Katherine Roet (1340-1403)
born 25 November 1340 Picardy, Hainault
died 10 May 1403 Lincoln
married 13 January 1396 Lincoln Cathedral
John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster
born 24 June 1340 Gent
died 3 February 1399 Leicester Castle
Her first husband was Sir Hugh Swynford, a member of the retinue of
John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster. After Hugh's death in 1372, she became
John of Gaunt's mistress and governess of his children by his second wife,
Constance of Castile. John of Gaunt and Catherine Swynford became the parents
of four children who received the surname of Beaufort, after one of his
estates. After Constance's death, John of Gaunt married Catherine Swynford
and, in 1397, their children were legitimised. However, in 1407 Henry IV
added a proviso to the
legitimisation that they had no claim to the throne.
Source: Leo van de Pas
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