Biography of Catherine of Lancaster Queen Consort Castile 1373-1418
Paternal Family Tree: Anjou aka Plantagenet
Maternal Family Tree: María González Henestrosa Lady Villagera 1356
1362 Edward III Creates two sons as Dukes
1396 Marriage of John of Gaunt and Katherine Roet
In 1342 [her father] John of Gaunt 1st Duke Lancaster (age 1) was created 1st Earl Richmond. It isn't clear whether his older brothers [her uncle] Edward "Black Prince" (age 11) and [her uncle] Lionel Plantagenet 1st Duke of Clarence (age 3) had been created Earls before this time.
On 19 May 1359 , or thereabouts, a double-royal wedding celebration took place at Reading Abbey [Map] whereby two children of [her grandfather] King Edward III of England (age 46) were married:
[her father] 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 [her aunt] 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 13 Nov 1362, his fiftieth birthday, [her grandfather] King Edward III of England (age 50) created two sons as Dukes ...
[her uncle] 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 father] John of Gaunt 1st Duke Lancaster (age 22) was created 1st Duke Lancaster. Blanche Plantagenet Duchess Lancaster (age 17) by marriage Duchess Lancaster.
On 21 Sep 1371 [her father] John of Gaunt 1st Duke Lancaster (age 31) and [her mother] Constance of Castile Duchess of Lancaster (age 17) were married at Roquefort, Landes. She by marriage Duchess Lancaster. His younger brother [her uncle] 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 illegitmate 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.
On 31 Mar 1373 Catherine of Lancaster Queen Consort Castile was born to John of Gaunt 1st Duke Lancaster (age 33) and Constance of Castile Duchess of Lancaster (age 19) at Hertford Castle [Map]. She a granddaughter of King Edward III of England.
In 1375 Catherine of Lancster (age 1), daughter of [her father] John of Gaunt 1st Duke Lancaster (age 34), was given her own room at Melbourne Castle [Map], and a Castilin attendant.
Before 17 Sep 1388 Henry III King Castile (age 8) and Catherine of Lancaster Queen Consort Castile (age 15) were married at Palencia Cathedral. She by marriage Queen Consort Castile. She the daughter of John of Gaunt 1st Duke Lancaster (age 48) and Constance of Castile Duchess of Lancaster (age 34). He the son of John I King Castile (age 30) and Eleanor Barcelona Queen Consort Castile. They were half second cousins. She a granddaughter of King Edward III of England.
The Chronicle of Adam of Usk. 17 Sep 1388. The duke of Lancaster (age 48) also, claiming the kingdom of Spain in right of his wife (age 34), sailed to that country two years after, with another crusade; and there he lost by the same sickness many of the nobles of the realm of England, and, I may say, the flower of its youthful chivalry. Yet he made peace with the king of Spain, receiving a duchy for the term of his life, and a large sum of gold for his outlay, and giving his daughter (age 15) in marriage to the [her husband] king’s eldest son (age 8); and so he returned to England1.
Note 1. There is no mention of the duchy in the other chronicles. By the terms of the treaty, Catherine of Lancaster married Henry, prince of the Asturias, in 1393. The duke received the sum of 200,000 crowns and a pension for the lives of himself and his duchess.
On 09 Oct 1390 [her father-in-law] John I King Castile (age 32) died. His son [her husband] Henry III King Castile (age 11) succeeded III King Castile.
On 24 Mar 1394 [her mother] Constance of Castile Duchess of Lancaster (age 40) died at Leicester Castle [Map]. She was buried at Church of the Annunciation of our Lady of the Newark [Map].
On 13 Jan 1396 [her father] John of Gaunt 1st Duke Lancaster (age 55) and [her step-mother] 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.
