John of Gaunt Biography

Birth of John of Gaunt, 3rd surviving son of King Edward III and younger brother of Edward, Prince of Wales (Edward, the Black Prince)

John of Gaunts illegitimate descendants, who ultimately became legitimate by his marriage to Katherine Swynford in 1396, the Beauforts, later married into the House of Tudor, which ascended to the throne in the person of Henry VII. Gaunt marries his cousin, Blanche of Lancaster, daughter of Henry of Grosmont

Marries Blanche, heiress to the Palatinate of Lancaster and also becomes the 14th Baron of Halton

Upon the death of his father-in-law, the 1st Duke of Lancaster, in 1361, John received half his lands, the title "Earl of Lancaster", and distinction as the greatest landowner in the north of England as heir of the Palatinate of Lancaster

Inherits the rest of the Lancaster property when Blanche's sister Maud, Countess of Leicester (married to William V, Count of Hainaut), died without issue

Gaunt receives the title "Duke of Lancaster" from Edward III. He now owns at least thirty castles and estates across England and France and maintained a household comparable in scale and organisation to that of a monarch

Fought between an Anglo-Gascon army and Franco-Castilian forces near Najera, in the province of La Rioja, Castile. The English were led by Edward, the Black Prince, and John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster, allied with Peter of Castile (sometimes called "Peter the Cruel") against his brother Henry of Trastámara (Spanish: Enrique II). Restores Peter the cruel to the throne of Castille

English dynastic and military interests remain tied to Castilian politics

Death of Blanche of Lancaster

John of Gaunt's position is strengthened by Blanche's inheritance

Blanche of Lancaster dies leaving John of Gaunt with Lancastrian inheritance interests

John is sent to Calais with the Earl of Hereford and a small English army and raids northern France

Assumes the crown of Leon & Castille by marriage with Constance of Castille

John decides to strike Harfleur, the base of the French fleet on the Seine. Further reinforced by German mercenaries, they marched on Harfleur, but were delayed by French guerilla operations while the town prepared for a siege. John invested the town for four days in October, but he was losing so many men to dysentery and bubonic plague that he decided to abandon the siege and return to Calais

This record states: By the middle of November, the survivors of the sickly army returned to Calais, where the Earl of Warwick died of plague.

This record states: During the retreat from Harfleur Johns army had to fight its way across the Somme at the ford of Blanchetaque against a French army led by Hugh de Chatillon, who was captured and sold to Edward III.

This record states: Though it seemed an inglorious conclusion to the campaign, John had forced the French king, Charles V, to abandon his plans to invade England that autumn.

This record states: By the middle of November, the survivors of the sickly army returned to Calais, where the Earl of Warwick died of plague.

This record states: During the retreat from Harfleur Johns army had to fight its way across the Somme at the ford of Blanchetaque against a French army led by Hugh de Chatillon, who was captured and sold to Edward III.

This record states: Though it seemed an inglorious conclusion to the campaign, John had forced the French king, Charles V, to abandon his plans to invade England that autumn.

After this event, the Black Prince surrendered his lordship of Aquitaine and sailed for England, leaving John in charge.

He took charge of the siege operations and at one point engaging in hand-to-hand fighting in the undermining tunnels.

In the summer of 1370, John was sent with a small army to Aquitaine to reinforce his ailing elder brother, the Black Prince, and his younger brother Edmund of Langley, Earl of Cambridge.

With them, he participated in the Siege of Limoges (September 1370).

On his marriage to Costanza of Castille Gaunt assumes the title of King of Castille and Leon, and insists that his fellow English nobles henceforth address him as "my lord of Spain". Marries Constanza of Castille, daughter of King Peter I of Castille

Marries Constance, daughter of Pedro the Cruel. Assumes the title King of Castille & Leon

Presides over the "good Parliament", the Treaty of Bruges is renewed for another year

After the death in 1376 of his older brother Edward of Woodstock (also known as the "Black Prince"), John of Gaunt contrived to protect the religious reformer John Wycliffe, possibly to counteract the growing secular power of the church

When King Edward III died Johns ten-year-old nephew succeeded to the throne as Richard II of England

When Edward III died in 1377 and John's ten-year-old nephew succeeded as Richard II of England, John's influence strengthened

When King Edward III died Johns ten-year-old nephew succeeded to the throne as Richard II of England

A 4d poll tax per head is raised

Attacks the privileges of the City of London

Londoners riot & attack John of Gaunts Palace of Savoy

Londoners riot & attack John of Gaunts Palace of Savoy

Appointed Commander of the Scottish border forces

Leads the failed siege of St Malo

Graded by rank from 4d to 10 marks

Set at 1 shilling per head, 3x the 1377 level, for the male population

As de facto ruler during Richard's minority, he made unwise decisions on taxation that led to the Peasants' Revolt in 1381, when the rebels destroyed his home in London, the Savoy Palace

Makes some unwise decisions on taxation that led to the Peasants Revolt in 1381, during which the rebels destroy his Savoy Palace in London

The revolt is precipitated by the poll tax raised for a war against France. The peasants demand an end to servitude & wish to be able to rent land. Richards council, led by his uncle John of Gaunt, provokes a rebellion. 100.000 from Kent & Essex march on London

His Palace is destroyed during while he is away negtiating with the Scots

Forbids unlicensed preaching. Allows the burning of heretics by the Statute de Heretico Comburendo

Captures Edinburgh

Leads a failed campaign in the Scottish Lothians

Appointed Ambassador of Spain

In an attempt to win his Spanish throne

John I of Portugal marries John of Gaunts daughter Philippa

John leaves England to seek the throne of Castile, claimed in Jure uxoris by right of his second wife, Constance of Castile, whom he had married in 1371

Appointed Lieutenant of Aquitaine

The invasion of Castille fails. Surrenders claim to his daughter Catherine on her marriage to the son of John I

Created Duke of England

Leads a deputation at Amiens to discuss a final peace settlement with Charles VI

Death of Constanza, John of Gaunts wife

Concludes a truce with France

Two years after the death of Constance of Castile, Katherine and John of Gaunt marry in Lincoln Cathedral. The children bore the surname "Beaufort" after a former French possession of the Duke. The Beaufort children, three sons and a daughter, were legitimised by royal and papal decrees after John and Katherine married

Wins legitimization of Catherine Swynfords sons by Richard II, helps Henry VII

Two years after the death of Constance of Castile, Katherine and John of Gaunt marry in Lincoln Cathedral. The children bore the surname "Beaufort" after a former French possession of the Duke. The Beaufort children, three sons and a daughter, were legitimised by royal and papal decrees after John and Katherine married

Maries Katherine and their children, the Beauforts, are legitimised but barred from inheriting the throne. From the eldest son, John, comes a granddaughter, Margaret Beaufort, whose son, later King Henry VII of England, would nevertheless claim the throne

John of Gaunt dies leaving his lands to the future Henry IV in exile

When John of Gaunt dies his estates are declared forfeit to the crown, as Richard II had exiled Johns less diplomatic heir, Henry Bolingbroke, in 1398. Gaunt died of natural causes at Leicester Castle, with his wife Katherine by his side. Death of John of Gaunt, leaves his lands to the future Henry IV in exile

When John of Gaunt dies his estates are declared forfeit to the crown, as Richard II had exiled Johns less diplomatic heir, Henry Bolingbroke, in 1398