Who was John of Gaunt?
Q: Who was John of Gaunt?
A: John of Gaunt was a member of the House of Plantagenet, who ruled England for over 300 years. He was the third surviving son of Edward III and Philippa of Hainault, and the father of Henry IV.
Q: What influence did he have over English throne?
A: He had great influence over the English throne during the childhood of his nephew, Richard II, and during subsequent periods of political strife. He is not thought to have been an opponent of the king.
Q: Who were his legitimate children?
A: His legitimate children included Philippa of Portugal and Elizabeth, Duchess of Exeter by his first wife Blanche; and Queen Catherine Castile by his second wife Constance.
Q: Who were his illegitimate children?
A: John fathered five children outside marriage - one early in life by a lady-in-waiting to his mother, and four by Katherine Swynford (his long-term mistress). These were surnamed Beaufort after a former French possession belonging to him.
Q: How did they become legitimised?
A: The Beaufort children were legitimised by royal and papal decrees after John and Katherine married in 1396.
Q: How much money would be equivalent to John's wealth today?
A: Taking into account inflation rates, it is estimated that John was worth a modern equivalent value of $110 billion - making him the sixteenth richest man in history.