Froissart. Before 19 Oct 1398. Not long after this, the king of England (age 31) summoned a large council of the great nobles and prelates at Eltham [Map]. On their arrival, he placed his two uncles of [her father] Lancaster (age 58) and [her uncle] York (age 57) beside him, with the earls of Northumberland (age 56), Salisbury (age 48) and Huntingdon (age 46). The [her half-brother] earl of Derby (age 31) and the earl marshal (age 30) were sent for, and put into separate chambers, for it had been ordered they were not to meet. The king (age 31) showed he wished to mediate between them, notwithstanding their words had been very displeasing to him, and ought not to be lightly pardoned. He required therefore that they should submit themselves to his decision; and to this end sent the constable of England, with four great barons, to oblige them to promise punctually to obey it. The constable and the lords waited on the two earls, and explained the king's intentions They both bound themselves, in their presence, to abide by whatever sentence the king should give. They having reported this, the king said,- "Well then, I order that the earl marshal (age 30), for having caused trouble in this kingdom, by uttering words which he could not prove otherwise than by common report, be banished the realm: he may seek any other land he pleases to dwell in, but he must give over all hope of returning hither, as I banish him for life. I also order, that the earl of Derby (age 31), our cousin, for having angered us, and because he has been, in some measure, the cause of the earl marshal's (age 30) crime and punishment, prepare to leave the kingdom within fifteen days, and be banished hence for the term of ten years, without daring to return unless recalled by us; but we shall reserve to ourself the power of abridging this term in part or altogether." The sentence was satisfactory to the lords present, who said: "The earl of Derby (age 31) may readily go two or three years and amuse himself in foreign parts, for he is young enough; and, although he has already travelled to Prussia, the Holy Sepulchre, Cairo and Saint Catherine's1, he will find other places to visit. He has two sisters, queens of Castillo (age 25) and of [her half-sister] Portugal (age 38), and may cheerfully pass his time with them. The lords, knights and squires of those countries, will make him welcome, for at this moment all warfare is at an end. On his arrival in Castille, as he is very active, he may put them in motion, and lead them against the infidels of Granada, which will employ his time better than remaining idle in England. Or he may go to Hainault, where his cousin, and brother in arms, the count d'Ostrevant, will be happily to see him, and gladly entertain him, that he may assist him in his war against the Frieslanders. If he go to Hainault, lie can have frequent intelligence from his own country and children. He therefore cannot fail of doing well, whithersoever he goes; and the king (age 31) may speedily recall him, through means of the good friends he will leave behind, for he is the finest feather in his cap; and he must not therefore suffer him to be too long absent, if he wish to gain the love of his subjects. The earl marshal (age 30) has had hard treatment, for he is banished without hope of ever being recalled; but, to say the truth, he has deserved it, for all this mischief has been caused by him and his foolish talking: he must therefore pay for it." Thus conversed many English knights with each other, the day the king passed sentence on the earl of Derby (age 31) and the earl marshal (age 30).
Note 1. The monastery on Mount Sinai. - Ed.
On 03 Feb 1399 [her father] John of Gaunt 1st Duke Lancaster (age 58) died at Leicester Castle [Map]. [her step-mother] 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 half-brother] 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.
On 14 Sep 1401 [her daughter] Maria Trastámara Queen Consort Aragon was born to [her husband] Henry III King Castile (age 21) and Catherine of Lancaster Queen Consort Castile (age 28). She a great granddaughter of King Edward III of England. Coefficient of inbreeding 2.15%.
In 1403 [her daughter] Catherine Trastámara was born to [her husband] Henry III King Castile (age 23) and Catherine of Lancaster Queen Consort Castile (age 29). She a great granddaughter of King Edward III of England. Coefficient of inbreeding 2.15%.
On 06 Mar 1405 [her son] John II King Castile was born to [her husband] Henry III King Castile (age 25) and Catherine of Lancaster Queen Consort Castile (age 31). He a great grandson of King Edward III of England. Coefficient of inbreeding 2.15%.
On 25 Dec 1406 [her husband] Henry III King Castile (age 27) died. His son [her son] John II King Castile (age 1) succeeded II King Castile.
Letters. 1412. Letter XXXIII. Catherine Daughter of John of Gaunt Queen of Castile and Leon (age 38), to her brother [her half-brother] Henry IV (age 44).
Most high and powerful Don Henry, by God's grace king of England and France, lord of Ireland, my most dear and beloved, and with all my heart, and with my entire mind, most cherished brother and lord, I, undoubted Queen of Castile and Leon, mother of the king and his guardian, and Governor of his realms, send to recommend myself to your favour and benediction, and much to salute you as him, to whom I pray that God would give as much health and life with honour as you yourself desire.
Most dear and beloved brother and lord, I entreat that by all means, as continually as you can, you will certify and let me know of your health, and life, and good estate and of the Queen (age 42) your companion, my dearest and best-loved sister; and of the Prince of Wales (age 25), and the other princes your sons, my dearest and best-loved nephews; by which you will do me most singular pleasure and honour, and it will be a thing which will greatly please me, since it ia one of the most principal things of this world at which my heart is most joyous and consoled. And since, dearest and best-loved brother and lord, I know well that you will be pleased with the same thing, I certify and let you know, that, at the time when this letter was written, the said [her son] king my son (age 6), your dearest and best-loved nephew, and I, and the infantas [her daughter] Donna Maria (age 10) and [her daughter] Donna Catalina (age 9) my daughters, your dearest and best-loved nieces, are well, and in good disposition of our persons; praise to God, who thus grant us to continue, and by his same grace grant it to you at all times.
