Mills-Martin Family Records - Person Sheet
Mills-Martin Family Records - Person Sheet
NameJohn of Gaunt PLANTAGENET Duke of Lancaster 
2872, p 176
2872, p 176Birth28 Mar 1340, Ghent, Flanders, Belgium2828, p 32; date only,2849,2850, p 1,2898, p 4; year & place only
MemoSt. Bavon’s Abbey
Birth24 Jun 1340, Ghent, Flanders, Belgium2854, p 1
MemoSt. Bavon’s Abbey
Death3 Feb 1399, Leicester Castle, Leicestershire, England2828, p 32,2848, p 5,2856,2857 Age: 58
Burial15 Mar 1399, London, England2856,2874, place only
MemoSt. Paul’s Cathedral
FatherEdward III PLANTAGENET King of England (1312-1377)
MotherPhilippa DE HAINAULT (1311-1369)
Individual Notes
• John of Gaunt was the fourth son of Edward III, born in Ghent in 1340. He married Blanche, the heiress of the duchy of Lancaster, in 1359, and was himself created Duke of Lancaster in 1362. Widowed in 1369, John married Constance, daughter of Pedro the Cruel of Castile, and in 1372 he assumed the title of King of Castile. In 1387, he resigned all claims in favor of his daughter, Catherine. John was influential during the reign of Richard II and tried to promote peace between the king and his nobles. His children by Catherine Swynford, known as the Beauforts, were legitimized by Richard II and figured prominently in English affairs in the next century. John’s eldest son, Henry Bolingbroke, became king as Henry IV, the first king of the House of Lancaster.2849
• Only 10 when he acceded in 1377, Richard II sat back for the first four years while his uncle, John of Gaunt, ran the country. Then it looked as if John might be running it into the ground.2860, p 100
• The Plantagenets were vilified, especially by Shakespeare and contemporary writers, to justify the Tudors usurping of the English throne. However, John of Gaunt seems to have been more fairly treated. His “This England” speech in William Shakespeare’s Richard II and his treatment in the play would seem to suggest that he was quite well regarded. Katherine herself features in the play albeit briefly. Women were not given much of a place at this time!
John’s fair treatment may also have been because his great-granddaughter Margaret Beaufort married Edward Tudor and was Henry the VII’s mother. The Beauforts were John and Katherine 4 children they had during the nine years she was his mistress. On their marriage in January 1396, the four children were legitimised by decree of John’s nephew Richard the II and the then Pope.2859, p 1
• Only 10 when he acceded in 1377, Richard II sat back for the first four years while his uncle, John of Gaunt, ran the country. Then it looked as if John might be running it into the ground.2860, p 100
• The Plantagenets were vilified, especially by Shakespeare and contemporary writers, to justify the Tudors usurping of the English throne. However, John of Gaunt seems to have been more fairly treated. His “This England” speech in William Shakespeare’s Richard II and his treatment in the play would seem to suggest that he was quite well regarded. Katherine herself features in the play albeit briefly. Women were not given much of a place at this time!
John’s fair treatment may also have been because his great-granddaughter Margaret Beaufort married Edward Tudor and was Henry the VII’s mother. The Beauforts were John and Katherine 4 children they had during the nine years she was his mistress. On their marriage in January 1396, the four children were legitimised by decree of John’s nephew Richard the II and the then Pope.2859, p 1
Spouses
Birth25 Mar 1345, Windsor Castle, Berkshire, England2848, p 5; place only,2850
Death12 Sep 1369, Lincoln, Lincolnshire, England2848, p 5; year only,2850, p 1 Age: 24
MemoBolingbroke Castle
Death30 Sep 1369, London, England2854, p 1,2898, p 4; #31,2899 Age: 24
DeathDec 13692857 Age: 24
Residenceof Lancaster, Lancashire, England2854, p 1
FatherHenry PLANTAGENET Duke of Lancaster (~1314-1361)
MotherElizabeth DE BEAUMONT (1314-1368)
Individual Notes
• Heiress of the duchy of Lancaster.2849
Marriage19 May 1359, London, England2830, marriage only,2849, year only,2850, p 1,2899, date only; gives Queen’s Chapel, Reading, Berkshire
Marr MemoSt. Paul’s Cathedral
ChildrenPhilippa (1360-1415)
Elizabeth (1362-1425)
Edward (1365-)
John (<1366-)
Henry IV Bolingbroke (1366-1413)
Isabel (~1368-)
Marriage21 Sep 1371, Roquefort, Guienne2830, marriage only,2874
ChildrenCatherine (~1372-)
John (~1374-)
Birth1350, Picardy, Hainault, Belgium2828, p 32; year only,2852
Birth13562919
Death10 May 1403, Lincoln, Lincolnshire, England2828, p 32; date only,2852 Age: 53
BurialLincoln, Lincolnshire, England2855
FatherSir Payn ROET of Guienne
MotherUNNAMED
Individual Notes
• She was the dau. of Sir Payn Roet, a Gascon, and the widow of Sir Hugh Swynford.2853
• Katherine, who apparently had had plague, was sent to a convent at Sheppey to be raised and educated. At the age of 16, she went to court and married, seemingly against her will, Hugh Swynford, with whom she had two children.
