John of Gaunt Biography and Timeline

Birth of John of Gaunt

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

Marriage

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

Peerage

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

Peerage

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

Peerage

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

Peerage

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

Battle of Najera

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

Role range: 1337-1453

Blanche Dies

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

Role range: 1362-1399

Lancastrian Estates Secured

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

Role range: 1362-1399

Death of John of Gaunt

Death of Blanche of Lancaster

Castilian Interest

English dynastic and military interests remain tied to Castilian politics

Role range: 1351-1369 – 1362-1399

Siege of Harfleur

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

Role range: 1337-1453

Invasion of England

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

Role range: 1337-1453

Invasion of England

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.

Role range: 1337-1453

Invasion of England

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.

Role range: 1337-1453

Siege of Harfleur

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

Role range: 1337-1453

Siege of Harfleur

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.

Role range: 1337-1453

Siege of Harfleur

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.

Role range: 1337-1453

Succession

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

Siege of Calais

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

Role range: 1337-1453

Siege of Limoges

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

Role range: 1337-1453

Siege of Limoges

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

Role range: 1337-1453

Siege of Limoges

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.

Role range: 1337-1453

Siege of Limoges

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

Role range: 1337-1453

Marriage

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

Marriage

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

Role range: 1337-1453

Parliament

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

Death of John of Gaunt

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

Reform of Taxation

A 4d poll tax per head is raised

Reform of City Privileges

Attacks the privileges of the City of London

Rebellion of Rebels in London

Londoners riot & attack John of Gaunts Palace of Savoy

Rebellion of Rebels in London

Londoners riot & attack John of Gaunts Palace of Savoy

Death of John of Gaunt

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

Succession

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

Succession

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

Commander of Scottish Border Forces

Appointed Commander of the Scottish border forces

Siege of St Malo

Leads the failed siege of St Malo

Role range: 1337-1453

Reform of Government

Graded by rank from 4d to 10 marks

Reform of Government

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

Siege of London

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