Book Review: John of Gaunt: Son of One King, Father of Another, by Kathryn Warner

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Did you know John of Gaunt's military career began at the age of ten, he had over forty grandchildren? The Duke of Lancaster, he was the fourth (but third surviving) son of King Edward III, father of King Henry IV and grandfather of three more kings.

Kathryn Warner shines a light on the less well known story of this medieval legend, with a wealth of well-researched background that provides a useful context for understanding John of Gaunt's complex life.

I liked the way the author brings a personal angle to his story, particularly concerning his third wife, Katherine Swynford, whose descendants, the Beaufort family, played a major role in the Wars of the Roses and the rise of the Yorks and Tudors.

Among the many fascinating details in this book is the suggestion that John of Gaunt lived in fear of being buried alive. He insisted his body was not to be embalmed or buried until forty days after his death, and fifty marks should be given to the poor on each of the forty days. 

It could not have helped that during his last weeks, he heard rumours that he was already dead, or that he fell in to what we would now describe as a 'coma' - so the risk seems to have been a real one.

The book ends with some analysis of John of Gaunt's will, his children and grandchildren, and made me think about his legacy. His life certainly changed history, and I recommend this book to readers who want to understand how and why.  

Tony Riches

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About the Author

Kathryn Warner grew up in the Lake District in the north-west of England, and gained a BA and an MA with Distinction in medieval history and literature from the University of Manchester. She is a specialist in the history of the fourteenth century and has been researching and writing about Edward II's reign since 2004, and have run a blog about him since December 2005.  Find out more at Kathryn's blog and find her on Twitter @RoyneAlianore

See Also:

Blood Roses: The Houses of Lancaster and York before the Wars of the Roses, by Kathryn Warner

Richard II: A True King's Fall, by Kathryn Warner