After Hugh’s death, she became John’s mistress and as such was appointed guardian of his daughters. She travelled around John’s various castles but was mainly based at Kenilworth. She spent time at Bolingbrook and at the Savoy and was seemingly treated as John’s consort in preference to his wife Castanza.2859, p 5
• All her issue [by John, Duke of Lancaster] legitimated by charter of Richard II, 1397.2834,2883, p 12
• [excerpts John and Katherine between them started the Tudor and Yorkist Royal Houses directly and most of the European Royal Houses can trace their origins back to them through intermarriage. This was not bad for a Flemish Heralds daughter! They had fulfilled Merlin’s ancient prophecy “thou shalt get kings though there be none!”
She was John’s third wife and was Duchess of Lancaster for three years from January 1396 to February 1399 when John died at Leicester Castle. Following the death of Richard the II’s first wife, Anne of Bohemia, and until his marriage to Isabel of France, whe was the first lady of England and granted wardship of Isabel.2859, p 1
• Thus, the daughter of a Flemish Herald became the first lady of England, co-founder of most European Royal Houses and a powerful, if invisible, influence on history.2859, p 5
• Her son Henry was Bishop of Lincoln at the time [of her death], and she was buried by the high altar in the cathedral. Her daughter Joan was also buried there and her tomb can be found if you are facing to the right of the altar. All the decoration and brasses of them have gone, so even her grave gives no idea of her importance to history.2859, p 2
• Katherine, who apparently had had plague, was sent to a convent at Sheppey to be raised and educated. At the age of 16, she went to court and married, seemingly against her will, Hugh Swynford, with whom she had two children.
After Hugh’s death, she became John’s mistress and as such was appointed guardian of his daughters. She travelled around John’s various castles but was mainly based at Kenilworth. She spent time at Bolingbrook and at the Savoy and was seemingly treated as John’s consort in preference to his wife Castanza.2859, p 5
• All her issue [by John, Duke of Lancaster] legitimated by charter of Richard II, 1397.2834,2883, p 12
• [excerpts John and Katherine between them started the Tudor and Yorkist Royal Houses directly and most of the European Royal Houses can trace their origins back to them through intermarriage. This was not bad for a Flemish Heralds daughter! They had fulfilled Merlin’s ancient prophecy “thou shalt get kings though there be none!”
She was John’s third wife and was Duchess of Lancaster for three years from January 1396 to February 1399 when John died at Leicester Castle. Following the death of Richard the II’s first wife, Anne of Bohemia, and until his marriage to Isabel of France, whe was the first lady of England and granted wardship of Isabel.2859, p 1
• Thus, the daughter of a Flemish Herald became the first lady of England, co-founder of most European Royal Houses and a powerful, if invisible, influence on history.2859, p 5
• Her son Henry was Bishop of Lincoln at the time [of her death], and she was buried by the high altar in the cathedral. Her daughter Joan was also buried there and her tomb can be found if you are facing to the right of the altar. All the decoration and brasses of them have gone, so even her grave gives no idea of her importance to history.2859, p 2
Marriage13 Jan 1396, Lincoln, Lincolnshire, England2828, p 32; date only,2857, date only,2859, p 5
Marr MemoLincoln Cathedral
Family Notes
• All children born to John of Gaunt and Katherine were born before their marriage (but were later legitimized).2853
Marriage Notes
• Bearing this in mind, it seems odd that, in the teeth of opposition, scandal and her non-royal status, he [John] should then eventually marry her, have their four children declared legitimised and elevate her to Queen of the realm in all but name. This was after about 10 years apart, with no contact during which time he had had quite a few lady friends, a wife and several more bastards.2859, p 2
• It is known that John and Katherine disappeared for several weeks prior to his second marriage [1370], and presumably this is when she became his mistress. She returned to England and was obviously pregnant because she gave birth to John, later John Beaufort. It was assumed that John was Hugh’s posthumous child, but when Henry was born to John and Katherine, they acknowledge John as theirs.2859, p 4
• It is known that John and Katherine disappeared for several weeks prior to his second marriage [1370], and presumably this is when she became his mistress. She returned to England and was obviously pregnant because she gave birth to John, later John Beaufort. It was assumed that John was Hugh’s posthumous child, but when Henry was born to John and Katherine, they acknowledge John as theirs.2859, p 4
ChildrenJohn (Illegitimate) (~1370-1409)
Joan (Illegitimate) (~1374-1440)
Henry (Illegitimate) (~1375-1447)
Thomas (Illegitimate) (~1376-1426)