John of Gaunt with Helen Carr

Diplomat, soldier, prince, adulterer. This week on The Medieval Podcast, Danièle speaks with Helen Carr about one of the most colourful and powerful figures of the late Middle Ages: John of Gaunt.
Get the show notes at www.medievalists.net/2021/04/...
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[@abbykhomeschool5398]

The book Katherine by Anya Seton is a fascinating historical fiction look at Katherine Swynford and John’s life together.

[@fionadent7800]

Yes I read it as a teenager and found I couldnt put it down

[@selbos]

Duke of Lancaster, uncle to Richard II, father of Henry IV (Bolingbroke), grandfather to Henry V and great-grandfather to Henry VI.

[@jo-anbryson466]

Joan Beaufort, John of Gaunts granddaughter marries James I of Scotland as well.

[@Super_Grover_]

Thank you, I really enjoyed this episode! My grandma is a genealogist and two of the most exciting and interesting ancestors in my family lineage is John of Gaunt and Katherine Swynford. I’m so grateful to have such detailed, thorough records of my family tree.

[@kingoftheultraworld]

This man is my times 20 great grandfather - thank you bringing him to life!

[@user-ye9xf8kn9i]

My 19th great grandfather.. how you doing cousin 😅

[@francescowling562]

Alison Weir wrote a very good biography of Katherine and JohnO'Gaunt.

[@annahart69]

What a treat!! Thank you so much for bringing to life one of the most influencial and interesting figures in history and in such great detail!👏👏👏👏

[@kweejibodali7009]

that is fascinating that he. s ancestor to catherine of aragon, considering that he is ancestor to henry viii on both father and mother s sides ...so he is ancestor to henry s first wife as well, and therefore doubly ancestor to mary tudor, queen of england

[@rickrudd]

Father of Henry Bolingbrook, brother of the Black Prince, uncle of Richard II, patriarch of the Lancastrians

[@kweejibodali7009]

GREAT great grandfather of Henry VII, direct ancestor of Henry VIII, Elizabeth I ,, Tudor dynasty descended from him as well as Lancaster, great grandfather of kingmaker infamous Richard Neville of Warwick (major support of both sides Lancaster and York, and even considered possibility of taking throne himself), great grandfather as well of Edward IV and Richard III

[@CAROLUSPRIMA]

I’ve also read that he was one of the richest people to have ever lived. Yes, it’s almost comparing apples to oranges when trying to translate to the present day; but there it is.

[@rickrudd]

@@iss9875 speaking of facts, remember the time your wife's boyfriend recited the capital city of every nation on Earth!? Zany!

[@rickrudd]

@@iss9875 Not sure. Maybe I was stoned. Perhaps I was just feeling inspired to write something that minute and that's all that came to mind. However it's certainly not common knowledge. If I walked into the heart of my city (Richmond, VA) and asked the first 500 people I saw, "who was John of Gaunt's father," I'd venture to say exactly none of them would know who he was and I'd have zero correct responses.

[@josephcollins6033]

Wonderful information! I think Ms. Carr should listen to some of her podcasts so that she will speak more clearly, distinctly; she often does this, but more often she drops her tone and runs words together. I am sure, as an American, this causes more difficulty for me! :)) Thanks so very much.

[@ChristineCarmichaelphysteacher]

As a Brit, I find Ms Carr's diction much more distinct than the American who gabbles and giggles.

[@josephcollins6033]

@@ChristineCarmichaelphysteacher Surely that has to do with our ears and what they take in on a daily basis. Absolutely. I can't remember the American now, but I can assure you that Americans drive me nuts with how they speak. I was a singer (real music, not other stuff!) and diction is a huge thing to me. Something happened in this country about 20 years ago; speaking is garbles and wide and pressed and rushed. Maybe I don't want to go back and listen to this! I do remember the problem with Ms. Carr. I was trying to help.

[@passageoftime8561]

I just bought The Red Prince and can't wait to read it!

[@CAROLUSPRIMA]

Worthwhile book for sure. Amazing man.

[@8thLegio]

Hope y’all do one on Thomas of Woodstock! Another great piece of content, keep it up!

[@chriscaughey1103]

I love the channel and Helen's book The Red Prince!

[@karlyoung5089]

I just bought The Red Prince. Looking forward to reading it.

[@WonHyo69]

That was amazing content, have just bought the book, can't wait to get started on it.

[@epicfantasy]

I love this channel so much!

[@kweejibodali7009]

even though the entire doc is interesting in terms of john s life, it is at 40:50 when one finally hears the most significant elation ship john has to richard II and the crown of england, and the dynamics that were created when richard exiled henry bolingbroke. i have never quite heard it explained thoroughly that henry may have felt forced to take the crown, in order to get back his own lands... this is a very important point, if this is true, as to why, in a sense, he usurped the throne, which is rightfully belonging to the Mortimers, Edmund son of Roger Mortimer who some called heir presumptive as they are descended from Lionel, second son of Edward III , and since the first son, the black prince s line died out with Richard II, seem to be rightful heirs. It is the first opportunity that i have heard of both john and henry s loyalty to crown being divided and conflicted.

[@andrewyarwood5625]

direct ancestor 20 generations lol now I climb chimneys for a living .just one of many decendants found my link through sir henry norris who was beheaded at the tower of london

[@ralphnoyes4366]

I've heard that 80% of English people are descended from John of Gaunt's father, Edward III.

[@j_eeazy7744]

Me too. I'm 80% English lol

[@andrewyarwood5625]

john of gaunts third wife Katherine sywnford

[@JuliahistoryLover]

Love this!

