John Plantagenet of Gaunt was the 1st Duke of Lancaster and the third surviving son of Edward III and Philippa of Hainault. He was named after his birthplace Ghent a place in modern Belgium, which was then known as Gaunt in English.
John was the younger brother of the legendary Black Prince or Edward, the Prince of Wales and campaigned with him in the Hundred Years’ War as an ally to Pedro the Cruel in Castile. He also ruled the English throne during the minority of his nephew the young Prince Richard II.
Early Life of John of Gaunt Plantagenet
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John was born on 6 March 1340 as the fourth but third surviving son of King Edward III. There were rumors surrounding his birth which claimed that he was the illegitimate son of a Ghent butcher as King Edward was not present during the time of his birth.
In 1350, John was only ten when he accompanied his older brother Edward, the Prince of Wales at the battleship of Winchelsea. During that time Henry of Grosmont, Duke of Lancaster saved John’s life from possible danger.
Marriages and Children
Tall and well-built, John had a colorful life. He was married twice and had children even outside his marriages.
John had an illegitimate daughter named Blanche from his mistress Marie de St. Hilaire of Hainaut. Blanche was his first-born child.
John’s first marriage was arranged by his father Edward III of England to Blanche of Lancaster, daughter of Henry of Grosmont, Duke of Lancaster. Blanche was John’s third cousin and great-grandchild of King Henry III. The marriage took place on 19 May 1359 at Reading Abbey, Berkshire. The marriage was a happy one and together they had seven children.
John’s marriage to Blanche was a lucrative one and after the death of Henry Grosmont, John inherited the title of the Earl of Lancaster, the 14th Baron of Halton and the 11th Lord of Bowland and also proclaimed half of his lands.
John also inherited the estates of Blanche’s sister Maud, Countess of Leicester after her death on 10 April 1362.
The same year on 13 November 1362, John was made the Duke of Lancaster by his father.
On 21 September 1371, John married for the second time to Constanza of Castille, daughter of Pedro of Castille. The marriage took place at Roquefort, in Guienne. They had two children, a daughter named Catherine and a son named John who died in early childhood.
After the death of King Pedro, Constanza became the eldest daughter and the rightful heir of Castille. However, the Spanish law states that the husband of a female heir would be the rightful king. So, John set out for Castille to claim his throne but was unsuccessful in his attempt.
However, Catherine, daughter of Castille who was married to the future King Henry III, son of Henry I of Castille succeeded the throne. Constanza later denounced all her rights to the throne.
During his marriage to Constanza, John also had an illegitimate relationship with Katherine Swynford, who was the daughter of Sir Paine Roet and the widow of Hugh Swynford. Together they had 4 children.
After the death of Constanza of Lancaster, Katherine joined the family of John and acted as a governess to his daughters Philippa and Elizabeth.
John married Katherine in 1396 and legitimized all his children in Church and gave them the surname of Beaufort.
Peasants’ Revolt, 1381
The Black Death had hit England and about 30% of the population was dead. There was a shortage of manpower and the peasants demanded higher wages taking advantage of the situation.
However, to take control over things, the government passed the Statute of Labourers Act in 1351 which forced peasants to work on the same wages.
After the death of Edward III, Richard II who was just ten succeeded the throne. John of Gaunt ruled England during Richard’s minority.
In 1380, Gaunt and his royal council introduced the “Poll Tax” which demanded that every person above 15 years of age has to pay a shilling as tax.
Situations were grave and the peasants revolted in 1381. John was away from London possibly to avoid the aftermath of the revolt. Much of the blame came to John who was the advisor of the young Prince Richard II. His Palace at Savoy was destroyed and vandalized.
What did John of Gaunt die for?
On 3rd February 1399, John of Gaunt died at the age of 58 at Leicester Castle due to natural causes. Gaunt was buried beside his first wife Blanche of Lancaster at St Paul’s Cathedral, England.
