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Biography
Biography
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John (of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster)

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 Born1340   Born At
 Died1399  Buried At
 FatherEdward (III, King of England 1327-1377)  MotherPhilippa (of Hainault)
 Born1340 / 
 Died1399 / 
ohn of Gaunt was the son of Edward III, King of England and the father of Henry IV, king of England. He was born in Ghent, Flanders from which his name comes. When Edward III died in 1377 the English throne passed to Richard II, John's nephew. Richard was only ten at the time and too young to rule unaided. John of Gaunt took control of the country until Richard was old enough to rule. Gaunt alienated the Church by supporting Wyclif's criticism of the Church's power and wealth.

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Edward III - The Hundred Years War (click here)

Event Location Map (click image to explore)

Family (20) Parents

Spouses

Show All
Fantasy image of Blanche (of Lancaster)
Blanche (of Lancaster)
Fantasy image of Constance (of Castile)
Constance (of Castile)
Fantasy image of Swynford, Catherine
Swynford, Catherine

Children

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Fantasy image of Henry (IV, King of England 1399-1413)
Henry (IV, King of England 1399-1413)
Fantasy image of Philippa, (daughter of John of Gaunt)
Philippa, (daughter of John of Gaunt)
Fantasy image of Elizabeth (daughter of John of Gaunt)
Elizabeth (daughter of John of Gaunt)
Fantasy image of Katherine (of Lancaster)
Katherine (of Lancaster)
Fantasy image of Beaufort, John (1st Earl of Somerset)
Beaufort, John (1st Earl of Somerset)
Fantasy image of Beaufort, Henry (Cardinal-Bishop of Winchester)
Beaufort, Henry (Cardinal-Bishop of Winchester)
Fantasy image of Beaufort, Thomas (Duke of Exeter)
Beaufort, Thomas (Duke of Exeter)
Fantasy image of Beaufort, Joan (Countess of Westmorland)
Beaufort, Joan (Countess of Westmorland)

Siblings

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Fantasy image of Edward (The Black Prince)
Edward (The Black Prince)
Fantasy image of Isabella (Daughter of Edward III)
Isabella (Daughter of Edward III)
Fantasy image of Joan (Daughter of Edward III)
Joan (Daughter of Edward III)
Fantasy image of William (Son of Edward III)
William (Son of Edward III)
Fantasy image of Lionel (of Antwerp, Duke of Clarence)
Lionel (of Antwerp, Duke of Clarence)
Fantasy image of Edmund (of Langley, Duke of York)
Edmund (of Langley, Duke of York)
Fantasy image of Mary (Daughter of Edward III)
Mary (Daughter of Edward III)
Fantasy image of Margaret (Daughter of Edward III)
Margaret (Daughter of Edward III)
Fantasy image of Thomas (of Woodstock, Duke of Gloucester)
Thomas (of Woodstock, Duke of Gloucester)

Parents

Fantasy image of Edward (III, King of England 1327-1377)
Edward (III, King of England 1327-1377)
Fantasy image of Philippa (of Hainault)
Philippa (of Hainault)
tab 2
tab 3

 

