Constance of Castile Duchess of Lancaster 1354-1394

In 1354 Constance of Castile Duchess of Lancaster was born illegitimately to Peter "Cruel" I King Castile [aged 19] and Maria Padilla [aged 20].

On 29th May 1358 [her uncle] Fadrique Alfonso Ivrea [aged 24] was murdered at Seville on behalf of his brother [her father] Peter "Cruel" I King Castile [aged 23].

In July 1361 [her mother] Maria Padilla [aged 27] died at Seville.

On 21st September 1371 John of Gaunt 1st Duke Lancaster [aged 31] and Constance of Castile Duchess of Lancaster [aged 17] were married at Roquefort, Landes. She by marriage Duchess Lancaster. His younger brother Edmund of Langley 1st Duke of York [aged 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 King Edward III of England [aged 58] and Philippa of Hainaut Queen Consort England. They were half third cousin twice removed.

After 21st September 1371 [her illegitimate sister] Isabella of Castile Duchess York [aged 16] accompanied her sister Constance of Castile Duchess of Lancaster [aged 17] to England after her marriage to John of Gaunt 1st Duke Lancaster [aged 31].

On 9th February 1372 Constance of Castile Duchess of Lancaster [aged 18], the wife of John of Gaunt 1st Duke Lancaster [aged 31] made a ceremonial entry in London.

On 11th July 1372 [her brother-in-law] Edmund of Langley 1st Duke of York [aged 31] and [her illegitimate sister] Isabella of Castile Duchess York [aged 17] were married at Wallingford, Oxfordshire [Map]. She by marriage Countess Cambridge. She being the younger sister of Constance [aged 18] who had married Edmund's older brother John of Gaunt 1st Duke Lancaster [aged 32] a year before. An example of Marriage of Two Sets of Siblings. She the illegitmate daughter of [her father] Peter "Cruel" I King Castile and [her mother] Maria Padilla. He the son of King Edward III of England [aged 59] and Philippa of Hainaut Queen Consort England. They were half third cousin twice removed.

Letters. 7th August 1372. 1372 the earliest date based on her marriage in 1371. Letter XXV. Constance [aged 18], Wife of John of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster, to the Chancellor of England.

From the Queen of Castile and Leon, Duchess of Lancaster.

Honoured sir.

We pray you lovingly that you will grant your letters for Friar Alvare, the bearer of these, to the prior of the friars-preachers of Oxford, that the said friar may be received there to be a student in the university of the said city, for love of me. And may our Lord ever have you, honoured sir, in his holy keeping.

Written at Hertford [Map], the 7th day of August.

On 31st March 1373 [her daughter] Catherine of Lancaster Queen Consort Castile was born to John of Gaunt 1st Duke Lancaster [aged 33] and Constance of Castile Duchess of Lancaster [aged 19] at Hertford Castle [Map]. She a granddaughter of King Edward III of England. She married before 17th September 1388 her half second cousin Henry III King Castile, son of John I King Castile and Eleanor Barcelona Queen Consort Castile, and had issue.

In 1374 [her son] John Lancaster was born to John of Gaunt 1st Duke Lancaster [aged 33] and Constance of Castile Duchess of Lancaster [aged 20]. He a grandson of King Edward III of England. He died aged one in 1375.

In 1375 [her son] John Lancaster [aged 1] died.

Before 17th September 1388 [her son-in-law] Henry III King Castile [aged 8] and Catherine of Lancaster Queen Consort Castile [aged 15] were married at Palencia Cathedral [Map]. She by marriage Queen Consort Castile. She the daughter of John of Gaunt 1st Duke Lancaster [aged 48] and Constance of Castile Duchess of Lancaster [aged 34]. He the son of John I King Castile [aged 30] and Eleanor Barcelona Queen Consort Castile. They were half second cousins. She a granddaughter of King Edward III of England.

On 24th March 1394 Constance of Castile Duchess of Lancaster [aged 40] died at Leicester Castle [Map]. She was buried at Church of the Annunciation of our Lady of the Newark [Map].

Annals of Kings Richard II and Henry IV. At the time of this journey, Lady Constance, Duchess of Lancaster¹, died. She was the daughter of Sir Peter, formerly King of Spain, and a woman wonderfully devoted to God.

Quo quidem profectionis tempore, obiit Domina Constantia, Ducissa Lancastriæ, filia Domini Petronis, quondam Regis Hispaniæ; fœmina mirabiliter Deo devota.

Note 1. Constance of Castile [deceased] died on 25th March 1394.