In late April 1388, John of Gaunt‘s son-in-law Sir John Holand returned to England from the Spanish peninsula, where he had been constable of Gaunt’s army. Gaunt had invaded the peninsula in pursuit of the Crown of Castile, to which he had a claim through his marriage to the Infanta Constanza. I am now going… Continue reading “Time-honour’d Lancaster” was given to pressing on at the expense of his men….
Tag: Constanza of Castile
Why did Edward IV think he was (rightful) King of Castile?
There’s no doubt he did. Just see this link. The Edward IV Roll shows Edward mounted on a horse which is barded with a heraldic display. As you will see, Edward gives just as much prominence to the arms of Castile and Leon as he does to those of England and France. This is, very… Continue reading Why did Edward IV think he was (rightful) King of Castile?
Here is Richard Maudelyn, um, Richard of Conisbrough, um….or someone….
Well, if ever a computer compiled a dog’s breakfast of information, it’s this one. Or, of course, I shouldn’t blame a computer because the culprit was some dumbcluck human. Or maybe it was the cat, which strolled to and fro over the keyboard. Whatever, here goes: “….Richard MAUDELYN, 1385 – 1415Richard MAUDELYN was born on… Continue reading Here is Richard Maudelyn, um, Richard of Conisbrough, um….or someone….
John of Gaunt by Kathryn Warner
This is a very valuable new biography of John of Gaunt. As usual with this author, the incredibly complex network of family relationships is successfully navigated. There is a fair amount of ‘correction of the record’. For example, Duchess Blanche did not die of plague in 1369, but of unknown causes in 1368. Duchess Constanza… Continue reading John of Gaunt by Kathryn Warner
SECRET STAIRS OF TUTBURY
Recently it was reported that a secret staircase some 600 years old was unearthed at Tutbury Castle in Staffordshire. Immediately the reporter leapt on the idea that ‘Maybe Henry VIII walked down these stairs?!’ as if that ultimately was the most exciting thing about the new discovery. (Why, why, why, are there so many newspapers… Continue reading SECRET STAIRS OF TUTBURY
Richard’s first resting place – recreated
Five years ago, we wrote about the lost Newarke Church in the Hospital of the Annunciation, where Richard lay for two days between his death and burial in the Greyfriars. As we said, the site is now occupied by the Hawthorn Building of de Montfort University, although these two original arches have been integrated. Here… Continue reading Richard’s first resting place – recreated
Maria de Padilla
I am surprised to find the internet has several images of Maria de Padilla. Her daughters married John of Gaunt and Edmund of Langley and she was the grandmother of Catherine of Lancaster, aka Catalina, Queen of Castile, Edward, Duke of York, Constance of York and Richard of Conisbrough. (Richard of Conisbrough is known thus to… Continue reading Maria de Padilla
7 things to know about the struggle between York and Lancaster….
This link provides some interesting reading about the origins of the Wars of the Roses, as most people describe the civil wars between the Houses of York and Lancaster. A lot of the points are from very early on in the proceedings, which makes them all the more interesting to me.
Henry VII’s iffy Beaufort claim….
There is always a howl of outrage if fingers are pointed at Katherine de Roet/Swynford and John of Gaunt, and the legitimacy of their Beaufort children is called into question. The matter is guaranteed to end up with someone’s digit jabbing toward Richard III. Why? Because in his proclamation against Henry Tudor, Richard derided the… Continue reading Henry VII’s iffy Beaufort claim….
The truth about the Beauforts and the throne of England. . . .
John of Gaunt, third son of Edward III, was the Duke of Lancaster, and his illegitimate children, the Beauforts, were barred from the throne by his legitimate, firstborn son, Henry IV. Clearly the latter wasn’t having any baseborn relative wearing the crown. Nevertheless, we eventually ended up with a Beaufort king, who claimed to… Continue reading The truth about the Beauforts and the throne of England. . . .
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