Moreover, dearest and best-loved brother and lord, we give you to know that, having seen your writing which you sent me by John de Samora, your messenger, and understood its contents, whereas I find there how you complain that the truce was past some days before a prolongation was fixed for another following year, according as he will make relation to you. About this, and, moreover, about the coming of your ambassadors, who should come to join themselves with those whom the king my son should send, to see and determine upon the damage and mischief which those who are injured have received of their own goods, f send to you the said John de Samora, who will speak of some things that he will have to say to you from me, and of others which have been already confirmed in my name, which he will tell you. Wherefore, dearest and best-beloved brother and lord, I request you that it would please you to give faith and credence to the things that he will say to you on my part in this matter. Dearest and best-loved brother and lord, may the Holy Trinity ever have you in his holy keeping! Written in the city of Valladolid, the 30th day of July. I THE Queen.
On 12 Jun 1415 [her son-in-law] Alfonso V King Aragon (age 19) and [her daughter] Maria Trastámara Queen Consort Aragon (age 13) were married. She by marriage Queen Consort Aragon. She the daughter of Henry III King Castile and Catherine of Lancaster Queen Consort Castile (age 42). He the son of Ferdinand I King Aragon (age 34) and Eleanor of Alberquerque Queen Consort Aragon (age 41). They were first cousins. She a great granddaughter of King Edward III of England.
In 1418 [her son] John II King Castile (age 12) and [her daughter-in-law] Maria Trastámara Queen Consort Castile (age 22) were married. She by marriage Queen Consort Castile. She the daughter of Ferdinand I King Aragon and Eleanor of Alberquerque Queen Consort Aragon (age 44). He the son of Henry III King Castile and Catherine of Lancaster Queen Consort Castile (age 44). They were first cousins. He a great grandson of King Edward III of England.
On 16 Dec 1485 Catherine of Aragon was born to Ferdinand II King Aragon (age 33) and Isabella Queen Castile (age 34). She was possibly named after her Great Grandmother Catherine of Lancaster Queen Consort Castile daughter of [her father] John of Gaunt 1st Duke Lancaster and [her mother] Constance of Castile Duchess of Lancaster. She a great x 3 granddaughter of King Edward III of England. Coefficient of inbreeding 3.23%.
Kings Wessex: Great x 10 Grand Daughter of King Edmund "Ironside" I of England
Kings England: Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Kings Scotland: Great x 8 Grand Daughter of Malcolm III King Scotland
Kings Franks: Great x 6 Grand Daughter of Louis VII King Franks
Kings France: Great x 2 Grand Daughter of Philip "The Fair" IV King France
Great x 4 Grandfather: King John "Lackland" of England Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: King Henry III of England Son of King John "Lackland" of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Isabella of Angoulême Queen Consort England
Great x 2 Grandfather: King Edward "Longshanks" I of England Son of King Henry III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Raymond Berenguer Provence IV Count Provence
Great x 3 Grandmother: Eleanor of Provence Queen Consort England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Beatrice Savoy Countess Provence
Great x 1 Grandfather: King Edward II of England Son of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Alfonso IX King Leon
Great x 3 Grandfather: Ferdinand III King Castile III King Leon Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Berengaria Ivrea I Queen Castile Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 2 Grandmother: Eleanor of Castile Queen Consort England 2 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Simon Dammartin
Great x 3 Grandmother: Joan Dammartin Queen Consort Castile and Leon
Great x 4 Grandmother: Marie Montgomery Countess Ponthieu
GrandFather: King Edward III of England Son of King Edward II of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: King Louis IX of France Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Philip "Bold" III King France 2 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Margaret Provence Queen Consort France
Great x 2 Grandfather: Philip "The Fair" IV King France 3 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: James I King Aragon
Great x 3 Grandmother: Isabella Barcelona Queen Consort France
Great x 4 Grandmother: Violant Árpád Queen Consort Aragon
Great x 1 Grandmother: Isabella of France Queen Consort England 4 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Theobald IV King Navarre 3 x Great Grand Son of King William "Conqueror" I of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Henry I King Navarre 4 x Great Grand Son of King William "Conqueror" I of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Margaret Bourbon Queen Consort Navarre
Great x 2 Grandmother: Joan Blois I Queen Navarre 3 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Robert Capet Count of Artois Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Blanche Capet Queen Navarre 2 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Matilda Reginar Countess Saint Pol 4 x Great Grand Daughter of King William "Conqueror" I of England
Father: John of Gaunt 1st Duke Lancaster Son of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Bouchard Avesnes