Family Tree Details

Father:Edward (III, King of England 1327-1377) (b.1312 - d.1377)
Mother:Philippa (of Hainault) (b.1314? - d.1369)
Show Graphical Tree
 John (of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster) (b.1340 - d.1399)
    +Blanche (of Lancaster) (b.1342? - d.1369)
    |   = Henry (IV, King of England 1399-1413) (b.1367 - d.1413)
    |   |   +Bohun, Mary (b.1368? - d.1394)
    |   |   |   = Henry (V, King of England 1413-1422) (b.1387 - d.1422)
    |   |   |   |   +Catherine (of Valois) (b.1401 - d.1437)
    |   |   |   |       = Henry (VI, King of England 1422-1461, 1470-1471) (b.1421 - d.1471)
    |   |   |   = Thomas (Duke of Clarence) (b.1389 - d.1421)
    |   |   |   |   +Holland, Margaret (b.1385 - d.1439)
    |   |   |   = John (of Lancaster, Duke of Bedford) (b.1389 - d.1435)
    |   |   |   |   +Jacquetta (of Luxembourg) (b.1415? - d.1472)
    |   |   |   = Humphrey (Duke of Gloucester) (b.1390 - d.1447)
    |   |   +Joanna (of Navarre) ( - d.1437)
    |   = Philippa, (daughter of John of Gaunt)
    |   |   +John (I, of Portugal)
    |   = Elizabeth (daughter of John of Gaunt)
    |       +John (Earl of Pembroke - 1389)
    +Constance (of Castile) ( - d.1394)
    |   = Katherine (of Lancaster) (b.1372? - d.1418)
    +Swynford, Catherine (b.1350? - d.1403)
        = Beaufort, John (1st Earl of Somerset) ( - d.1410)
        |   +Holland, Margaret (b.1385 - d.1439)
        |       = Beaufort, Henry (Duke of Somerset) (b.1401 - d.1418)
        |       = Beaufort, John (1st Duke of Somerset) ( - d.1444)
        |       |   +Beauchamp, Margaret (of Bletsoe) (b.1410? - d.1482)
        |       |       = Beaufort, Lady Margaret (b.1441 - d.1509)
        |       = Beaufort, Edmund (2nd Duke of Somerset) (b.1406 - d.1455)
        |       |   +Beauchamp, Eleanor
        |       |       = Beaufort, Henry (3rd Duke of Somerset) (b.1436? - d.1464)
        |       |       = Beaufort, Edmund (4th Duke of Somerset) (b.1438? - d.1471)
        |       |       = Beaufort, John ( - d.1471)
        |       = Beaufort, Joan (b.1404? - d.1445)
        |           +James (I, King of Scotland 1406-1437) (b.1394 - d.1437)
        |               = Margaret (Stewart) ( - d.1445)
        |               = Isabella (Stewart) ( - d.1494)
        |               = Eleanor (Stewart) ( - d.1480)
        |               = James (II, King of Scotland 1437-1460) (b.1430 - d.1460)
        |               = Joan (Stewart) ( - d.1480)
        = Beaufort, Henry (Cardinal-Bishop of Winchester) (b.1376? - d.1447)
        = Beaufort, Thomas (Duke of Exeter) ( - d.1426)
        = Beaufort, Joan (Countess of Westmorland) (b.1379 - d.1440)
            +Neville, Ralph (Earl of Westmorland, Earl Marshal) (b.1364 - d.1425)
                = Neville, Cecily (Duchess of York) (b.1415 - d.1495)
                |   +Richard (Duke of York) (b.1411 - d.1460)
                |       = Edward (IV, Earl of March and King of England 1461-1470, 1471-1483) (b.1442 - d.1483)
                |       = Edmund (Earl of Rutland) (b.1443 - d.1460)
                |       = George (Duke of Clarence) (b.1449 - d.1478)
                |       = Richard (III, King of England 1483-1485) (b.1452 - d.1485)
                |       = Elizabeth (of York, Duchess of Suffolk) ( - d.1503)
                |       = Margaret (of York, Duchess of Burgundy) (b.1446 - d.1503)
                = Neville, Richard (Earl of Salisbury) ( - d.1460)
                    +Montacute, Alice (Daughter of Earl of Salisbury)
                        = Neville, Richard (Earl of Warwick, 'The Kingmaker') (b.1428 - d.1471)
                        = Neville, John (Earl of Northumberland, Lord Montague) ( - d.1471)
                        = Neville, George (Archbishop of York) ( - d.1476)
                        = Neville, Cecily (Duchess of Warwick) (b.1425 - d.1450)
