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Biography of Blanche Plantagenet Duchess Lancaster 1345-1368
Paternal Family Tree: Anjou aka Plantagenet
Maternal Family Tree: Maud Saye 1155-1222
1361 Death of Henry of Grosmont
1361 Marriage of Edward "The Black Prince" and Joan "The Fair Maid of Kent"
1362 Edward III Creates two sons as Dukes
Around 1328 [her father] Henry of Grosmont 1st Duke Lancaster (age 18) and [her mother] Isabel Beaumont Duchess Lancaster (age 8) were married. She the daughter of [her grandfather] Henry Beaumont Earl Buchan (age 49) and [her grandmother] Alice Comyn Baroness Beaumont. He the son of [her grandfather] Henry Plantagenet 3rd Earl of Leicester 3rd Earl Lancaster (age 47) and [her grandmother] Maud Chaworth. They were fourth cousins. He a great grandson of King Henry III of England. She a great x 4 granddaughter of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England.
In 1337 [her father] Henry of Grosmont 1st Duke Lancaster (age 27) was created 1st Earl Lincoln. [her mother] Isabel Beaumont Duchess Lancaster (age 17) by marriage Countess Lincoln.
On 17 Mar 1337 [her future brother-in-law] Edward "Black Prince" (age 6) was created 1st Duke of Cornwall.
In 1342 [her future husband] John of Gaunt 1st Duke Lancaster (age 1) was created 1st Earl Richmond. It isn't clear whether his older brothers [her future brother-in-law] Edward "Black Prince" (age 11) and [her future brother-in-law] Lionel of Antwerp 1st Duke of Clarence (age 3) had been created Earls before this time.
On 12 May 1343 [her future brother-in-law] Edward "Black Prince" (age 12) was created Prince of Wales.
On 25 Mar 1345 Blanche Plantagenet Duchess Lancaster was born to Henry of Grosmont 1st Duke Lancaster (age 35) and Isabel Beaumont Duchess Lancaster (age 25) at Bolingbroke Castle, Lincolnshire [Map]. She a great x 2 granddaughter of King Henry III of England.
On 22 Sep 1345 [her grandfather] Henry Plantagenet 3rd Earl of Leicester 3rd Earl Lancaster (age 64) died at Leicester Castle [Map]. His son [her father] Henry of Grosmont 1st Duke Lancaster (age 35) succeeded 4th Earl of Leicester, 4th Earl Lancaster.
In 1349 [her father] Henry of Grosmont 1st Duke Lancaster (age 39) was created 1st Earl Derby. [her mother] Isabel Beaumont Duchess Lancaster (age 29) by marriage Countess Derby.
In 1351 [her father] Henry of Grosmont 1st Duke Lancaster (age 41) was created 1st Duke Lancaster by [her future father-in-law] King Edward III of England (age 38). [her mother] Isabel Beaumont Duchess Lancaster (age 31) by marriage Duchess Lancaster.
In 1352 [her future brother-in-law] Lionel of Antwerp 1st Duke of Clarence (age 13) and Elizabeth Burgh Duchess of Clarence (age 19) were married. He by marriage Earl of Ulster. She was the sole heir of her father and brought the de Burgh inheritance of the lands of Ulster to the marriage. As a consequence of their earlier betrothal he had been called Earl Ulster since 1347. She the daughter of William Donn Burgh 3rd Earl of Ulster and [her aunt] Maud Plantagenet Countess Ulster (age 42). He the son of [her future father-in-law] King Edward III of England (age 39) and [her future mother-in-law] Philippa of Hainault Queen Consort England (age 37). They were half second cousin once removed. She a great x 2 granddaughter of King Henry III of England.
On 19 May 1359 , or thereabouts, a double-royal wedding celebration took place at Reading Abbey, Berkshire [Map] whereby two children of King Edward III of England (age 46) were married:
John of Gaunt 1st Duke Lancaster (age 19) and Blanche Plantagenet Duchess Lancaster (age 14) were married. She by marriage Countess Richmond. She the daughter of Henry of Grosmont 1st Duke Lancaster (age 49) and Isabel Beaumont Duchess Lancaster (age 39). He the son of King Edward III of England (age 46) and Philippa of Hainault Queen Consort England (age 44). They were half second cousin once removed. She a great x 2 granddaughter of King Henry III of England.