[@annascott3542]

I sure wish this channel had visuals. I know I would watch more if it did.

[@kweejibodali7009]

agreed

[@deedeedodo8092]

I put my earphpnes in and listen to it in bed with my eyes shut, perfect 🥰

[@charlieryskamp344]

Enrique de Trastámara was the half-brother of Pedro the Cruel. They were both sons of Alonso XI of Castille.

[@lincolnbrock1052]

excellent. thanks.

[@fayharris5335]

I am direct desended of John of gaunt and Katherine swynford them being my around my 20x great grandparents I from the line of their son Henry beaufort

[@paulleverton9569]

No one cares. It's just dull when people like you go post comments about your possible distant ancestors. (Edited because I left out the word 'you').

[@rose2fame1]

@@paulleverton9569 that wasn’t very nice. I am a decendant of his as well. It’s very interesting to find this information out imo. Fay he was one of my 19th great grandfathers.

[@paulleverton9569]

@@rose2fame1 I've just read THE RED PRINCE by Helen Carr and there's another John of Gaunt biography recently released by Katherine Warner. I'm less bothered about reading that because it's published by Amberley and Warner has released about ten books in the last two years, so not much research went into them. The Amazon reviews are littered by people who just want to tell random strangers that they have an ancestral connection to Gaunt. It's irrelevant and boring. No one cares. And it's no kind of book review.

[@LindaHarward]

Read “Katherine” by Anya Seton. It will become one book you read over and over.

[@west6682]

Through marriage I’m related to John of gaunt. Very interesting thank you

[@kweejibodali7009]

very significant figure, this guy his direct descendants within several generations are huge figures in english history, henry vii, henry viii, elizabeth i, edward iv and richard iii of York were also descended from john of gaunt s granddaughter cicely neville who was their mother and was grandmother to edward v ... many significant members of both house of york and lancaster are descended from him, including elizabeth of york, wife of henry vii, and who had a stronger claim to throne than her husband and legitimized his career as king of england ...elizabeth of york was also granddaughter of cicely ... therefore henry viii, son of both henry vii, and elizabeth of york was actually descended directly from john of gaunt on both sides ..you might state what branch your spouse is. descended from as John of gaunt had a lot of children who also were very prolific and that would. be quite interesting , are you married to Lancaster or Beaufort ( theTudor dynasty is connected to the Beaufort side ) or to York side of John s descendants ?

[@west6682]

@@kweejibodali7009 Plantagenet, i’ve only traced it as far as Geoffrey v count of anjou

[@west6682]

@@kweejibodali7009 Through marriage is the Beauford side. The Earl of Worcester married another branch of my family much later in history, Barony of West/de la warr

[@kweejibodali7009]

@@west6682 your spouse is related to beaufort? or geoffrey? sorry don't quite follow it....i am not familiar with Worcester s relationship..also, the Beauforts that i refer to are the kids of john of gaunt third wife , they are named Beaufort

[@west6682]

@@kweejibodali7009 My apologies poor explanation. I already knew i was related to the Beaufort line through Charles Sumerset 1st earl of Worcester who married Elizabeth West, daughter of Thomas West 8th baron de la warr. After i posted my first comment my Dad paid to have his blood ancestry mapped and it turns out im also related to the plantagenet lineage through Edward iii, the furthest we’ve gone back through that line is Geoffrey. Sorry for the poor explanation

[@davidchambers459]

Not only was John of Gaunt a European Prince who was the ancestor of most European royalty, but was also the how-ever-many-greats grandfather of every single United States president, with the possible exception of Martin Van Buren! Thank you for highlighting this most important, but often overlooked, historical figure. I learned a lot!

[@mariaortizsantodomingo7215]

El problema con los aliados ingleses en Castilla es que siempre se llevan bastante más que los enemigos

[@carlanthonyholmes2162]

in later years the Black Prince blamed his failing health as gods punishment for helping Pedro.

[@evanswinford7165]

John is my ancestor.

[@skillian3826]

He was an Ancestor of mine.

[@elsacristina9]

John of Gaunt, the father of one of our favorite and beloved Queens: Phillipa of Lancaster. And I'm sorry, what Portugal has to do with Spain? Portugal was an independent kingdom since 1143. So we were NOT part of Spain.

[@valmarsiglia]

Well, except for the Iberian Union, which lasted for 60 years (1580-1640).

[@THINKincessantly]

Fun Fact: Historian Dan Jones had the guts to make a show with Anne Boleyn being Black like she should be!

[@matthewjennings9037]

Wondering if you can assist or point me in the right direction.

[@JuliahistoryLover]

Who are the lords of hell Ent?

[@THINKincessantly]

🇧🇷🇧🇴🇧🇪🇧🇧Never would have thought a podcast by a couple Black women would be so interesting! Maybe Blacks are the original Europeans….They do seem to be superior in everything in todays world! Hats off Ladys! You make the Black community PROUD!

[@andreaharrison3437]

I am a descendant …. thenkyou for bringing him to life very Intresting 🌷

[@clovelly1946]

I'm a direct descendant.

[@sauvageaux]

🏵️

[@lisaeriksson1081]

34:25

[@tommykarate6226]

Black Prince was the real deal

[@Eris123451]

Couldn't get past the C.V. sorry.

[@THINKincessantly]

The Black Prince was Black!

[@melvincain5012]

An interesting talk, spoilt by the giggling throughout at nothing funny.