John of Gaunt

Also known as: Iohn Duke of Lancaster / Iohn duke of Lancaster / Iohn of Gant / Iohn of Gant duke of Lancaster / Iohn of Gaunt / Iohn the duke of Lancaster / Iohn the good duke of Lancaster / John duke of Lancaster / fourth duke of Lancaster · Family: England · Role: duke · First appears: Richard II 3

In c. 1377, because Richard II was too young to govern, John of Gaunt was appointed with Edmund Langley, Duke of York and other peers to administer the realm: “by reason of his yoong yeares, as yet he was not able to gouerne himselfe”. In c. 1381, the Kentish commons swore loyalty to Richard II and rejected John as a possible king. In c. 1383, Richard II sent him with forces against the French king, though he delayed relief until the bishop’s permitted response period had expired; on his return, he retained and honoured Hugh Calverley for his proven valour. In 1384, he came back from France with a truce, and in 1385 an agreement between him and Richard II helped avert threatened civil war.

John’s claim through his wife Constance of Castile brought him into rivalry with John I of Castile and Henry II of Castile, while John I of Portugal was a friend and ally against Castile. Around 1386, he campaigned at Compostella: Maletret offered to surrender a fort under conditions, John Holland, Duke of Exeter captured towns and fortresses for him, and Henry III of Castile made peace with him, agreeing to annual payments and a substantial sum in hand. The settlement was intended to secure quiet with John, “whose puissance he doubted, and whose wisdome he perfectlie vnderstood.” John’s household and family included his daughters Philippa of Lancaster and Katherine of Lancaster, his son Henry IV, and his children by Katherine Swynford, including Thomas Beaufort, Duke of Exeter and Henry Beaufort, Bishop of Winchester.

In c. 1395, Richard II created John Duke of Aquitaine. In 1396, John married Katherine Swynford, who had been brought up in his household and attended his first wife Blanche of Lancaster. In c. 1397, John and Edmund Langley, Duke of York withdrew from court, while the lords at Arundel planned to imprison John, Richard II, and Edmund Langley, Duke of York; an accord later required Richard II to act with the dukes’ assent. John then pronounced judgment against Richard FitzAlan, Earl of Arundel for treason. In 1398, he was among those granted broad authority over Parliament, and in c. 1404 he joined Alice Perrers in procuring Edward III to banish William of Wykeham.