Joan Beaufort, Countess of Westmorland facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Joan Beaufort
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| Countess of Westmorland | |
Image of Joan Beaufort in the Neville Book of Hours
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| Born | c. 1377 |
| Died | 13 November 1440 (aged 62–63) Howden, Yorkshire, Kingdom of England |
| Buried | Lincoln Cathedral, Lincolnshire |
| Family | Beaufort |
| Spouse(s) |
Robert Ferrers, 5th Baron Boteler of Wem
(m. 1391; died 1396) |
| Issue more... |
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| Father | John of Gaunt |
| Mother | Katherine Swynford |
Joan Beaufort (born around 1377 – died 13 November 1440) was a very important woman in English history. She was the only daughter of John of Gaunt, 1st Duke of Lancaster, who was a son of King Edward III. Her mother was Katherine Swynford. Joan later married Ralph de Neville, 1st Earl of Westmorland. After her husband passed away, she became a powerful landowner in the north of England.
Contents
Early Life of Joan Beaufort
We don't know the exact year or place Joan was born. She might have been born in Kettlethorpe, Lincolnshire, or Pleshey in Essex. Some historians think she was born in 1379, but others believe 1377 is more likely. Her father, John of Gaunt, was likely present around her birth. Joan may have been named after Joan of Kent, who was a princess at that time. In 1396, Joan and her brothers were officially made legitimate by the Pope. This meant they were recognized as legal children of John of Gaunt.
Marriages and Family Life
Joan Beaufort had two marriages and a large family.
First Marriage
In 1386, Joan's father arranged for her to marry Robert Ferrers, 5th Baron Boteler of Wem. They married in 1391 or 1392. Robert passed away just three years later. Joan had two daughters with him:
- Elizabeth Ferrers (1393–1474). She married John de Greystoke, 4th Baron Greystoke in 1407. They had children together.
- Mary or Margery Ferrers (1394 – 1457/1458). She married her stepbrother, Sir Ralph Neville.
Second Marriage
In November 1396, Joan married Ralph Neville, 1st Earl of Westmorland. Ralph had already had twelve children from his first marriage. Together, Joan and Ralph had fourteen more children. Joan's father gave them a yearly payment of £206. Their main home was Raby Castle in Durham.
Here are some of their children:
- Lady Katherine Neville (born around 1397). She married four times.
- Lady Eleanor Neville (born around 1398). She married twice.
- Richard Neville, 5th Earl of Salisbury (1400–1460). He became a powerful earl.
- Robert Neville (1404–1457). He became a bishop.
- William Neville, 1st Earl of Kent (born around 1405). He became an earl.
- George Neville, 1st Baron Latimer (born around 1407).
- Lady Anne Neville (born around 1408). She married Humphrey Stafford, 1st Duke of Buckingham.
- Edward Neville, 3rd Baron Bergavenny (born around 1414).
- Lady Cecily Neville (1415–1495). She was a very important daughter.
Joan's Life and Influence
In 1399, King Richard II made Joan a Lady of the Order of the Garter. This was a special honor. Even though King Richard had made Ralph an Earl, Ralph supported Joan's half-brother, Henry Bolingbroke. Henry removed Richard from the throne and became King Henry IV.
Under King Henry IV, Joan and Ralph received many important jobs, lands, and money. Joan was even called "the King's sister" in official documents.
Arranging Marriages
Ralph and Joan used their connection to King Henry IV to find the best marriages for their children. They often helped arrange marriages for children who had lost their parents. For example, in 1423, Ralph helped arrange the marriage of Richard of York, 3rd Duke of York. Richard lived with the family at Raby Castle. He later married Cecily Neville, one of Joan's daughters. By the time Joan passed away, she was the mother of an earl, three barons, a countess, three duchesses, and a bishop.
Supporting Others
Around 1413, Joan invited a mystic named Margery Kempe to her home. It is thought that Joan helped Margery pay for her religious trip to Jerusalem. In 1422, Joan received permission to stay with any group of nuns.
Later Life and Passing
After Ralph's death in 1425, the title of Earl of Westmorland went to Ralph's oldest grandson from his first marriage. However, many of the Neville family lands were given to Joan's oldest son, Richard Neville, 5th Earl of Salisbury. This caused a disagreement between the two branches of the family. This disagreement later played a part in the Wars of the Roses.
During her later years, Joan supported writers and artists. Around 1430, Joan and her family were shown in a special book called the Neville Book of Hours. In 1428, Joan went on a religious journey. She also promised to live a life of purity.
Death and Burial
Joan Beaufort passed away on 13 November 1440. She died in Howden, Yorkshire. She was buried next to her mother in Lincoln Cathedral.
Famous Descendants
Joan Beaufort was the mother of Cecily, Duchess of York. This means Joan was the grandmother of two English kings: Edward IV and Richard III. King Richard III was defeated in 1485 by Henry VII. Henry VII then married Elizabeth of York, who was Edward IV's daughter. Their second son later became King Henry VIII.
King Henry VIII's sixth wife, Catherine Parr, was also a descendant of Joan. This means Catherine Parr was Henry VIII's third cousin. Joan's son, Richard Neville, 5th Earl of Salisbury, was the father of Richard Neville, 16th Earl of Warwick, who was known as "the Kingmaker."