                        = Neville, Katherine (b.1442? - d.1504?)
 John (of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster) (b.1340 - d.1399)
    +Blanche (of Lancaster) (b.1342? - d.1369)
    |   = Henry (IV, King of England 1399-1413) (b.1367 - d.1413)
    |   |   +Bohun, Mary (b.1368? - d.1394)
    |   |   |   = Henry (V, King of England 1413-1422) (b.1387 - d.1422)
    |   |   |   |   +Catherine (of Valois) (b.1401 - d.1437)
    |   |   |   |       = Henry (VI, King of England 1422-1461, 1470-1471) (b.1421 - d.1471)
    |   |   |   = Thomas (Duke of Clarence) (b.1389 - d.1421)
    |   |   |   |   +Holland, Margaret (b.1385 - d.1439)
    |   |   |   = John (of Lancaster, Duke of Bedford) (b.1389 - d.1435)
    |   |   |   |   +Jacquetta (of Luxembourg) (b.1415? - d.1472)
    |   |   |   = Humphrey (Duke of Gloucester) (b.1390 - d.1447)
    |   |   +Joanna (of Navarre) ( - d.1437)
    |   = Philippa, (daughter of John of Gaunt)
    |   |   +John (I, of Portugal)
    |   = Elizabeth (daughter of John of Gaunt)
    |       +John (Earl of Pembroke - 1389)
    +Constance (of Castile) ( - d.1394)
    |   = Katherine (of Lancaster) (b.1372? - d.1418)
    +Swynford, Catherine (b.1350? - d.1403)
        = Beaufort, John (1st Earl of Somerset) ( - d.1410)
        |   +Holland, Margaret (b.1385 - d.1439)
        |       = Beaufort, Henry (Duke of Somerset) (b.1401 - d.1418)
        |       = Beaufort, John (1st Duke of Somerset) ( - d.1444)
        |       |   +Beauchamp, Margaret (of Bletsoe) (b.1410? - d.1482)
        |       |       = Beaufort, Lady Margaret (b.1441 - d.1509)
        |       = Beaufort, Edmund (2nd Duke of Somerset) (b.1406 - d.1455)
        |       |   +Beauchamp, Eleanor
        |       |       = Beaufort, Henry (3rd Duke of Somerset) (b.1436? - d.1464)
        |       |       = Beaufort, Edmund (4th Duke of Somerset) (b.1438? - d.1471)
        |       |       = Beaufort, John ( - d.1471)
        |       = Beaufort, Joan (b.1404? - d.1445)
        |           +James (I, King of Scotland 1406-1437) (b.1394 - d.1437)
        |               = Margaret (Stewart) ( - d.1445)
        |               = Isabella (Stewart) ( - d.1494)
        |               = Eleanor (Stewart) ( - d.1480)
        |               = James (II, King of Scotland 1437-1460) (b.1430 - d.1460)
        |               = Joan (Stewart) ( - d.1480)
        = Beaufort, Henry (Cardinal-Bishop of Winchester) (b.1376? - d.1447)
        = Beaufort, Thomas (Duke of Exeter) ( - d.1426)
        = Beaufort, Joan (Countess of Westmorland) (b.1379 - d.1440)
            +Neville, Ralph (Earl of Westmorland, Earl Marshal) (b.1364 - d.1425)
                = Neville, Cecily (Duchess of York) (b.1415 - d.1495)
                |   +Richard (Duke of York) (b.1411 - d.1460)
                |       = Edward (IV, Earl of March and King of England 1461-1470, 1471-1483) (b.1442 - d.1483)
                |       = Edmund (Earl of Rutland) (b.1443 - d.1460)
                |       = George (Duke of Clarence) (b.1449 - d.1478)
                |       = Richard (III, King of England 1483-1485) (b.1452 - d.1485)
                |       = Elizabeth (of York, Duchess of Suffolk) ( - d.1503)
                |       = Margaret (of York, Duchess of Burgundy) (b.1446 - d.1503)
                = Neville, Richard (Earl of Salisbury) ( - d.1460)
                    +Montacute, Alice (Daughter of Earl of Salisbury)
                        = Neville, Richard (Earl of Warwick, 'The Kingmaker') (b.1428 - d.1471)
                        = Neville, John (Earl of Northumberland, Lord Montague) ( - d.1471)
                        = Neville, George (Archbishop of York) ( - d.1476)
                        = Neville, Cecily (Duchess of Warwick) (b.1425 - d.1450)
                        = Neville, Katherine (b.1442? - d.1504?)

