House of Plantagenet Index (1216 – 1399)

A 13th-century depiction of  King Henry III’s coronation; Credit – Wikipedia

No British dynasty has been as successful as the Plantagenets of this time period in passing down the crown. These Plantagenet kings had to deal with the Second Baron’s War and the Hundred Years’ War. King Edward I conquered Wales and tried to conquer Scotland. Parliament and other social institutions developed. A distinctive English culture arose. Geoffrey Chaucer, the father of English literature wrote his Canterbury Tales. Great cathedrals were built and universities were established. The Bubonic Plague or Black Death caused great turmoil and killed half of England’s population. In 1399, the Plantagenet dynasty was split into two cadet branches, the House of Lancaster (reigned 1399 – 1461 and 1470 – 1471) and the House of York, (reigned 1461 – 1470 and 1471 – 1485), who battled for control of the crown in the Wars of the Roses.

Out of all the members of the House of Plantagenet, perhaps John of Gaunt, the fourth son but the third surviving son of King Edward III of England, stands out as the most dynastically important. It is through John’s first marriage that the Duchy of Lancaster eventually became a possession of the British Crown. John is also quite important in royal genealogy. His daughter Catherine of Lancaster married King Enrique III of Castile, which made John the grandfather of King Juan II of Castile and the ancestor of all subsequent monarchs of Castile and a united Spain. His daughter Philippa of Lancaster married King João I of Portugal making all future Portuguese monarchs descendants of John. Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom and her predecessors since King Henry IV are descended from John of Gaunt. The Houses of Lancaster, York, and Tudor were all descended from John of Gaunt’s children. In fact, most European monarchies are descended from John of Gaunt.

Below is an indexed listing with links to biographical articles about the House of Plantagenet at Unofficial Royalty. If it says “Notable Issue” before a name, that means not all of the children for the parent of that person are listed. Also listed below are links to House of Plantagenet Miscellaneous Articles, and links to the various British Content Areas.

House of Plantagenet (1216 – 1399)

Family of King Henry III of England

Family of King Edward I of England

Family of King Edward II of England

Family of King Edward III of England

Family of King Richard II of England

House of Plantagenet Notable Illegitimate Children

King Edward II

King Edward III

House of Plantagenet Miscellaneous Articles

British Content Areas