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'''John of Gaunt''', (1340-1399), named from his birthplace [[Ghent]] in [[Flanders]], was the fourth son of [[Edward III]] of England, but the eldest to survive him. Through his marriage to the heiress, Blanche of [[Lancaster]], he was to become the greatest landowner in England and honoured as the 2nd Duke of Lancaster. He was created Duke of [[Aquitaine]] in 1390.

'''John of Gaunt''', (1340-1399), named from his birthplace [[Ghent]] in [[Flanders]], was the fourth son of [[Edward III]] of England, but the eldest to survive him. Through his marriage to the heiress, Blanche of [[Lancaster]], he was to become the greatest landowner in England and honoured as the 2nd Duke of Lancaster. He was created Duke of [[Aquitaine]] in 1390.

He led a busy life: both in England where he was to become the elder statesman during his father’s declining years, and as head of the regency council advising the young [[Richard II]], his nephew; and abroad in France and Spain supporting his brother, [[Edward the Black Prince]] in the family’s on-again off-again pursuit of the [[Hundred Years War]], and his own dynastic ambitions in [[Castile]].

He led a busy life: both in England where he was to become the elder statesman during his father's declining years, and as head of the regency council advising the young [[Richard II]], his nephew; and abroad in France and Spain supporting his brother, [[Edward the Black Prince]] in the family's on-again off-again pursuit of the [[Hundred Years War]], and his own dynastic ambitions in [[Castile]].

John was a capable, but not brilliant commander; he was however a more than capable administrator, and an adept politician who, whilst alienating the populace with his perceived autocratic manner - his Savoy Palace in [[London]] was a particular focus of the mob during the [[Peasants' Revolt]] and was completely destroyed - he managed to steer the kingdom through a particularly turbulent time with a minimum of bloodshed.

John was a capable, but not brilliant commander; he was however a more than capable administrator, and an adept politician who, whilst alienating the populace with his perceived autocratic manner - his Savoy Palace in [[London]] was a particular focus of the mob during the [[Peasants' Revolt]] and was completely destroyed - he managed to steer the kingdom through a particularly turbulent time with a minimum of bloodshed.

He married three times. The issue from his marriage to Blanche included Henry “Bolingbroke”, (the future [[Henry IV]]), and Philippa, who became Queen of [[Portugal]] and the mother of [[Henry the Navigator]]. Blanche died in a recurrence of the plague in 1368, and John made a political union with Constance of Castille. Their daughter, Katherine, became Queen of Castille.

He married three times. The issue from his marriage to Blanche included Henry “Bolingbroke”, (the future [[Henry IV]]), and Philippa, who became Queen of [[Portugal]] and the mother of [[Henry the Navigator]]. Blanche died in a recurrence of the plague in 1368, and John made a political union with Constance of Castille. Their daughter, Katherine, became Queen of Castille.

Late in life he married his long-time mistress, Katherine Swynford. Lines from their legitimised offspring (named “Beaufort” after one of John’s obscure little holdings in [[France]]) were to form part of both sides of the [[Wars of the Roses]] and be reconciled in the union between the [[Tudor]] king [[Henry VII]] and Elizabeth of York, in 1486.

Late in life he married his long-time mistress, Katherine Swynford. Lines from their legitimised offspring (named “Beaufort” after one of John's obscure little holdings in [[France]]) were to form part of both sides of the [[Wars of the Roses]] and be reconciled in the union between the [[Tudor]] king [[Henry VII]] and Elizabeth of York, in 1486.

 

[[Category:English History]]

[[Category:English History]]