See Also

    People

    • Edward (III, King of England 1327-1377)
    • Henry (IV, King of England 1399-1413)
    • Blanche (of Lancaster)
    • Henry (of Grosmont, Duke of Lancaster)
    • Beaufort, John (1st Earl of Somerset)
    • Beaufort, Henry (Cardinal-Bishop of Winchester)
    • A .. Z List of Medieval People

    Places

    • Kenilworth Castle
    • Tutbury Castle
    • A .. Z List of Medieval Buildings

    Timeline

    1361    (Age: 21yrs)
    (to 1399)
    John of Gaunt owns Kenilworth

    John of Gaunt married Blanche, the daughter of Henry, Duke of Lancaster. Henry owned Kenilworth Castle and when he died (?) John became Duke of Lancaster and took ownership of the castle. Gaunt rebuilt the hall and constructed new grand apartments. ¹

    1362    (Age: 22yrs)
    ...
    John becomes Duke of Lancaster

    John of Gaunt, Edward III's fourth son is created Duke of Lancaster.

    1367    (Age: 27yrs)
    Apr
    Henry (IV) the future king of England is born

    Henry was born at Bolingbroke Castle in Lincolnshire. He would become King Henry IV of England.

    1369    (Age: 29yrs)
    Jul (to Nov)
    John of Gaunt in northern France

    John of Gaunt, the Duke of Lancaster, left Calais with 2,000 soldiers and marched across northern France destroying towns along the way. ¹

    1371    (Age: 31yrs)
    ...
    Wykeham asks for war supplies

    William of Wykeham, Bishop of Winchester and chancellor, asked for supplies for war. Parliament petitioned the king to stop the practice of ecclesiastics having positions of power and not being liable to account for their actions, and that non-clerical laymen should replaced them. An important supporter of this action was John of Gaunt.

    1372    (Age: 32yrs)
    ...
    Knaresborough Castle granted to John of Gaunt

    King Edward III granted the castle at Knaresborough to his son John of Gaunt. This couild have been in 1371.

    1374    (Age: 34yrs)
    ...
    A Tomb for John of Gaunt

    Henry Yevele was commissioned to design a tomb for John of Gaunt and his first wife Blanche of Lancaster to be built at St. Paul's Cathedral. ¹

    1377    (Age: 37yrs)
    Feb
    Wycliffe tried for heresy

    John Wycliffe was tried for heresy at the court of the bishop of London at St. Paul's. Wycliffe was supported by John of Gaunt but the trial failed to convict the religious reformer when it ended in riots and chaos.

    Jun 21
    Edward III Dies

    King Edward III of England died in June 1377. One year earlier Edward's eldest son and heir to the throne, Edward the Black Prince died. Richard, the son of the Black Prince, was proclaimed heir to the throne. King Edward was ill for some time before his death, and John of Gaunt, another of Edward's sons, took the affairs of the nation under his control. Edward was buried in Westminster Abbey in a tomb designed by Henry Yevele. ¹

    Jul 16
    Richard II is crowned

    The 10 year old Richard II was crowned king of England. Ceremonies were overseen by his uncle John of Gaunt. Henry Percy was created Earl of Northumberland at the ceremony in recognition for his services as a soldier leading troops against the French.

