Biography of Blanche Plantagenet Duchess Lancaster 1345-1368

Paternal Family Tree: Anjou aka Plantagenet

Maternal Family Tree: Maud Saye 1155-1222

1359 Double Royal Wedding

1361 Death of Henry of Grosmont

1362 Edward III Creates two sons as Dukes

1396 Marriage of John of Gaunt and Katherine Roet

1399 Death of John of Gaunt

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".

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 Henry Beaumont Earl Buchan (age 49) and Alice Comyn Baroness Beaumont. He the son of Henry Plantagenet 3rd Earl of Leicester 3rd Earl Lancaster (age 47) and 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.

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 Plantagenet 1st Duke of Clarence (age 3) had been created Earls before this time.

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.

Double Royal Wedding

On 19 May 1359 , or thereabouts, a double-royal wedding celebration took place at Reading Abbey [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 55) who would enjoy the benefit of the substantial revenue of the Earldom of Pembroke until John came of age nine years later on 12 Sep 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 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.

Death of Henry of Grosmont

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.

Around 03 Jul 1361 John Montfort V Duke Brittany (age 22) and [her sister-in-law] Mary Plantagenet Duchess Brittany (age 16) were married. She the daughter of King Edward III of England (age 48) and Philippa of Hainault Queen Consort England (age 47). They were third cousins. He a great x 2 grandson of King Henry III of England.

In Sep 1361 [her sister-in-law] Mary Plantagenet Duchess Brittany (age 16) died.

On 25 Dec 1361 [her sister-in-law] Margaret Plantagenet Countess of Pembroke (age 15) died probably of plague. She was buried at Abingdon Abbey [Map].

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.

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.

Edward III Creates two sons as Dukes

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 Plantagenet 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.

In 1365 [her son] John Lancaster (age 3) died. He was buried at Church of the Annunciation of our Lady of the Newark [Map].

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] Henry IV King 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 1368 [her daughter] Isabel Lancaster died. She was buried at Church of the Annunciation of our Lady of the Newark [Map].

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] Henry IV King 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 York (age 30) married Constance's sister in July 1372. An example of Marriage of Two Sets of Siblings. She the daughter of Peter "Cruel" I King Castile and Maria Padilla. He the son of King Edward III of England (age 58) and Philippa of Hainault Queen Consort England.

Marriage of John of Gaunt and Katherine Roet

On 13 Jan 1396 [her former husband] John of Gaunt 1st Duke Lancaster (age 55) and Katherine Roet Duchess Lancaster (age 45) were married at Lincoln Cathedral [Map]. She by marriage Duchess Lancaster. He the son of King Edward III of England and Philippa of Hainault Queen Consort England.

Death of John of Gaunt

On 03 Feb 1399 [her former husband] John of Gaunt 1st Duke Lancaster (age 58) died at Leicester Castle [Map]. Katherine 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] Henry IV King 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 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.

Blanche Plantagenet Duchess Lancaster 1345-1368 appears on the following Descendants Family Trees:

King John "Lackland" of England 1166-1216

King Henry III of England 1207-1272

Raymond Berenguer Provence IV Count Provence 1198-1245

Royal Ancestors of Blanche Plantagenet Duchess Lancaster 1345-1368

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 7 Grand Daughter of Malcolm III King Scotland

Kings Franks: Great x 5 Grand Daughter of Louis VII King Franks

Kings France: Great x 3 Grand Daughter of Louis "Lion" VIII King France

Royal Descendants of Blanche Plantagenet Duchess Lancaster 1345-1368

Philippa Lancaster Queen Consort Portugal x 1

Henry IV King England x 1

Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom x 8

Queen Consort Camilla Shand x 3

Diana Spencer Princess Wales x 30

Ancestors of Blanche Plantagenet Duchess Lancaster 1345-1368

Great x 4 Grandfather: King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England Grand Son of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England

Great x 3 Grandfather: King John "Lackland" of England Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England

Great x 2 Grandfather: King Henry III of England Son of King John "Lackland" of England

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: Louis "Lion" VIII King France 3 x Great Grand Son of King William "Conqueror" I of England

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 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 Baroness Monthermer

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

Blanche Plantagenet Duchess 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 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