John Hastings 2nd Earl Pembroke (age 11) and Margaret Plantagenet Countess of Pembroke (age 12) were married. At the time John Hastings 2nd Earl Pembroke (age 11) was a ward of King Edward III of England (age 46) who would enjoy the benefit of the substantial revenue of the Earldom of Pembroke until John came of age nine years later in 1368. She died two or so years later probably of plague. She the daughter of King Edward III of England (age 46) and Philippa of Hainault Queen Consort England (age 44). He the son of Laurence Hastings 1st Earl Pembroke and Agnes Mortimer Countess of Pembroke (age 42). They were half fourth cousins. He a great x 5 grandson of King John "Lackland" of England.
On 31 Mar 1360 [her daughter] Philippa of Lancaster Queen Consort Portugal was born to [her husband] John of Gaunt 1st Duke Lancaster (age 20) and Blanche Plantagenet Duchess Lancaster (age 15) at Leicester Castle [Map]. She a granddaughter of King Edward III of England.
In 1361 [her mother] Isabel Beaumont Duchess Lancaster (age 41) died.
On 23 Mar 1361 [her father] Henry of Grosmont 1st Duke Lancaster (age 51) died at Leicester Castle [Map]. He was buried at Church of the Annunciation of our Lady of the Newark [Map].
Duke Lancaster, Earl Lincoln extinct.
Blanche Plantagenet Duchess Lancaster (age 15) succeeded 5th Countess Lancaster and 2nd Countess Derby. [her husband] John of Gaunt 1st Duke Lancaster (age 21) by marriage Earl Lancaster, Earl Derby.
[her sister] Maud Plantagenet Duchess Lower Bavaria (age 21) succeeded 5th Countess of Leicester.
On 10 Oct 1361 [her brother-in-law] Edward "Black Prince" (age 31) and Joan "Fair Maid of Kent" Princess Wales (age 33) were married at Windsor Castle [Map]. She by marriage Princess of Wales. His first wife, her second (or third depending on how you count them) husband. She had four children already. They had known each other since childhood. Thirty-one and thirty-three respectively. A curious choice for the heir to the throne; foreign princesses were usual. They were married nearly fifteen years and had two children. She the daughter of Edmund of Woodstock 1st Earl Kent and Margaret Wake Countess Kent. He the son of [her father-in-law] King Edward III of England (age 48) and [her mother-in-law] Philippa of Hainault Queen Consort England (age 47). They were half first cousin once removed. She a granddaughter of King Edward I of England.
In 1362 [her son] John Lancaster was born to [her husband] John of Gaunt 1st Duke Lancaster (age 21) and Blanche Plantagenet Duchess Lancaster (age 16). He a grandson of King Edward III of England.
In 1362 [her brother-in-law] Edmund of Langley 1st Duke of York (age 20) was created 1st Earl Cambridge.
On 10 Apr 1362 [her sister] Maud Plantagenet Duchess Lower Bavaria (age 23) died. Her sister Blanche Plantagenet Duchess Lancaster (age 17) succeeded 6th Countess of Leicester. [her husband] John of Gaunt 1st Duke Lancaster (age 22) by marriage Earl of Leicester adding a fourth Earldom to the ones he already held: Earl Richmond, Earl Lancaster and Earl Derby.
On 13 Nov 1362, his fiftieth birthday, [her father-in-law] King Edward III of England (age 50) created two sons as Dukes ...
[her brother-in-law] Lionel of Antwerp 1st Duke of Clarence (age 23) was created 1st Duke Clarence. Elizabeth Burgh Duchess of Clarence (age 30) by marriage Duchess Clarence.
[her husband] John of Gaunt 1st Duke Lancaster (age 22) was created 1st Duke Lancaster. Blanche Plantagenet Duchess Lancaster (age 17) by marriage Duchess Lancaster.
