Author Interview: Blythe Gifford on RUMORS AT COURT

Today, we welcome Blythe Gifford, a long time contributor to the Unusual Historicals blog.  Her twelfth novel, RUMORS AT COURT from the Harlequin Historical line, has just been published and an excerpt was published here https://unusualhistoricals.blogspot.com/2017/05/excerpt-thursday-rumors-at-court-by.html  on Thursday.  She’s offering a free print copy to one randomly chosen commenter, so leave a comment at the end of the interview with your email address before next Sunday, May 21, for a chance to win.

First, here’s a bit about the book.  It is the third book in the Royal Wedding Series, and is set in England, late in the Fourteenth Century. At this time, England’s earlier success against France in the Hundred Years War has slipped away and the once extensive English holdings on the continent are in danger. There is unease in the country and rumors abound about the royal family and the intentions of the enemy.

The story includes a number of real historical figures, as has been the case with the other two Royal Wedding Stories and today’s interview revolves around the joys and challenges of putting real people into historical fiction.

You have had real historical figures in nearly every book.  Why?

I’m drawn to stories about real historical events and often, a story is sparked from wondering how a specific event would affect someone caught up in it.  To answer that question, my characters need to interact with the real people who were part of it.  After all, this collection of events we call “history,” is not dates and facts and battles.  It is what people caused to happen and/or how they reacted to what happened to them.

What do you like about having real people in the book?

To me, my characters are just as “real” as the historically documented ones.  And I think

Portrait of John of Gaunt, painted more than 100 years after his death

they, or people like them, might have actually existed, if we could just peek behind the curtain that hides the past from us.  So to make the situation real, it has to be as close to real people and events as I can imagine.  And I have discovered that when I am forced to understand a character in order to make that person  live on the page, it helps bring the period to life.  This can be particularly true of recognized historical figures, who, too often, have been turned into stick figures by the history books.

What are the drawbacks and challenges of including historical figures?

When a character, a king, for example, is well known, there is a certain perspective of the kind of person he was and it is difficult to violate that.  Since I write primarily in the medieval time period, details of temperament are scarce.  Even contemporaneous portraits for this period are nearly impossible to find.  This is particularly true of women, for whom, often, it is hard to pinpoint such basic information as dates of birth and death.  I’ve included many well-known (at least, to medievalists) women in my books:  Alice Perrers and Joan of Kent, for example.  For most of these women, not a single full-length, scholarly biography has ever been written. 

Ostensible portrait of Constanza (Constance) of Castile

That is certainly true of Constanza of Castile, who appears in RUMORS AT COURT.  Most of what we know of her must be inferred from meagre references in other sources, particularly biographies of her husband, John of Gaunt.  Katherine Swynford, Gaunt’s mistress and also a character in the book, has been slightly better covered, primarily because of Anya Seton’s novel KATHERINE.  For me, for this story, that was a particular challenge because I have known, and loved, Katherine’s story for most of my life.  From that point of view, which was Katherine’s as a heroine, Constanza was little more than Gaunt’s means to the throne and  a vessel for his child.  Constanza was portrayed as an unpleasant, overly religious woman who kept to herself and hated England.  Suddenly, in my book, I had to understand and portray both women, in a way that made sense for the story.  It made me much more sympathetic.

And do you ever fudge the facts?

In order to tell a story, you inevitably have to streamline, leave things out, tell the essentials that affect this story, but may not tell the whole story.  For example, Geoffrey Chaucer,

Possible portrait of Katherine Swynford

English poet and author of “The Canterbury Tales,” was part of Gaunt’s household and married to Katherine’s sister.  It’s a wonderful historical tidbit, but I could not find a way to drop it into the story without making it feel gratuitous.  I did include a reference to love such as “the poet” wrote of.  And my editor, who knows the period well, recognized the poet as Chaucer and the allusion to his “Book of The Duchess.”  But you do not have to know that background to understand the story.

My books are historical romance, not non-fiction, but I try not to violate the reader’s trust.  If a reader goes on to explore more books about the period, and I always hope she does, my goal is that she will never feel betrayed by my choices.  All my books except for the first contain an author’s afterward, in which I can explain where I took liberties with the facts and a little of what came after the book ends.

You always use real historical figures as secondary characters.  Have you ever thought of writing a fictionalized biography?

