Castile | The History Jar

Constanza of Castile John’s marriage to Blanche of Lancaster gave him wealth and land – including thirty castles across England. He held Kenilworth, Pontefract, Lincoln, Leicester, Tutbury and Monmouth to name but a few. Blanche died on 12 September 1368 at Tutbury.

Three years later on 21st September 1371 John married Constanza or Constance of Castile. The following year at the beginning of February she made a state entry to London. The marriage gave John a claim to the kingdom of Castile by right of his new wife. Constance was the daughter of King Pedro – or Pedro the Cruel – John had had himself proclaimed King of Castile on January 29th. The state entry reinforced John’s new status and the reason behind it.

Pedro had been usurped by his half-brother Henry of Trastamara and having fled across the Pyrenees sought the help of Gaunt’s elder brother the Black Prince. There were many more twists in the plot but ultimately Henry murdered his brother and claimed the kingdom of Castile ignoring the rights of Constance who was safely in english held territory along with her younger sister Isabella. It was the Black Prince who escorted Constance into London in February 1372. The marriage was a dynastic one – shortly after the second marriage Gaunt began his affair with Katherine Swynford.

In the meantime Constance bore two children. John was born in 1374 but died the following year. Catherine or Catalina of Lancaster was born in early 1373 or possibly late 1372. Her marriage, like her half sister Philippa’s, reflected John’s Iberian political aspirations but one of her descendants would be at the centre of a scandal that shook England’s religious foundations.

It was only in 1386 that John was able to raise the funds to mount an invasion of Castile in aid to claim his throne after the King of Portugal defeated the Castilians. The money came from a loan granted by Richard II on the understanding that it would be repaid once John had his throne. Richard was leased to see the back of his dominant uncle whilst the nobility – or extended family as you’ve probably now come to think of them- resented his power. There was an underlying fear that he might seek the throne of England for himself.

Catherine of Aragon, c. 1496, portrait by Juan de Flandes. Fine Art Images/Heritage Images/Getty Images

The Iberian Campaign was not a rip roaring success. John couldn’t get his Castilian allies to give battle and it wasn’t long before disease began to decimate his army. The Treaty of Bayonne saw John give up his claim to the Castilian throne. In return he received a sizeable payout and his daughter Catalina was betrothed to Henry of Castile. She married him in 1388 and had several children including John II of Castile in inherited the throne whilst still a child. Her great grand daughter was Catherine of Aragon…back to the cousin issue again! This picture is in the post because its one of my absolute favourites!

Constanza died in March 1394 at Leicester. Two years later John of Gaunt married Katherine Swynford. John was fifty-six. Katherine was forty-six. She had no power, wealth or title from which John might benefit but she did already have four children by John.

In 1378 Westminster Abbey had to be closed for several months after an unfortunate interlude. Murder had been done in the choir and John of Gaunt was implicated. It didn’t help his reputation as the abbey had to be reconsecrated.

The back story is important. Two knights called Schakell and Hawle or Hauley had taken a Spanish Count prisoner whilst fighting with the Black Prince during the Hundred Years War – the capture took place in 1367 at the Battle of Najera. A ransom was required for the release of the Count of Denia from Aragon. This was normal procedure and one of the reasons why going to war was so popular as men were able to make a fortune on the battlefield by capturing wealthy men. The Count was allowed to return to Spain to organise the ransom but had to leave his son, Alphonso, as a hostage. Ten years later Alphonso, who was the count’s eldest son was still in England.

Unfortunately for Schakell and Robert Hawle, who was actually Schakell’s squire John of Gaunt was negotiating for the Crown of Castile. The fact that a Spanish noble was being held hostage until his pa sent back large sums of cash was not good press. Pressure was applied. Remember this was only a year after Richard II had become king. John’s power whilst not absolute was non the less impressive.

The two knights refused to release their prisoner. John had them arrested and sent to the Tower of London to focus their minds. They managed to escape from the Tower and fled to Westminster Abbey where they claimed sanctuary.

You can probably see where this is going. Sanctuary was ignored by a group of by the Constable of the Tower, Alan Boxhall. Schakell was captured but Hawle and a monk were murdered in the Choir. All of which sounds as though it was a mad chase through the street and an action which took place in the heat of the moment.

Unfortunately a royal letter made its way to the Abbot of Westminster demanding that Schakell and Hawle be handed over. The abbot refused. And that’s when the Constable made his move – so not the heat of the moment. And he didn’t go with a few men. He took fifty men into the abbey.

The upshot of this was that Bloxhall and all who were involved were excommunicated apart from the young Richard II, his mother Joan of Kent and of course John of Gaunt which seems a bit rich as it’s not a wild leap of deduction to work out who the plan’s mastermind might have been.