Knowra John of Gaunt John of Gaunt John of Gaunt (1340–1399) was a son of Edward III, first Duke of Lancaster, and a powerful English nobleman. His son Henry Bolingbroke became King Henry IV.
Edward III : King of England from 1327 to 1377, whose long reign included the opening decades of the Hundred Years’ War. Gaunt was Edward III’s third surviving son and a major political actor during his father’s reign.
Duchy of Lancaster : An English royal duchy whose estates and revenues became a major source of wealth and authority. Gaunt’s inheritance and title as its first duke established the territorial base of his power.
Peasants' Revolt : A major uprising in England in 1381, driven by taxation, labor controls, and social grievances. Rebels attacked Gaunt’s London residence, the Savoy Palace, amid hostility toward royal government.
Duke of Lancaster : A hereditary English peerage title created in 1351 and closely associated with the House of Lancaster. Gaunt received the title in 1362, making him the first Duke of Lancaster.
Edward, the Black Prince : The eldest son of Edward III and a celebrated English military commander who died before inheriting the throne. As Gaunt’s elder brother, he occupied the direct line of succession that Gaunt did not.
Henry IV of England : King of England from 1399 to 1413 and the first monarch of the House of Lancaster. Gaunt’s son inherited his father’s Lancastrian claim and took the throne from Richard II.
Lancaster : A historic city in northwest England, associated with the House of Lancaster and the Duchy of Lancaster. The city gave its name to the duchy and dynasty closely associated with Gaunt.
Richard II's second crisis : The political confrontation of 1397–1399 that ended with Richard II’s deposition and Henry IV’s accession. Gaunt’s death in 1399 left his son to contest the confiscation of the Lancastrian inheritance.
Hundred Years' War : A series of conflicts between England and France from 1337 to 1453 over territory and claims to the French crown. Gaunt served in its campaigns and pursued a claim to the Castilian throne through marriage.
Henry Bolingbroke : The name used for Henry IV before his accession as king in 1399. The earl who challenged Richard II was Gaunt’s heir and the future king Henry IV.
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