No! That would create too many constraints.  I like having my own characters, and drawing on my own imagination to see their stories develop.  I don’t think I could rationalize even the minor historical license I do take if I were telling the story of a real person. 

So now a question for commenters:  How do you feel about real historical figures in fiction?  Any examples of books in which it has worked particularly well?  Or, have you ever learned something about history from a work of fiction?  Leave a comment before May 21 for a chance to win a copy of RUMORS AT COURT.

About the author:

After many years in public relations, advertising and marketing, Blythe Gifford started writing seriously after a corporate layoff. Ten years and one layoff later, she became an overnight success when she sold her first book to the Harlequin Historical line.  Since then, she has published ten books, primarily set in England and on the Scottish Borders, most revolving around real historical figures and events.  For more information, visit her webpage: www.blythegifford.com, find her on

Facebook: www.facebook.com/BlytheGifford

Instagram: www.instagram.com/blythegifford

Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/blythegifford

Twitter www.twitter.com/BlytheGifford

Or Goodreads:  www.goodreads.com/author/show/672889.Blythe_Gifford

Author photo Jennifer Girard - Other illustrations in Public Domain

 Cover Art used by arrangement with Harlequin Enterprises Limited.  All rights reserved. ®and T are trademarks of Harlequin Enterprises Limited and/or its affiliated companies, used under license. Copyright 2017

Excerpt Thursday: RUMORS AT COURT by Blythe Gifford

Today, we have a peek at the newest release from long-time Unusual Historicals contributor Blythe Gifford, RUMORS AT COURT, out now from the Harlequin Historical line.  Blythe will be back on Sunday for an interview about the book.  She’ll be focusing on the joys and challenges of using real historical figures in fiction, so this excerpt includes a scene featuring several of the real people who are part of the story.

 

RUMORS AT COURT is the third Royal Wedding story.  All three are set in the 14^th century English court of Edward III.  This time, while the royal wedding in the book is that of Edward’s son Edmund to Isabella of Castile, the royal marriage at the center of the book is that of Constanza of Castile, Isabella’s older sister, to John of Gaunt, Edward’s third son.  Through marriage to Constanza, Gaunt assumed the title of King of Castile. Also a character in the book is Katherine Swynford, who became Gaunt’s mistress.  (Blythe wrote about her here.)

 

But the center of the story is the romance between two fictional characters, who serve John and Constanza.  Here’s a recap:

 

Wed by royal command! 

Widow Valerie of Florham wants nothing more than to forget her abusive marriage and live peacefully at the mercy of no man. She'd never have dreamed of a liaison with handsome Sir Gil Wolford, but then comes a royal decree—they must wed! 

Gil craves military conquest in Castile, far from his haunted past. Marriage to Lady Valerie is the last thing he should want, yet both have truths to hide from the rumormongers at court. They have no choice…and, once wed, the marriage bed changes everything!

RTBookreviews gave it a 4-Star review, writing “delights on every level, from the sumptuous settings to the whispered…rumors spinning through the royal court.  …Gifford’s characters are always well developed and…deeply resistant to a new passion…until, of course, love gets its way…”

 

From Chapter One of RUMORS AT COURT:

The Savoy Palace, London—February 9^th, 1372

 

The English and Castilian ladies were shepherded into the palace and then to the Hall side by side, close enough for Valerie to hear the foreign chatter. She could not follow all the words, but the lilt of the language, the faint scent of Castilian soap, seemed familiar.

Perhaps her blood remembered these things. Blood that had come from another Castilian woman exiled to England, generations ago. Like Constanza, Queen of Castile, she, too, had been taken from her home and sent to a distant place.

Valerie touched the brooch of copper and enamel on her gown, a reminder of her long-dead relative. She must hold her head high amidst the unfamiliar trappings of court. Soon enough, she would be allowed to return to the earth of her home and her garden, slumbering now in winter.

The Queen reached the front of the Hall and turned to face the room. Valerie squinted, trying to see her clearly. She was fair, even sallow. Were her eyes blue? Too far to see, but her nose looked longish for the fashion, her figure tall and sturdy.

Her looks, in truth, were unimportant. Her gift to her husband was her country, not her beauty. And a woman, even a royal one, had no more choices than any other woman. She must marry for reasons of state, no matter what her heart. And if she wanted to be Queen in fact instead of just in name, this woman needed a man both willing and wealthy enough to fight for her kingdom.

