John of Gaunt, 1st Duke of Lancaster facts for kids
Quick facts for kids John of Gaunt |
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| Duke of Lancaster; Duke of Aquitaine | |
| Successor | Henry Bolingbroke |
| Born | 6 March 1340 Ghent, Flanders (now in Belgium) |
| Died | 3 February 1399 (aged 58) Leicester Castle, Leicestershire |
| Burial | St Paul's Cathedral, City of London |
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| Father | Edward III, King of England |
| Mother | Philippa of Hainault |
John of Gaunt (born March 6, 1340 – died February 3, 1399) was an important English prince. He was a member of the House of Plantagenet, a royal family that ruled England for over 300 years. John was the third son of King Edward III and Philippa of Hainault. He was also the father of Henry IV, who later became King of England.
John of Gaunt was a younger brother of Edward, the Black Prince, a famous warrior. John had a lot of power and influence in England. He was especially important when his nephew, Richard II, was a young king. John helped guide the country during this time.
Family and Descendants
John of Gaunt had many children from his three marriages. His first wife was Blanche of Lancaster. They had several children, including Henry Bolingbroke, who would become king. They also had daughters like Philippa, who became Queen of Portugal, and Elizabeth.
After Blanche died, John married Constance of Castile. With her, he had a daughter named Catherine, who became Queen of Castile.
Later in his life, John married Katherine Swynford. They had four children together. These children were given the last name Beaufort. After John and Katherine married, their children were made legitimate by royal and church rules. However, their half-brother, Henry IV, later said they could not inherit the throne.
Many important people in history are descended from John of Gaunt. This includes future kings of England from the Lancaster, York, and Tudor families. Even the current royal family of the United Kingdom can trace their family line back to John of Gaunt.
Wealth and Influence
John of Gaunt was one of the richest men of his time. He received many large land grants from the King. Because of this, he was incredibly wealthy. If you compare his wealth to today's money, he would have been worth billions of dollars. This made him one of the wealthiest people ever to have lived.
Later Life and Legacy
John of Gaunt's eldest son, Henry Bolingbroke, was exiled by King Richard II in 1398. This happened because of a disagreement between Henry and another duke.
When John of Gaunt died in 1399, King Richard II took all of John's lands and titles. He said Henry Bolingbroke was a traitor and made his exile permanent. However, Henry Bolingbroke returned to England to reclaim what he believed was his. He removed King Richard II from the throne. Henry then became King Henry IV of England (1399–1413). He was the first of John of Gaunt's descendants to become King of England.
Images for kids
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Marriage of John of Gaunt to Blanche of Lancaster at Reading Abbey in 1359: a painting by Horace Wright (1914)
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John of Gaunt dines with John I of Portugal, discussing a joint invasion of Castile.
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1640 drawing of tombs of Katherine Swynford and daughter Joan Beaufort, Countess of Westmorland, in Lincoln Cathedral
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Queen Mary I of England and her husband, Philip II of Spain: both were descended from John of Gaunt
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The tomb of Gaunt and Blanche of Lancaster in St. Paul's Cathedral, as shown in an etching from 1658.
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See also
In Spanish: Juan de Gante para niños
