The Lancastrian line continued through Henry V and Henry VI, profoundly shaping the monarchy and English national identity in the late medieval period. Through John of Gaunt, the English crown was linked to continental European politics and claims, setting the stage for future claims and conflicts.
John of Gaunt and the Spanish Crown: A Self-Styled King
An intriguing and lesser-known aspect of John’s legacy involves his claim to the crown of Castile (part of modern Spain). His second marriage to Constance of Castile, the daughter of King Peter of Castile, gave him a hereditary claim to the Castilian throne. King Peter, known as Peter the Cruel, had been overthrown and killed during a civil war in Castile, but Constance’s lineage allowed John to assert his right as her consort and heir.
John styled himself “King of Castile and León” and made repeated attempts to press this claim through military and diplomatic efforts, although he never successfully ruled in Spain. His claim was largely symbolic but underscored the medieval practice of royal marriages being used as instruments of political ambition and territorial expansion.
This claim connected English royal interests to the complex Iberian dynastic disputes of the 14th century and reflected the broader European struggle for influence. John’s assertion was emblematic of the era’s fluid and contested notions of monarchy and sovereignty. shutdown123