Suddenly, the Queen touched a hand to her belly and the curtain of women around her closed tightly.

Were the rumours true? The Queen had arrived in England months ago, but had stayed in the country, some said because of the early ills of being with child.

The Duke—Valerie could still not think of him as a king—would have wasted no time getting an heir on her. They both needed to prove they could produce another generation to sit on Castile’s throne, so that might be the reason the woman did not look her best. All would be forgiven if she bore a son.

Something Valerie had failed to do.

‘She looks so young,’ Lady Katherine, next to her, whispered.

Valerie murmured something that might be mistaken for assent. The Queen was nearly Valerie’s own age and only a few years younger than Lady Katherine. Katherine, too, was newly widowed and had three children of her own. She might be feeling the length of her life.

Though she mourns her husband no more than I do mine.

She could not say how she knew. They had met only recently and never spoken of it, but Valerie felt certain that they both recited the requisite prayers for the loss of a husband while secretly revelling in their new freedom.

The line of ladies shielding the Queen parted. The Queen had settled into a chair at the front of the hall beside the Duke. Her sister came to stand beside her and the procession of lords and ladies shuffled into line to be presented.

Valerie, following Katherine, was surprised and honoured that she had been invited to this ceremony. Her husband had been a knight, but a lowly one. Lady Katherine’s husband had been the same, but she was here because she took care of the Duke’s children by his first wife. Now, she would move into his second wife’s household, a strong link to what the Queen needed to know about England and, perhaps, even about her husband.

As Valerie was presented to at least a dozen of the Queen’s ladies, she was called upon to do little beyond nod politely. The Queen’s people smiled, silent, not attempting the unfamiliar tongue.

Even the Queen remained impassive in the face of all the introductions. Surely the poor woman had absorbed nothing about the strangers paraded before her.

Then, Valerie heard her name called and knelt before the Queen. A flurry of conversation, the Duke, speaking to the interpreter, who then spoke to the Queen.

Descended from one who came to England with Eleanor of Castile, wife of the first Edward.

Ah, it was her ancestor who had brought her here, the woman who had served that other foreign Queen nearly a hundred years ago.

Finally, the Queen understood and nodded. ‘Habla la lengua de sus antepasados?’

Now she was the one who struggled to understand. Speak? Did she speak…?

She was a widow now. She could speak aloud, even to a queen, without looking over her shoulder for her husband’s permission. And yet, the language of Castile was as foreign to her as hers was to the Queen.

She shook her head. ‘Only enough to say Bienvenida.' That meant welcome. At least, she thought it did.

It was enough to make the Queen smile. ‘Gracias.’ She stretched out a hand, touching the brooch with reverent fingers, then spoke to her interpreter.

‘La Reina wishes to know, is the brooch you wear hers?’

Valerie smiled. ‘Yes, Your Grace. It, too, came from Castile.’ The Queen, the story went, had been generous to her ladies.

Nodding, this Queen cleared her throat and spoke, each word careful and distinct. ‘We to meet again.’

The words touched her like a benediction. ‘I hope so, Your Grace.’

Valerie paused to kneel before the Duke—no, the King—barely looking at him as she hugged the Queen’s words close to her heart.

When she rose, still smiling, and turned away, it was to come face to face with the knight she had seen earlier at the Duke’s right hand. Dark, ragged brows shielded pale blue eyes. His nose and cheeks were sharply carved. He looked to be a man, like her husband, more at home in battle than in the Hall.

She nodded, courteous. Waiting.

‘Lady Valerie, I am Sir Gilbert Wolford.’

Her momentary glow faded. ‘The man they call The Wolf.’

The one who had commanded her husband to his death.

