Katherine Swynford: the story of John of Gaunt and his scandalous duchess

Katherine de Roet (1350-1403) became the third wife of John of Gaunt (1340-1399), a son of King Edward III and Philippa of Hainault. Initially Katherine had married Sir Hugh Swynford who died in 1371. She became the mistress of John of Gaunt and they had four children. When John of Gaunt's second wife died he married Katherine and insisted that their children should be recognised as part of his family. Alison Weir has proved us with a dramatic account of this period of English history.

 

In her historical study, Katherine Swynford, Alison Weir sets out to provide an account of Katherine's life from the scant records available. The interest in the life of Katherine and John of Gaunt has increased over the years especially since the publication of the novel, Katherine, by Anna Seton which was published in 1954. Detailed notes plus a select bibliography, notes, index and family trees are provided.

 

NB: This book was published in the United States with the title Mistress of the Monarchy: The Life of Katherine Swynford, Duchess of Lancaster by Alison Weir

 

Katherine Swynford - Alison Weir  

Queens of the Age of Chivalry

Queens of the Age of Chivalry is the third book in the series, England's Medieval Queens, written by Alison Weir . The stories of the five queens in this book include:

Marguerite of France, the second wife of King Edward I

Isabella of France, the wife of King Edward II

Philippa of Hainault, the wife of King Edward III

Anne of Bohemia, first wife of King Richard II

Isabella of Valois, second wife of King Richard II.

Alison Weir has written detailed accounts of the lives of these women based on the information available. Unfortunately many of the the records from this period have disappeared or have been reconstructed to support or discredit the main characters being portrayed but the reader is provided with a vivid picture of life lived in medieval times.

At the end of the book is an extensive  select bibliography, sources of quotes in the text and an index. There are also some coloured plates.

Queens of the Crusades

 Queens of the Crusades is the second book in the England Medieval Queens series by Alison Weir. The stories of the five queens in this book include:

Eleanor of Aquitaine, the wife of King Henry II

Berebgaria of Navarre, the first wife of King Richard I

Isabella of Angouleme, the wife of King John

Alienor of Provence, the wife of King Henry III

Eleanor of Castile, wife of King Edward I.

Alison Weir has written detailed accounts on the lives of these women based on thre information available. Unfortunately many of the original records from this period have disappeared or have been reconstructed to support or discredit the main characters being portrayed but the reader is provided with a vivid picture of life lived in medieval times.

At the end of the book is an extensive select bibliography, sources of quotes in the text plus an index. There are also some coloured plates.

Queens of the Conquest

Queens of the Conquest is the first book in the England Medieval Queens series by Alison Weir. The stories of the five queens in this book include:

Matilda of Flanders, the wife of William the Conqueror

Matilda of Scotland, the first wife of King Henry I

Adeliza of Louvain, the second wife of King Henry I

Empress Matilda, daughter of King Henry I and wife of Geoffrey Plantangenet of Anjou

Matilda of Boulonge, wife of King Stephen.

Alison Weir has written detailed accounts on the lives of these women based on the information available. Unfortunately many of the original records from this period have disappeared or have been reconstructed to support or discredit the main characters being portrayed but the reader is provided with a vivid picture of life lived in medieval times.

At the end of the book are appendices including a guide to the principal Chronicle sources, an extensive select bibliography, notes and references plus an index. There are also some coloured plates.