    1378    (Age: 38yrs)
    ...
    Murder at Westminster Abbey

    Westminster Abbey was closed for several months after a murder took place in the Choir. The Abbey was not reopened for services until it was reconsecrated. Two knights called Schakell and Hawle had taken a Spanish Count prisoner whilst fighting with the Black Prince. As usual a ransom was required for the release of the Count. The Count was allowed to return to Spain to organise the ransom leaving his son as a hostage to ensure the ransom was paid. At this time John of Gaunt was in the process of acquiring the crown of Castile and the saga with the Count's son was an embarrassment. When the two knights refused to release their prisoner they were arrested and sent to the Tower of London. They managed to escape from the Tower and fled to Westminster Abbey and sanctuary, but this was ignored by a group of soldiers led by the Constable of the Tower, Alan Boxhall. Schakell was captured but Hawle and a monk were murdered in the Choir. Several of those involved were excommunicated meaning that they could not be buried after their deaths. ¹

    1384    (Age: 44yrs)
    Apr
    Criticism of Richard

    At a session of Parliament held this year both John of Gaunt and Thomas of Woodstock argued with Richard about the way in which the country was being run, his finances and the influences of his advisors.

    1386    (Age: 46yrs)
    Spring
    Gaunt and the Castilian throne

    With the defeat of the Castilians by John of Aviz, the king of Portugal, John of Gaunt saw his chance of taking the Castilian throne by right of his wife. He asked King Richard for a loan to be repaid once he had the throne. Richard was pleased to pay the loan and get rid of Gaunt, as Gaunt was criticising Richard's handling of finances and his choice of advisors. ¹

    Jul 8
    John of Gaunt sails from Plymouth

    King Richard II did not always agree with the council that was running England on his behalf and his uncle John of Gaunt was one his main opponants. The potential conflict between them came to an end when John set sail from Plymouth to take the Castilian throne. But his departure led to a greater conflict between the king and Thomas Woodstock, the Duke of Gloucester. ¹

    Jul 29
    John of Gaunt lands in Spain

    John of Gaunt landed at Corunna on the northen tip of Spain.

    1396    (Age: 56yrs)
    Jan 13
    John of Gaunt marries Catherine Swynford

    Catherine Swynford was the mistress of John of Gaunt. She may have been the governess of of John's daughters by his first wife. After the death of his first two wives, Blanche of Lancaster and Constance of Castile, John married Catherine. They were married at Lincoln Cathedral.

    1397    (Age: 57yrs)
    Feb 9
    Act of Parliament

    The children of John of Gaunt and Catherine Swynford born before their marriage were legitimated by an Act of Parliament put forward by King Richard II.

    1399    (Age: 59yrs)
    Feb
    Death of John of Gaunt

    .

    3D Virtual Reconstructions

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    More medieval people

    Uncover the lives of the hundreds of kings, queens, lords, ladies, barons, earls, archbishops and rebels who made the medieval people an exciting period of history to live through.

    Selection of references used:

    • 1. Mike Salter, Castles and Moated Castles of Warwickshire
    • 2. Hubert Cole, The Black Prince, 1976, ISBN:0-246-10778-2
    • 3. John H Harvey, Henry Yevele, LIfe of an English Architect
    • 4. Michael Senior, The Life and Times of Richard II, 1981
    • 5. G. E. Troutbeck, Westminster Abbey
    • 6. M H Keen, England in the Later Middle Ages, ISBN:0-415-02783-7

      See Also

        People

        • Edward (III, King of England 1327-1377)
        • Henry (IV, King of England 1399-1413)
        • Blanche (of Lancaster)
        • Henry (of Grosmont, Duke of Lancaster)
        • Beaufort, John (1st Earl of Somerset)
        • Beaufort, Henry (Cardinal-Bishop of Winchester)
        • A .. Z List of Medieval People

        Places

        • Kenilworth Castle
        • Tutbury Castle
        • A .. Z List of Medieval Buildings
        3D/VR

        Virtual Buildings

        Transport yourself back up to a thousand years and explore historical buildings as they may have appeared in the past.

        Explore the White Tower

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        Explore the White Tower

        Explore four floors of the keep at the Tower of London.

         

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        Early Access to the TimeRef card-based Adventure Game.

         

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        Explore the medieval town.

         

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