Before 21 Feb 1363 [her daughter] Elizabeth Lancaster Duchess Exeter was born to [her husband] John of Gaunt 1st Duke Lancaster (age 22) and Blanche Plantagenet Duchess Lancaster (age 17) at Burford, Shropshire [Map]. She a granddaughter of King Edward III of England.
In 1365 [her son] Edward Lancaster was born to [her husband] John of Gaunt 1st Duke Lancaster (age 24) and Blanche Plantagenet Duchess Lancaster (age 19). In 1365 Edward Lancaster died. He was buried at Church of the Annunciation of our Lady of the Newark [Map]. He a grandson of King Edward III of England.
On 27 Jul 1365 Enguerrand de Coucy 1st Earl Bedford 1st Count Soissons (age 25) and [her sister-in-law] Isabella Countess Bedford and Soissons (age 33) were married at Windsor Castle [Map]. She the daughter of [her father-in-law] King Edward III of England (age 52) and [her mother-in-law] Philippa of Hainault Queen Consort England (age 51).
In 1366 [her son] John Lancaster was born to [her husband] John of Gaunt 1st Duke Lancaster (age 25) and Blanche Plantagenet Duchess Lancaster (age 20). In 1367 John Lancaster (age 1) died. He was buried at Church of the Annunciation of our Lady of the Newark [Map]. He a grandson of King Edward III of England.
On 15 Apr 1367 [her son] King Henry IV of England was born to [her husband] John of Gaunt 1st Duke Lancaster (age 27) and Blanche Plantagenet Duchess Lancaster (age 22) at Bolingbroke Castle, Lincolnshire [Map]. He a grandson of King Edward III of England.
In 1368 [her daughter] Isabel Lancaster was born to [her husband] John of Gaunt 1st Duke Lancaster (age 27) and Blanche Plantagenet Duchess Lancaster (age 22). She a granddaughter of King Edward III of England.
In Jun 1368 [her brother-in-law] Lionel of Antwerp 1st Duke of Clarence (age 29) and Violante Visconti (age 14) were married in the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore, Milan [Map]. The wedding festivities were lavish and ostentatious. The banquet, held outside, included 30 courses of meat and fish presented fully gilded. Between the courses the guests were given gifts such as suits of armor, bolts of cloth, war horses, arms, and hunting dogs. Among the guests were Geoffrey Chaucer (age 25), Petrarch, Jean Froissart and John Hawkwood. He the son of [her father-in-law] King Edward III of England (age 55) and [her mother-in-law] Philippa of Hainault Queen Consort England (age 53).
On 12 Sep 1368 Blanche Plantagenet Duchess Lancaster (age 23) died at Tutbury Castle, Staffordshire [Map]. Her last words were said to be "Souveyne vous de moi" ("Don't forget me") the 'S' of which was possibly subsequently represented on the Lancastrian Esses Collar. She was buried at St Paul's Cathedral [Map]. Her son [her son] King Henry IV of England (age 1) succeeded 3rd Earl Derby and 6th Earl Lancaster.
On 21 Sep 1371 [her former husband] John of Gaunt 1st Duke Lancaster (age 31) and Constance of Castile Duchess of Lancaster (age 17) were married at Roquefort, Landes. She by marriage Duchess Lancaster. His younger brother [her former brother-in-law] Edmund of Langley 1st Duke of York (age 30) married Constance's sister in July 1372. An example of Marriage of Two Sets of Siblings. She the illegitmate daughter of Peter "Cruel" I King Castile and Maria Padilla. He the son of [her former father-in-law] King Edward III of England (age 58) and [her former mother-in-law] Philippa of Hainault Queen Consort England.
On 13 Jan 1396 [her former husband] John of Gaunt 1st Duke Lancaster (age 55) and Katherine Swynford aka Roet Duchess Lancaster (age 45) were married at Lincoln Cathedral [Map]. She by marriage Duchess Lancaster. He the son of [her former father-in-law] King Edward III of England and [her former mother-in-law] Philippa of Hainault Queen Consort England.
