Katherine Swynford

Catherine Swynford (also Katheryne or Kathrine, born de Rouet ) (* 1350 in Mony, County of Hainaut, Flanders, † May 10 1403 in Lincoln) was the mistress and later wife of John of Gaunt, the fourth son of Edward III. of England and first Duke of Lancaster. They reasoned with him the house Beaufort.

Life

Catherine Swynford was the daughter of a knight in the retinue of Queen Philippa. Her father Payne Rouet went to his mother's death with her and her sister Philippa Roet to England.

She was married to Hugh Swynford, the Lord of Kettle Thorpe. They had four children:

• Blanche Swynford (* 1367 )
• Thomas Swynford (1368-1432)
• Margaret Swynford (c. 1369 )
• Dorothy Swynford

After the wedding, she followed her sister Philippa, who at the court of Philippa of Hainault, wife of King Edward III. Maid of honor was. Her sister was married to the poet Geoffrey Chaucer. Catherine Swynford was since 1365 at the latest a maid of honor of Blanche of Lancaster, wife of John of Gaunt. Later she became the governess of the two daughters Elizabeth and Philippa, the sisters of the later King Henry IV of England.

After the death of his wife and Catherine Swynfords husband, who fell in a battle near Bordeaux, John of Gaunt made ​​her his mistress. But through political expediency, he soon married Constance of Castile. Catherine Swynford remained his mistress and gave birth to four children, all of whom he recognized as the its:

• John Beaufort, 1st Earl of Somerset ( 1373-1410 ) ∞ Margaret Holland ( 1385-1429 )
• Henry Beaufort, (1375-1447), Cardinal
• Thomas Beaufort, 1st Duke of Exeter ( 1377-1426 ) ∞ Margaret Neville
• Joan Beaufort, Countess of Westmorland (1379-1440), married ( 1) Robert Ferres, Baron Ferres of Wemme († 1396 ); ( 2) Ralph Neville, Earl of Westmorland ( 1364-1425 )

1387 Catherine Swynford was awarded the Order of the Garter.

After Constance of Castile died in 1394 John and Catherine were married in 1396, with the consent of the Pope. The previously illegitimate children were explained by John of Gaunt's nephew, King Richard II legitimized. Officially excluded from the succession, the descendants succeeded later, english and also to ascend the throne of Scotland. The house dates back to Tudor John Beaufort's granddaughter Margaret Beaufort ( 1443-1509 ).

John of Gaunt died on February 3, 1399 in Leicester Castle, lived after his death, Catherine Swynford withdrawn in their house at Potter Gate, Lincoln. She died there in 1403 and was buried in Lincoln Cathedral.

• Mistress
• Governess
• Lady of the Order of the Garter
• Born in the 14th century
• Died in 1403
• Woman