Great x 3 Grandfather: John Hainault I Count Hainault 4 x Great Grand Son of King William "Conqueror" I of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Margaret II Countess Flanders 3 x Great Grand Daughter of King William "Conqueror" I of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: John Hainault II Count Hainault II Count Holland 5 x Great Grand Son of King William "Conqueror" I of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Floris Gerulfing IV Count Holland
Great x 3 Grandmother: Adelaide Gerulfing Countess Hainault 4 x Great Grand Daughter of King William "Conqueror" I of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Mathilde Reginar Countess Holland and Palatine 3 x Great Grand Daughter of King William "Conqueror" I of England
Great x 1 Grandfather: William Hainault I Count Hainault III Count Avesnes III Count Holland II Count Zeeland 6 x Great Grand Son of King William "Conqueror" I of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Waleran Luxemburg III Duke Limburg
Great x 3 Grandfather: Henry "Great" Luxemburg V Count Luxemburg III Count Namur
Great x 4 Grandmother: Erminsende Namur Countess of Bar
Great x 2 Grandmother: Philippa Luxemburg Countess Hainault and Holland 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King William "Conqueror" I of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Henry of Bar II Count of Bar 3 x Great Grand Son of King William "Conqueror" I of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Margaret of Bar Countess Luxemburg and Namur 4 x Great Grand Daughter of King William "Conqueror" I of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Philippa Capet Countess of Bar
GrandMother: Philippa of Hainault Queen Consort England 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: King Louis IX of France Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Philip "Bold" III King France 2 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Margaret Provence Queen Consort France
Great x 2 Grandfather: Charles Valois I Count Valois 3 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: James I King Aragon
Great x 3 Grandmother: Isabella Barcelona Queen Consort France
Great x 4 Grandmother: Violant Árpád Queen Consort Aragon
Great x 1 Grandmother: Joan Valois Countess Zeeland Holland Avesnes and Hainault 4 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: King Charles Capet of Sicily Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Charles II King Naples 2 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Beatrice Provence Queen Consort Sicily
Great x 2 Grandmother: Margaret Capet Countess Valois 3 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Stephen V of Hungary
Great x 3 Grandmother: Mary of Hungary Queen Consort Naples
Great x 4 Grandmother: Elizabeth Cuman
Catherine of Lancaster Queen Consort Castile Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Alfonso X King Castile X King Leon 2 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Sancho IV King Castile IV King Leon 3 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Violante Barcelona Queen Consort Castile Queen Consort Leon
Great x 2 Grandfather: Ferdinand IV King Castile IV King Leon 4 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Maria Molina Queen Consort Castile Queen Consort Leon
Great x 1 Grandfather: Alfonso "Avenger" XI King Castile 4 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Alfonso III King Portugal Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Denis I King Portugal 2 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Beatrice Queen Consort Portugal 3 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 2 Grandmother: Constance Burgundy Queen Consort Castile Queen Consort Leon 3 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Peter III King Aragon
Great x 3 Grandmother: Elisabeth Barcelona Queen Consort Portugal 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King William "Conqueror" I of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Constance Hohenstaufen Queen Consort Aragon 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King William "Conqueror" I of England
GrandFather: Peter "Cruel" I King Castile 5 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Alfonso III King Portugal Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Denis I King Portugal 2 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Beatrice Queen Consort Portugal 3 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: Alfonso "Brave" IV King Portugal 3 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Peter III King Aragon
Great x 3 Grandmother: Elisabeth Barcelona Queen Consort Portugal 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King William "Conqueror" I of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Constance Hohenstaufen Queen Consort Aragon 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King William "Conqueror" I of England
Great x 1 Grandmother: Maria Burgundy Queen Consort Castile 4 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Alfonso X King Castile X King Leon 2 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Sancho IV King Castile IV King Leon 3 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Violante Barcelona Queen Consort Castile Queen Consort Leon
Great x 2 Grandmother: Beatrice Ivrea Queen Consort Portugal 4 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Maria Molina Queen Consort Castile Queen Consort Leon
Mother: Constance of Castile Duchess of Lancaster 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: Garcia Padilla
Great x 1 Grandfather: Juan García Padilla 1st Lord Villagera
GrandMother: Maria Padilla
Great x 2 Grandfather: Fernán González Henestrosa
Great x 1 Grandmother: María González Henestrosa Lady Villagera