Growing up in the fascinating household of her father John of Gaunt, did Philippa anticipate she would one day be Felipa of Portugal, mother of the most significant dynasty in her adopted country? This medieval princess was the granddaughter of the Plantagenet King, Edward III. After the death of her mother, Blanche of Lancaster, from the Black Death when Philippa was 9, the infamous Katherine Swynford became her governess. In 1371 John of Gaunt made a political marriage with the Infanta Constance of Castile, but Katherine was his mistress.
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| The Savoy Palace |
John of Gaunt was not popular with the people of London and
during the Peasants Revolt in 1381 their home, the Savoy Palace, located
between the Strand and the river Thames, was destroyed. Kathryn bore him four children, given the
surname Beaufort and they were legitimised when John married Katherine, after the
death of Constance in 1394.
During his marriage to Constance, John adopted the title,
King of Castile. The Anglo-Portuguese
alliance arranged with King João in 1386 meant that John was able to land with
an army in Spain and mount a campaign for the throne of Castile. Even with the
help of Portuguese troops, he was unsuccessful, but a marriage was arranged
between King João and Philippa.
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| The Marriage of King João and Philippa of Lancaster |
Although King João had previously kept a mistress there is
evidence that his marriage to Philippa was a happy one. They had nine children of whom six survived
to be called the “illustrious generation”.
Their first son was Edward Duarte who became King after his father’s death,
their third was the famous Prince Henry the Navigator.
Felipa of Portugal visited many parts of her adopted country
and was well loved by the Portuguese people.
In 1409 she and her husband visited England where her brother was now
King Henry IV. Peace had been made with
Castile but Felipa wanted action to be taken against the Moors. João and his sons planned an attack on the
fortified city of Ceuta in North Africa but while the ships were being
supplied, Felipa contracted the plague.
She was taken to the convent of Odivelas in hope of a recovery in the
cooler hills. Having ordered three jewelled
swords, she asked her husband to promise that he would knight his three sons
with them. She died with her daughter
Isabel and her husband by her side, at the age of 55.
Although quickly buried at Odivelas, eighteen years later
when King João died, her body was moved to lie next to her husband at the
chapel of Batalha.
