OTD 14 September 1435 John of Lancaster 1st Duke of Bedford

20 June 1389 marks the birth of John of Lancaster.

Family

His parents were King Henry IV of England and Mary de Bohun.
John was their third son . He also was the brother of King Henry
V of England. They were members of the noble house of Lancaster.

Life

In 1399, Henry IV ascended the throne of England and John started
to gain land and lucrative offices.

On 12 October 1399, he was knightened.

In 1402, John of Lancaster became Knight of the Garter.

In 1414, John was granted the titles: Earl of Kendal, Earl of
Richmond and Duke of Bedford by his brother King Henry V of
England.

Between 1422 and 1432, John of Lancaster had been Governor
of Normandy during the Hundred Years' War.

He was an important patron of arts. He ordered many illuminated
manuscripts both from Paris and England.

He also gave the order to found the University of Caen in France.

Love & Marriage

In June 1423, John married Anne of Burgundy, the daughter of
John the Fearless, Duke of Burgundy. He was thus a brother in
law of Philip the Good. The couple was happily married until
Anne died in 1432 in Paris.

On 22 April 1433, John remarried to Jacquetta of Luxembourg.

Death

On 14 September 1435, John of Lancaster the 1st. Duke of
Bedford died during the Congress of Arras at his castle of
Joyeux Repos in Rouen (France).

Legacy

William Shakespeare protrayed this man in several plays inter alia:

Henry IV (part I and II)
Henry V
Henry VI

as John of Lancaster or 1st. Duke of Bedford.





Source pictures: Wikipedia