On 03 Feb 1399 [her former husband] John of Gaunt 1st Duke Lancaster (age 58) died at Leicester Castle [Map]. Katherine Swynford aka Roet Duchess Lancaster (age 48) was by his side. He was buried in the Choir of St Paul's Cathedral [Map] with his first wife Blanche Plantagenet Duchess Lancaster. His son [her son] King Henry IV of England (age 31) succeeded 2nd Duke Lancaster, 7th Earl of Leicester.
King Richard II of England (age 32) witheld the future Henry IV's (age 31) inheritance from him giving Henry (age 31) reason to return to England to claim his lands and titles.
The Lancastrian Esses and Inter-twined Knots Collar first appears in the early 15th Century. It is also possibly a reference to Blanche Plantagenet Duchess Lancaster "Souveyne vous de moi" or "Don't forget me" being a play on words on the "Forget Me Not" flower which is also sometimes referred to as "Souveyne vous de moi".
The Lancastrian Esses Collar first appears in the later 14th Century. Its is believed to represent the last words of his wife Blanche Plantagenet Duchess Lancaster "Souveyne vous de moi" or "Don't forget me". The earliest example being seen on the tomb of John Swynford in Spratton, Northamptonshire, dated to 1368.
Kings Wessex: Great x 9 Grand Daughter of King Edmund "Ironside" I of England
Kings Gwynedd: Great x 13 Grand Daughter of Maredudd ab Owain King Deheubarth King Powys King Gwynedd
Kings Seisyllwg: Great x 15 Grand Daughter of Hywel "Dda aka Good" King Seisyllwg King Deheubarth
Kings Powys: Great x 13 Grand Daughter of Maredudd ab Owain King Deheubarth King Powys King Gwynedd
Kings England: Great x 2 Grand Daughter of King Henry III of England
Kings Scotland: Great x 8 Grand Daughter of King Duncan I of Scotland
Kings Franks: Great x 5 Grand Daughter of Louis VII King Franks
Kings France: Great x 8 Grand Daughter of Robert "Pious" II King France
Great x 4 Grandfather: King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England Grand Son of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
Great x 3 Grandfather: King John of England Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Eleanor of Aquitaine Queen Consort Franks and England
Great x 2 Grandfather: King Henry III of England Son of King John "Lackland" of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Aymer Angoulême I Count Angoulême
Great x 3 Grandmother: Isabella of Angoulême Queen Consort England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Alice Courtenay Countess Angoulême
Great x 1 Grandfather: Edmund "Crouchback" Plantagenet 1st Earl of Leicester 1st Earl Lancaster Son of King Henry III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Alfonso Barcelona II Count Provence
Great x 3 Grandfather: Raymond Berenguer Provence IV Count Provence
Great x 4 Grandmother: Gersenda II Sabran Countess Provence
Great x 2 Grandmother: Eleanor of Provence Queen Consort England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Thomas Savoy I Count Savoy
Great x 3 Grandmother: Beatrice Savoy Countess Provence
Great x 4 Grandmother: Margaret Geneva Countess Savoy
GrandFather: Henry Plantagenet 3rd Earl of Leicester 3rd Earl Lancaster Grand Son of King Henry III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: King Philip II of France 2 x Great Grand Son of King William "Conqueror" I of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: King Louis VIII of France 3 x Great Grand Son of King William "Conqueror" I of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Isabelle Flanders Queen Consort France
Great x 2 Grandfather: Robert Capet Count of Artois Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Alfonso VIII King Castile
Great x 3 Grandmother: Blanche Ivrea Queen Consort France Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Eleanor Plantagenet Queen Consort Castile Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 1 Grandmother: Blanche Capet Queen Navarre 2 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Henry Reginar VIII Duke Lower Lorraine I Duke Brabant
Great x 3 Grandfather: Henry Reginar II Duke Brabant 3 x Great Grand Son of King William "Conqueror" I of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Maud Metz 2 x Great Grand Daughter of King William "Conqueror" I of England