  

About the author:

After many years in public relations, advertising and marketing, Blythe Gifford started writing seriously after a corporate layoff. Ten years and one layoff later, she became an overnight success when she sold her first book to the Harlequin Historical line.  Since then, she has published ten books, primarily set in England and on the Scottish Borders, most revolving around real historical figures and events.  For more information, visit her webpage: www.blythegifford.com, find her on

Facebook: www.facebook.com/BlytheGifford

Instagram: www.instagram.com/blythegifford

Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/blythegifford

Twitter www.twitter.com/BlytheGifford

Or Goodreads:  www.goodreads.com/author/show/672889.Blythe_Gifford

Author photo Jennifer Girard  Excerpt © 2017 Wendy B. Gifford, all rights reserved

Cover Art used by arrangement with Harlequin Enterprises Limited.  All rights reserved. ®and T are trademarks of Harlequin Enterprises Limited and/or its affiliated companies, used under license. Copyright 2017

Mistresses: Katherine Swynford, later Duchess of Lancaster

 

As Gilbert and Sullivan might have written, a mistress’s lot is not a happy one.

Hidden away during her tenure, she is typically abandoned and left alone and penniless later in life.

One great exception to this story is Katherine Swynford, longtime mistress of John of Gaunt, son of King Edward III of England.  She became his third wife, with the title of Duchess of Lancaster, and her descendants sat on the throne of England.

Her story, fictionalized in Anya Seton’s KATHERINE, is responsible for my life-long

Katherine is a character in RUMORS AT COURT

fascinating in the Fourteenth Century English royal family.  In my May release, RUMORS AT COURT, a Royal Wedding story, I finally have the opportunity to use her as a secondary character.

When seeking the facts of Katherine’s life, however, we come up against a void, typical of women’s lives in the past.  

Two historians have tackled her story.  Alison Weir wrote Mistress of the Monarchy and Jeanne Lucraft authored The HISTORY OF A MEDIEVAL MISTRESS.  Even their dedicated, professional interest left many questions, even facts, open to speculation.  

We do know that Katherine was daughter of a knight (Paon de Roet) who was a native of Hainault, (now part of Belgium) the original home of Phillipa, queen of King Edward III of England.  As a result, the queen took an interest and brought young Katherine to court, where she was exposed to its manners and culture.

In 1366, at 16 or 17, she was married to Hugh Swynford, a Lincolnshire knight in the service of John of Gaunt.  Gaunt the third living son of the king, had married Blanche, the Duchess of Lancaster, and assumed the title Duke of Lancaster, along with the associated lands and riches.

By all accounts, Gaunt loved his wife and during the course of their marriage, Katherine became attached to the household as a governess to the Duchess’ children.  The Duke stood as godfather to her daughter by Hugh, named Blanche in honor of the Duchess.  This suggests that Katherine and Hugh were held in high esteem by the Lancaster household.

By all accounts, the widowed Duke was one of the most admired men of his day.  He was tall, lean, and handsome, chivalrous, rich, politically astute and a great warrior.  He had all the traits and talents necessary to be a king.  He lacked only a country.

A father, two brothers and a nephew stood between him and the English crown and throughout his life, he supported them fully. 

But when his Duchess died, he chose Constanza of Castile, who held claim to the crown of Castile, as his wife.  (Note that Constanza was the daughter of Maria de Padilla, covered earlier this month on this blog: https://unusualhistoricals.blogspot.com/2017/02/mistresses-maria-de-padilla-practical.html ) Despite her lofty ambitions, Castile, and its throne, were actually in control of her (illegitimate) uncle.  The struggle to regain the tile went on for more than fifteen years.

From the frontpiece to Chaucer's Trolius and Criseyde. May be image of Katherine.

Sometime after Blanche’s death, John and Katherine began an affair.  Her husband died three years after Blanche, and very close to the time of John’s marriage to Constanza.  Katherine, 22, was a widow with at least three children.  John was ten years older than she.  While we cannot be certain of the date, 1372 seems the most likely, as their first child together was born by 1373 and in their petition to the pope to confirm their marriage stated that both Blanche and Hugh had died before they began their liaison.

John may not have loved his new wife, Constanza, but she was the key to his goal of assuming the throne of Castile so initially, the lovers were discreet.  Certainly by 1375, however, their affair was public knowledge.

During their affair, Katherine bore him four children, but largely stayed out of the attention of the chroniclers.  What does emerge from the record, however, is almost universally flattering.  She was beautiful, educated, pious, and comfortable at the highest  levels of court.

She also, apparently, kept all the children, John’s and her own, in touch and in some blended family, to the extent that they remained, by in large, friendly for the rest of their lives.

By 1388, Gaunt’s dreams of kingship in Castile were gone.  In exchange for giving up Constanza’s claim to the throne, he gained a marriage of their daughter to the heir, so that she became Queen of Castile.

