1968300. John "of Gaunt" , Duke of Lancaster PLANTAGENET
REFN: 10192
John, the third surviving son of Edward III and Queen Philippa,wasborn in Ghent, hence his nickname. His father provided forhim financially by marrying him to Blanche, daughter andheiress of Henry, duke of Lancaster, and on hisfather-in-law's death in 1362 John was granted the title. Thisvast inheritance meant his possessions and household were secondonly to the king's: he held more than 30 castles and his Londonhome, the Savoy, rivaled Westminster Palace.From the mid-1370's, as Edward III declined into senility andthe BlackPrince's long illness ended in his death in 1376,Gaunt became the effective head of government in England. Hisrule was deeply unpopular. Financial difficulties caused by warled to new and burdensome taxes, and some of his strongestsupp.orters were accused of embezzlement.
Despite the powers he exercised in 1376-7, John of Gaunt neversought the English throne and he served his young nephew,Richard II, as loyally as he had served his father. The thronehe desiredwas that of Castile. Blanche of Lancaster had diedof the plague in 1368, leaving a son, Henry of Bolingbroke, andtwo daughters and Gaunt had married as hissecond wife,Constance, daughter of the exiled Peter I the Cruel, of Castile.For many years Gaunt's ambitions centered on regaining thethrone in his wife's right. He never succeeded but theirdaughter, Catherine, married Henry III of Castile, uniting thetwo claims.
Throughout his marriage to Constance, Gaunt maintained a lovingliaison with Katherine Swynford, governess to the daughters ofhis first marriage. The four children she had by him were giventhe surname Beaufort, after one of their father's Frenchestates. Gaunt made Katherine his third wife after DuchessConstance's death, and the children were legitimized, though onthe condition that they were to have no rights to the throne.
Chronicles of the Age of Chivalry, Edited by Elizabeth Hallam,CLB/Quadrillion Publishing Ltd., Surrey, England, 1998
1968301. Catherine Swynford , ROËT
REFN: 10193
Governess to the Dukes daughter by his first wife, became John'smistress in 1388. All their children were before they weremarried. They were ligitimated later by the Pope.
1968302. Thomas 2nd Earl of Kent DE HOLLAND
Name Prefix:
Sir (K.G.)
REFN: 10030
Baron Woodstock, Baron Wake, and Baron Holland. Engaged in theservice of his step-father, Edward, the Black Prince. Marshallof England and later app.ointed Governor of Carisbroke Castle(for life), most probably by his half-brother, King Richard II.
1968303. Alice , of Arundel FITZALAN
Name Prefix:
Lady
REFN: 10031
1968304. Robert , of Innermeath STEWART
Name Prefix:
Sir
Sat in Parliament as a feudal Baron, where he was one of themagnates who took the oath to observe the succession to theCrown, 1373; was granted the lands of Durisdeer, 1374
1968312. Archibald "the Grim" 3rd Earl of Douglas DOUGLAS
He was an illigitimate son of Sir James "the Good" Douglas. Hewas a very capable statesman and in many ways, more powerfulthan the King. Under he gained the Lordship of Galloway familyholdings of the Murrays of Bothwell though his marriage intothat family.
At the death of James Douglas, Earl of Douglas and Mar, his onlysister Isabel succeeded him as Countess of Mar while the Earldompassed to the illigitimate son of Sir James "the Good" Douglasby the Douglas entail of1332, which established theilligitimacy of Archibald "the Grim" Douglas beyondallcontroversy.
1968316. Patrick of Kincardine GRAHAM
Name Prefix:
Sir
Lord of Dundaff and Knight-Banneret, became one of the hostagesby which the release of the King, David II, was accomplished
Greening Peerage says her name was Euphemia
1968318. David Earl Pal. of Strathearn STEWART
Earl of Caithness
1 NAME Alice /de Coggeshall/
1 BIRT
2 PLAC Sir
1 BIRT
2 DATE ABT 1388
2084868. Edward III King Of ENGLAND
1 _UID E7FA4123B8B5A04693A92C071AA7C927B800
2084869. Philippa Queen Of ENGLAND
1 _UID 1113F87AF7012F4EA5F7E3CA89F9E1C67DE6