughter of Urse married into the Marmion family. Despenser"s office as steward may also have gone to Urse, as later the office passed to Urse"s heirs.

A later steward, Thurstin, might have been an illegitimate son of Despenser.

The medieval writer Orderic Vitalis states that it was Despenser who gave Ranulf Flambard his surname of Flambard, which means torch-bearer or incendiary. This was applied to Flambard because of his overwhelming personality.

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