Katherine's tomb as it appeared in 1809.

Constanza lived for another six years, but by this time, John and Katherine, were together publically.  After Constanza’s death, John, contrary to all advice and to the horror of several of the highest born ladies of the court, petitioned the Pope for dispensation to marry Katherine and to legitimize their children.  

So at 46 and 56, they became husband and wife and, Katherine informed the Pope, they celebrated their wedding with “carnal copulation.” 

John lived three years after their marriage.  Katherine lived another four years after his death.

Until King Richard’s marriage to his second wife, Katherine, one time mistress, now a Duchess, was the highest ranking woman in England.

And from John and Katherine’s Beaufort children were descended the Tudor and Stewart kings.

After many years in public relations, advertising and marketing, Blythe Gifford started

writing seriously after a corporate layoff. Ten years and one layoff later, she became an overnight success when she sold her first book to the Harlequin Historical line.  Since then, she has published eleven romances set in England and on the Scottish Borders.  RUMORS AT COURT, a Royal Wedding story, is a May, 2017 release from the Harlequin Historical line.  For more information, visit

www.blythegifford.com

Author photo Jennifer Girard.  Cover Art used by arrangement with Harlequin Enterprises Limited.  All rights reserved. ®and T are trademarks of Harlequin Enterprises Limited and/or its affiliated companies, used under license. Copyright 2017

 

 

Great Loves in History: Katherine Swynford & John of Gaunt

Blythe Gifford

In honor of this month’s theme, Great Loves in History, I am revisiting the story of Katherine Swynford and John of Gaunt, son of King Edward III of England. These two are hands down, my favorite lovers of all time.

Immortalized in Anya Seton’s KATHERINE, their story is an amazing true tale of long time lovers who came to their happy ending late in life.
John, Duke of Lancaster, was, Alison Wier writes “the greatest English nobleman of his time”---chivalrous, rich, politically astute, a great warrior, tall, lean, and handsome. What’s more, it’s reported that 300 years later, a codpiece reportedly made for him was on display in the Tower of London and “better worth a lewd lady’s admiration than any piece of antiquity in the Tower.” (Alas, Wier goes on to expose this as the 18th century equivalent of an urban legend.)

Katherine Swynford, on the other hand, was daughter of a knight (Paon de Roet) and would have sunk into obscurity had it not been for the patron
age of Edward’s queen, Phillipa. She obtained this because her father was from the queen’s home country of Hainault and served her in England for many years.

We have little official evidence of Katherine. No letters and few documents remain, not even her will. What does emerge from the record, however, is almost universally flattering. She was beautiful, educated, pious, and comfortable at the highest levels of court.

In addition, she served as mother or surrogate mother to a blended family of more than ten children. They included three to four of her own (by her first husband), three to four of John’s children (by his first and second wives), as well as the four they had together. And she seems to have successfully created an atmosphere that allowed these pseudo-siblings to become fast friends for life.

Any modern day mother must stand in awe of her for this accomplishment alone.
As a sidenote, Katherine’s sister was married to Geoffrey Chaucer, the pre-eminent writer of the 14th century. This has sparked a game of “find Katherine” among some scholars, for he must have known his sister in law well. The picture here, excerpted from the frontpiece of Caucer’s TROILUS, has been identified as Katherine. (Thanks to Judy Perry for correcting my previous crop of this piece.) At the time the two began their affair, Katherine had already served as governess to John’s children with his first, and much beloved wife, Blanche. (Blanche was a paragon herself. Rich, beautiful, educated, it seems she and John also had a love match.)

Katherine, 22, was a widow with at least three children. John, a widower ten years older than she, had just married Constance of Spain, a political marriage and never a truly happy one.

Initially, the lovers were discreet. John may not have loved his new wife, but she was the key to his goal of assuming the throne of Castile. During their affair, Katherine bore him four children, the Beauforts, but largely stayed away from court (and the attention of the chroniclers) for many years. (From these children, eventually, descended kings of England and Scotland, but that is a story for another post.)

Among the touching evidence that has come down to us from John’s household records are regular gifts to “our very dear and well-beloved Dame Katherine de Swynford.” Among these are oak trees “suitable for building.” This sounds less than romantic to modern ears, but they were cut from forests he owned and used for improvements to her home, Kettlethorpe, where their children were raised.

