Katherine Swynford: The Enigmatic Medieval Mistress who Captivated a King

A Woman of Humble Origins

Katherine Swynford's life began in obscurity, her exact birthdate and birthplace shrouded in uncertainty. However, historical records indicate that she was born in the mid-1340s, likely in Hainault, present-day Belgium. Her father, Paon de Roet, was a knight in the service of the English Crown, while her mother, Isabel de Coucy, was a lady-in-waiting to the Countess of Hainault.

Katherine Swynford: The History of a Medieval Mistress

by Jeannette Lucraft

4.1 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	980 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	260 pages
Lending	:	Enabled

FREE

Katherine's early years were spent in the bustling courts of Hainault and England. It was during this time that she met John of Gaunt, the third surviving son of King Edward III. John of Gaunt was a powerful and ambitious man, who would later play a significant role in English history. Katherine and John of Gaunt's paths crossed while she was serving as a governess to his children from his first marriage to Blanche of Lancaster.

A Scandalous Love

Katherine Swynford and John of Gaunt's relationship quickly blossomed into a passionate affair. However, their love was forbidden, as John of Gaunt was already married. Undeterred, they carried on their affair in secret, meeting in secluded places and exchanging passionate letters.

In 1372, John of Gaunt's wife, Blanche of Lancaster, passed away. Finally free to pursue his love, John of Gaunt married Katherine Swynford in a secret ceremony. The marriage caused a scandal at the time, as it violated the social norms and religious expectations of the era. Many in the English court, including King Edward III, were outraged that a man of John of Gaunt's stature would marry a woman of Katherine's humble origins.

Katherine Swynford: The History of a Medieval Mistress

by Jeannette Lucraft

4.1 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	980 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	260 pages
Lending	:	Enabled

FREE