Beaufort family

The House of Beaufort is an English noble family, which originated in the fourteenth century and played an important role in the political struggles of the fifteenth century. The name Beaufort refers to a castle in Champagne, France (now Montmorency-Beaufort), once the possession of John of Gaunt, 1st Duke of Lancaster, third son of King Edward III. The family is descended from John Beaufort (1371-1410), John of Gaunt's son by his then-mistress K... More

The House of Beaufort is an English noble family, which originated in the fourteenth century and played an important role in the political struggles of the fifteenth century. The name Beaufort refers to a castle in Champagne, France (now Montmorency-Beaufort), once the possession of John of Gaunt, 1st Duke of Lancaster, third son of King Edward III. The family is descended from John Beaufort (1371-1410), John of Gaunt's son by his then-mistress Katherine Swynford. Gaunt later married Swynford, and their children were legitimized, but were officially barred from succeeding to the throne ('excepta regali dignitate'). The Beauforts were a powerful and wealthy family from the start, and rose to greater power when their brother became King Henry IV. When the dynastic struggle known as the Wars of the Roses broke out in the later fifteenth century, the Beauforts were the chief supporters of Henry VI and the House of Lancaster. Henry VII traced his claim to the English crown through his...

Less