Of course, all was not bliss. They were regularly apart as John was at court or fighting on the continent. Yet finally, around 1377 or 1378, he seems to have relinquished some of the pretense and Katherine was more and more seen at his side. This did not go unnoticed, and Katherine is called his “unspeakable concubine” by the chroniclers. But despite this, they also note, an unusual and telling entry, that she loved the Duke and their children. (This is a far cry from their description of his father’s mistress, Alice Perrers.)

John’s father had now died, and John was uncle to the new king, Richard II. It was a time of unrest, and when the peasants revolted in 1381, John’s London palace, the Savoy, was looted and then burned to the ground. Katherine, knowing her life and her family’s were in danger, went into hiding, probably at one of John’s northern castles.

Although the revolt finally subsided, it seems to have shaken John. Not only was his property destroyed, members of his household had been murdered. A pious man, he concluded that God was punishing him for his liaison with Katherine. (Political realities may also have been a consideration, for he had become a highly unpopular man.)

He publically broke off the nine year old affair, but also issued a “quit claim” that made it clear that any gifts and property he had given Katherine would remain hers. This document was issued on Valentine’s Day.

And so, the lovers parted.

Despite this, John continued to provide patronage to their children and even to Chaucer’s son, Katherine’s nephew. Meanwhile, the political times were difficult. New favorites came and went and King Richard alternately depended on his uncle and turned on him.

But in 1394, Constance died. John, contrary to all advice and to the horror of several of the highest born ladies of the court, petitioned the Pope for dispensation to marry Katherine and to legitimize their children.

So at 46 and 56, they became husband and wife and, Katherine informed the Pope, they celebrated their wedding with “carnal copulation.”

Until King Richard’s marriage to his second wife, Katherine, Duchess of Lancaster, 
was the highest ranking woman in England. She and John had less than five years together before John’s death and he was not well for most of that time. (John may not have been quite as faithful as his reputation. There’s some suggestion that his last illness was actually venereal disease.)

She survived five years after his death and lived to see John’s son, Henry IV, refer to her, his stepmother, as “the King’s Mother.” Her tomb in the Lincoln Cathedral is sketched to the right.

Much of this material is drawn from Mistress of the Monarchy, by Alison Weir, and The HISTORY OF A MEDIEVAL MISTRESS by Jeanne Lucraft. Those who read INNOCENCE UNVEILED may recognize that I used the birth of “John of Ghent,” subsequently John of Gaunt, as a key incident in the book. While I longed to give Katherine a cameo in The HARLOT’S DAUGHTER, which is set in Richard II’s court, I could not derive a way to do so that would serve the story as well as the author’s interest.


Blythe Gifford has written five, 14th century medieval romances for Harlequin Historicals featuring characters born on the wrong side of the royal blanket, most recently HIS BORDER BRIDE. The Chicago Tribune called her work "the perfect balance between history and romance." A new trilogy, set on the Scottish Borders during the turbulent era of the Border Reivers, will debut in November.

Love Affairs: Katherine Swynford & John of Gaunt

By Blythe Gifford

Any of you who have seen me post here, or elsewhere on the web, will not be surprised at my choice of romantic couples. Katherine Swynford and John of Gaunt, son of King Edward III of England, are hands down, my favorite lovers of all time.

Immortalized in Anya Seton's KATHERINE, their story is an amazing true tale of long time lovers who came to their happy ending late in life.

John, Duke of Lancaster, was, as Alison Weir writes, "the greatest English nobleman of his time"--chivalrous, rich, politically astute, a great warrior, tall, lean, and handsome. What's more, it's reported that 300 years later, a codpiece reportedly made for him was on display in the Tower of London and "better worth a lewd lady's admiration than any piece of antiquity in the Tower." (Alas, Wier goes on to expose this as the 18th century equivalent of an urban legend.)

Katherine Swynford, on the other hand, was daughter of a knight (Paon de Roet) and would have sunk into obscurity had it not been for the patronage of Edward's queen, Phillipa. She obtained this because her father was from the queen's home country of Hainault and who served her in England for many years.

We have little official evidence of Katherine. No letters and few documents remain, not even her will. What does emerge from the record, however, is almost universally flattering. She was beautiful, educated, pious, and comfortable at the highest levels of court.

