Biography
Biography
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Blanche (of Lancaster)

 Borncirca 1342   Born At
 DiedSeptember 1369  Buried At
 Borncirca 1342 / 
 DiedSeptember 1369 / 

On May 19, 1359 Blanche of Lancaster married John of Gaunt, her third cousin at Reading Abbey. Blanche was the second daughter of Henry of Grosmont, Earl of Lancaster and joint heiress to her father's estates along with her elder sister, Maud. The death of Henry occurred in 1361 followed shortly by the death of Maud in 1362. The result of which was that Blanche and John inherited a large number of estates and titles including that of the Duchy of Lancaster. Together they had several children half of which died in infancy. In 1367 Blanche gave birth to a boy Henry who was to become king of England as Henry IV. In 1369 John of Gaunt went to France to fight for Edward III, but on his return in November he found that Blanche had died in the September. Although John of Gaunt married twice more, he chose to be buried in St. Paul's Cathedral alongside Blanche. The tomb showing the couple holding hands.

 

Family Tree Details

 Blanche (of Lancaster) (b.1342? - d.1369)
    +John (of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster) (b.1340 - d.1399)
        = Henry (IV, King of England 1399-1413) (b.1367 - d.1413)
        |   +Bohun, Mary (b.1368? - d.1394)
        |   |   = Henry (V, King of England 1413-1422) (b.1387 - d.1422)
        |   |   |   +Catherine (of Valois) (b.1401 - d.1437)
        |   |   |       = Henry (VI, King of England 1422-1461, 1470-1471) (b.1421 - d.1471)
        |   |   = Thomas (Duke of Clarence) (b.1389 - d.1421)
        |   |   |   +Holland, Margaret (b.1385 - d.1439)
        |   |   = John (of Lancaster, Duke of Bedford) (b.1389 - d.1435)
        |   |   |   +Jacquetta (of Luxembourg) (b.1415? - d.1472)
        |   |   = Humphrey (Duke of Gloucester) (b.1390 - d.1447)
        |   +Joanna (of Navarre) ( - d.1437)
        = Philippa, (daughter of John of Gaunt)
        |   +John (I, of Portugal)
        = Elizabeth (daughter of John of Gaunt)
            +John (Earl of Pembroke - 1389)
 Blanche (of Lancaster) (b.1342? - d.1369)
    +John (of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster) (b.1340 - d.1399)
        = Henry (IV, King of England 1399-1413) (b.1367 - d.1413)
        |   +Bohun, Mary (b.1368? - d.1394)
        |   |   = Henry (V, King of England 1413-1422) (b.1387 - d.1422)
        |   |   |   +Catherine (of Valois) (b.1401 - d.1437)
        |   |   |       = Henry (VI, King of England 1422-1461, 1470-1471) (b.1421 - d.1471)
        |   |   = Thomas (Duke of Clarence) (b.1389 - d.1421)
        |   |   |   +Holland, Margaret (b.1385 - d.1439)
        |   |   = John (of Lancaster, Duke of Bedford) (b.1389 - d.1435)
        |   |   |   +Jacquetta (of Luxembourg) (b.1415? - d.1472)
        |   |   = Humphrey (Duke of Gloucester) (b.1390 - d.1447)
        |   +Joanna (of Navarre) ( - d.1437)
        = Philippa, (daughter of John of Gaunt)
        |   +John (I, of Portugal)
        = Elizabeth (daughter of John of Gaunt)
            +John (Earl of Pembroke - 1389)

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Timeline

1347(Age: 5yrs)

Kipchak Mongols besieging a Genoese trading centre on the Crimean coast catapulted their own dead into the city. The cause of death was a mysterious disease. The Genoese escaped by sea taking the 'Black Death' with them. They landed at Messina in Sicily. Black Death or Bubonic plague was spread by the rat flea. The name Black Death came from the colour of the swelling in the groin, armpit or neck. The person suffering went into a coma and dies soon after. In Europe an estimated 25 million people died. The plague reached Britain in 1348 and again in 1360 and the population may have been reduced by a half. [1]

1361(Age: 19yrs)

John of Gaunt married Blanche, the daughter of Henry, Duke of Lancaster. Henry owned Kenilworth Castle and when he died (?) John became Duke of Lancaster and took ownership of the castle. Gaunt rebuilt the hall and constructed new grand apartments. [2]

1367(Age: 25yrs)

Henry was born at Bolingbroke Castle in Lincolnshire. He would become King Henry IV of England.

On this day in history:

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Selection of references used:

  • 1: John J. Robinson, Born in Blood, ISBN:0-87131-602-1, M. Evans & Company / New York, Geoff Bath
  • 2: Mike Salter, Castles and Moated Castles of Warwickshire

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