Philippa of Lancaster

Philippa (Portuguese: Filipa) was born on 31 March 1360, in Leicester. She was the oldest child of John of Gaunt, 1st Duke of Lancaster and his wife, Blanche of Lancaster.

Philippa spent her infancy moving around the properties owned by her family with her mother and her wet-nurse, Maud. She was raised and educated with alongside her two siblings, Elizabeth and Henry.

Blanche of Lancaster died of plague in 1369 and, in 1371, her father remarried: the chosen wife was Infanta Constance of Castile. In 1394, Constance died and John of Gaunt remarried yet again, this time to his mistress, Katherine Swynford (Katherine had been Philippa's governess). This affair and eventual marriage was considered scandalous.

Katherine Swynford seems to have been well liked by Philippa and her siblings; she played an important role in Philippa's education. Katherine was related to Geoffrey Chaucer, since her sister (also called Philippa) was his wife. John of Gaunt became Chaucer's patron and, in consequence, he spent much time with the family as one of Philippa's many mentors and teachers. Philippa was remarkably well educated for a female at the time and studied science, poetry, philosophy and theology. She was well read in the works of Greek and Roman scholars such as Pliny and Herodotus and was diligent in her study of religion.

On 14 February 1387, Philippa became Queen of Portugal through her marriage to King João I. The wedding took place in the Cathedral of Porto, and the court celebrated the union for fifteen days. The marriage itself, as was usually the case, was a matter of state and political alliance, and the couple did not meet until 12 days after they were legally married. Philippa was considered to be rather plain, and João already had a mistress (Inês Peres Esteves), by whom he had three children. Two of these children (Afonso and Beatriz) were raised in the Portuguese court, and Inês left to live in a convent where, under Philippa's patronage, she became the Prioress.

In marrying Philippa, João established a political and personal alliance with John of Gaunt, initially because it was rumoured that John of Gaunt would claim the Kingdom of Castile through Catherine of Lancaster, his daughter by Constance of Castile. It was feared that, as the de facto King of Castile, John of Gaunt could challenge the newly installed dynasty. Instead, at Windsor in 1386, João I of Portugal signed the remarkably long-lasting Portuguese-British Alliance. This alliance continued through the Napoleonic Wars and ensured Portugal's tenuous neutrality in World War II.

Philippa, at the age of 27, was thought to be too old to become a bride for the first time, and the court questioned her ability to bear children. However, Philippa and João had nine children and six survived into adulthood: Branca, Afonso, Duarte, Pedro, Henrique, Isabel, Branca, João e Fernando. The first Branca, Afonso and the second Branca died in infancy.

Though Philippa was seen to present a demeanour of queenly piety, commenting that it would be regarded as an indecent thing for a wife to interfere in her husband's affairs, she wielded significant influence in the Portuguese and English courts, and was actively involved in world affairs.

Philippa's main political contribution was, however, in her own court. Upon the end of the Portuguese involvement in several wars with Castile and the Moors, the Portuguese economy was failing, and many soldiers were unemployed. Philippa knew that the conquest and control of Ceuta would be lucrative for Portugal with the control of the African and Indian spice trade. Though Philippa died before her plan was realised, Portugal did send an expedition to conquer the city. Success came on 14 August 1415, in the Battle of Ceuta.

At the age of 53, Philippa fell ill with the plague. She moved from Lisbon to Sacavém and called her sons to her bedside so that she could bless them. Philippa presented her three eldest sons with jewel-encrusted swords, and gave each a portion of the True Cross, enjoining them to preserve their faith and to fulfil the duties of their rank. Though he had been reluctant to marry her, the King had grown quite fond of his wife, and it is said that he was so grieved by her mortal illness...that he could neither eat nor sleep. In her final hours, Philippa was said to be lucid and without pain. According to legend, she was roused by a wind which blew strongly against the house and asked what wind it was. Upon hearing it was the north wind, she claimed it was quite beneficial for her son's and husband's voyage to Africa, which she had coordinated.

At her death, Philippa prayed with several priests and, without any toil or suffering, she gave her soul in to the hands of Him who created her, a smile appearing on her mouth as though she had disdained the life of this world. Philippa of Lancaster, Queen of Portugal died on 19 July 1415, in Sacavém.

Philippa and João's union was praised for establishing purity and virtue in a particularly corrupt court. She is remembered as the mother of The Illustrious Generation (Portuguese: Ínclita Geração). Her surviving children went on to make historically significant contributions in their own right.

The wedding of João I of Portugal and Philippa of Lancaster

Chronique de France et d'Angleterre

15th century