In addition, she served as mother or surrogate mother to a blended family of more than ten children. They included three to four of her own (by her first husband), three to four of John's children (by his first and second wives), as well as the four they had together. And she seems to have successfully created an atmosphere that allowed these pseudo-siblings to become fast friends for life.

Any modern day mother must stand in awe of her for this accomplishment alone.

As a side note, Katherine's sister was married to Geoffrey Chaucer, the pre-eminent writer of the 14th century. This has sparked a game of "find Katherine" among some scholars, for he must have known his sister in law well. The picture here, excerpted from the frontpiece of Chaucer's TROILUS, has been identified as Katherine, probably late in life, after her marriage to the Duke. If accurate, she seems to have had golden hair, a slim figure, and a fashionably high forehead, even at that age.

At the time the two began their affair, Katherine had already served as governess to John's children with his first, and much beloved wife, Blanche. (Blanche was a paragon herself. Rich, beautiful, educated, it seems she and John also had a love match.)

Katherine, 22, was a widow with at least three children. John, a widower ten years older than she, had just married Constance of Spain, a political marriage and never a truly happy one.

Initially, the lovers were discreet. John may not have loved his new wife, but she was the key to his goal of assuming the throne of Castile. During their affair, Katherine bore him four children, the Beauforts (see my previous post), but largely stayed away from court (and the attention of the chroniclers) for many years.

Among the touching evidence that has come down to us from John's household records are regular gifts to "our very dear and well-beloved Dame Katherine de Swynford." Among these are oak trees "suitable for building." This sounds less than romantic to modern ears, but they were cut from forests he owned and used for improvements to her home, Kettlethorpe, where their children were raised.

Of course, all was not bliss. They were regularly apart as John was at court or fighting on the continent. Yet finally, around 1377 or 1378, he seems to have relinquished some of the pretense and Katherine was more and more seen at his side. This did not go unnoticed, and Katherine is called his "unspeakable concubine" by the chroniclers. But despite this, they also note, an unusual and telling entry, that she loved the Duke and their children. (This is a far cry from their description of his father's mistress, Alice Perrers.)

John's father had now died, and John was uncle to the new king, Richard II. It was a time of unrest, and when the peasants revolted in 1381, John's London palace, the Savoy, was looted and then burned to the ground. Katherine, knowing her life and her family's were in danger, went into hiding, probably at one of John's northern castles.

Although the revolt finally subsided, it seems to have shaken John. Not only was his property destroyed, his members of his household had been murdered. A pious man, he concluded that God was punishing him for his liaison with Katherine. (Political realities may also have been a consideration, for he had become a highly unpopular man.)

He publicly broke off the nine year old affair, but also issued a "quit claim" that made it clear that any gifts and property he had given Katherine would remain hers. This document was issued on Valentine's Day.

And so, the lovers parted.

Despite this, John continued to provide patronage to their children and even to Chaucer's son, Katherine's nephew. Meanwhile, the political times were difficult. New favorites came and went and King Richard alternately depended on his uncle and turned on him.

But in 1394, Constance died. John, contrary to all advice and to the horror of several of the highest born ladies of the court, petitioned the Pope for dispensation to marry Katherine and to legitimize their children.

So at 46 and 56, they became husband and wife and, Katherine informed the Pope, they celebrated their wedding with "carnal copulation."

Until King Richard's marriage to his second wife, Katherine, Duchess of Lancaster, was the highest ranking woman in England. She and John had less than five years together before John's death and he was not well for most of that time. (John may not have been quite as faithful as his reputation. There's some suggestion that his illness was venereal disease.)

She survived five years after his death and lived to see John's son, Henry IV, refer to her, his stepmother, as "the King's Mother." A sketch of her tomb in Lincoln Cathedral is at left.

Her Cinderella story is virtually unduplicated in medieval history. It is a testament to a love that endured years, miles, marriages, guilt, and separation to find its own happy ending.

Source: Much of this material is drawn from Mistress of the Monarchy by Alison Weir, and The History of a Medieval Mistress by Jeanne Lucraft. Those who read my INNOCENCE UNVEILED may recognize that I used the birth of "John of Ghent," subsequently John of Gaunt, as a key incident in the book.