Great x 2 Grandmother: Matilda Reginar Countess Saint Pol 4 x Great Grand Daughter of King William "Conqueror" I of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Philip Swabia
Great x 3 Grandmother: Marie Swabia Duchess Brabant
Father: Henry of Grosmont 1st Duke Lancaster Great Grand Son of King Henry III of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: Patrick Chaworth
Great x 1 Grandfather: Patrick Chaworth
GrandMother: Maud Chaworth
Great x 4 Grandfather: Walter Beauchamp
Great x 3 Grandfather: William Beauchamp
Great x 4 Grandmother: Joan Mortimer
Great x 2 Grandfather: William Beauchamp 9th Earl Warwick
Great x 4 Grandfather: William Maudit
Great x 3 Grandmother: Isabel Maudit
Great x 4 Grandmother: Alice Beaumont
Great x 1 Grandmother: Isabella Beauchamp
Great x 4 Grandfather: Geoffrey Fitzpeter 1st Earl Essex
Great x 3 Grandfather: John Fitzgeoffrey
Great x 4 Grandmother: Aveline Clare Countess Essex
Great x 2 Grandmother: Maud Fitzjohn Countess Warwick
Great x 4 Grandfather: Hugh Bigod 3rd Earl Norfolk
Great x 3 Grandmother: Isabel Bigod
Great x 4 Grandmother: Maud Marshal Countess Norfolk and Surrey
Blanche Duchess of Lancaster 2 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry III of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Erard Brienne II Count Brienne
Great x 2 Grandfather: John de Brienne I King Jerusalem
Great x 4 Grandfather: Amadeus Montfaucon
Great x 3 Grandmother: Agnès Montfaucon Countess Brienne
Great x 1 Grandfather: Louis Brienne Viscount Beaumont 2 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Ferdinand II King Leon
Great x 3 Grandfather: Alfonso IX King Leon
Great x 4 Grandmother: Urraca Burgundy Queen Consort Leon
Great x 2 Grandmother: Beregaria Ivrea Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Alfonso VIII King Castile
Great x 3 Grandmother: Berengaria Ivrea I Queen Castile Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Eleanor Plantagenet Queen Consort Castile Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
GrandFather: Henry Beaumont Earl Buchan 3 x Great Grand Son of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Roscelin Beaumont Sarthe 7th Viscount Beaumont
Great x 3 Grandfather: Richard Beaumont Sarthe I Viscount Grand Son of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Constance Fitzroy Viscountess Beaumont Daughter of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
Great x 2 Grandfather: Raoul Beaumont Sarthe I Viscount Great Grand Son of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Lucie Aigle Viscountess
Great x 1 Grandmother: Agnes Beaumont Sarthe 2 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
Great x 2 Grandmother: Agnes de La Flèche Flèche Viscountess
Mother: Isabel Beaumont Duchess Lancaster 4 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
Great x 3 Grandfather: William Comyn Earl Buchan
Great x 2 Grandfather: Alexander Comyn 2nd Earl Buchan
Great x 3 Grandmother: Margaret Buchan Countess Buchan
Great x 1 Grandfather: Alexander Comyn 6 x Great Grand Son of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Saer Quincy 1st Earl Winchester
Great x 3 Grandfather: Roger de Quincy 2nd Earl Winchester
Great x 4 Grandmother: Margaret Beaumont Countess Winchester
Great x 2 Grandmother: Elizabeth Quincy Countess Buchan 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Alan Lord of Galloway
Great x 3 Grandmother: Helen Galloway Countess Winchester 4 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Margaret Dunkeld 3 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
GrandMother: Alice Comyn Baroness Beaumont 7 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England
Great x 4 Grandfather: William Latimer
Great x 3 Grandfather: William Latimer of Corby
Great x 2 Grandfather: William Latimer 1st Baron Latimer of Corby
Great x 1 Grandmother: Joanna Latimer
Great x 3 Grandfather: Walter Ledet
Great x 2 Grandmother: Alicia Ledet Baroness Latimer Corby
Great x 4 Grandfather: Robert Lisle
Great x 3 Grandmother: Ermentrude Lisle
Great x 4 Grandmother: Alice Fitzgerald