Philippa of Lancaster (Portuguese: Filipa [fiˈlipɐ]; 31 March 1360 – 19 July 1415) was Queen of Portugal from 1387 until 1415 as the wife of King John I. Born into the royal family of England, she was the daughter of John of Gaunt and granddaughter of Edward III of England.
Born~Died Mar 31, 1360 ~ Jul 19, 1415Last edited Oct 15, 2026, 2:46 PM
Born on 31 March 1360, Philippa was the eldest child of John of Gaunt, 1st Duke of Lancaster, and Blanche of Lancaster.2 Philippa spent her infancy moving around the various properties owned by her family with her mother and her wet-nurse, Maud.3 Here, she was raised and educated alongside her two younger siblings, Elizabeth, who was three years younger, and Henry, seven years younger, who would later become King Henry IV. Philippa's mother, Blanche, died in 1368. Her father remarried in 1371 to Infanta Constance of Castile, daughter of King Peter of Castile, and on Constance's death in 1394, he married his former mistress, Katherine Swynford, who had been Philippa's governess. The affair and eventual marriage were considered scandalous, and in the future, Philippa would protect herself against such embarrassment.
Katherine seems to have been well liked by Philippa and her Lancastrian siblings and played an important role in Philippa's education. Katherine had close ties with Geoffrey Chaucer, since her sister, Philippa Roet, was Chaucer's wife. John of Gaunt became Chaucer's patron, and Chaucer spent much time with the family as one of Philippa's many mentors and teachers. She was remarkably well educated, especially for a woman at the time, and studied science under Friar John, poetry under Jean Froissart, and philosophy and theology under John Wycliffe.3 She was well read in the works of Greek and Roman scholars such as Pliny the Elder and Herodotus and was diligent in her study of religion.3
Queen of Portugal
Philippa became Queen consort of Portugal through her marriage to King John I. This marriage was the final step in the Anglo-Portuguese Alliance against the Franco-Castillian axis. The couple were blessed by the church in the Cathedral of Porto on 2 February 1387 and their marriage was on 14 February 1387. The Portuguese court celebrated the union for fifteen days.5 Philippa married King John I by proxy, and in keeping with a unique Portuguese tradition, the stand-in bridegroom pretended to bed the bride. The stand-in for King John I was João Rodrigues de Sá.6
The marriage itself, as was usually the case for the nobility in the Middle Ages, was a matter of state and political alliance, and the couple did not meet until twelve days after they were legally married. Philippa was considered to be rather plain, and King João I (John I) already had a mistress, Inês Peres Esteves, by whom he had three children.78 Their son Afonso was ten when Philippa and John married. Philippa allowed Afonso and his sister Beatrice to be raised in the Portuguese court (the third child, Branca, died in infancy). Their mother left the court at Philippa's command to live in a convent, and under Philippa's patronage, she became the Prioress.8
In marrying Philippa, John I 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 his second wife Constance of Castile. As the "de facto King of Castile," it was feared that John of Gaunt could challenge King John's claim to the newly installed dynasty.5 Instead, at Windsor in 1386, John I of Portugal signed the remarkably long-lasting Portuguese–English Alliance, which continued through the Napoleonic Wars and ensured Portugal's tenuous neutrality in World War II.910
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 the King's children; however, Philippa bore nine children, six of whom survived into adulthood.
Influence at court
Though Philippa was seen to present a demeanour of queenly piety,11 commenting that "it would be regarded as an indecent thing for a wife to interfere in her husband's affairs",11 she wielded significant influence in both the Portuguese and English courts and was "actively involved in world affairs".11
Surviving letters show that Philippa often wrote to the English court from Portugal and stayed involved in English politics. In one instance, Philippa intervened in court politics on "behalf of followers of the dethroned Richard II when they appealed for her help after her brother, Henry IV, had usurped the English throne".11 On another occasion, she persuaded a reluctant Thomas Fitzalan, 5th Earl of Arundel to marry her husband's illegitimate daughter Beatrice,11 further cementing the alliance between Portugal and England.
Philippa's main political contribution, however, was 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 now unemployed. Philippa knew that the conquest and control of Ceuta would be quite 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, a goal that was realised on 14 August 1415 in the Conquest of Ceuta.3
Death
At the age of 55, Philippa fell ill with the plague. She moved from Lisbon to Sacavém and called her sons to her bedside so that she could give them her blessing. Philippa presented her three eldest sons with jewel-encrusted swords, which they would use in their impending knighthoods, and gave each a portion of the True Cross, "enjoining them to preserve their faith and to fulfil the duties of their rank".12
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".12 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 quite beneficial for her son's and husband's voyage to Africa, which she had coordinated.13 At her death she prayed with several priests and, "without any toil or suffering, gave her soul into the hands of Him who created her, a smile appearing on her mouth as though she disdained the life of this world".12
Issue
Philippa was apparently a generous and loving queen, the mother of the "Illustrious Generation" (in Portuguese, Ínclita Geração) of infantes (princes) and infantas (princesses).
Ferdinand15 (29 September 1402 – 5 June 1443), called "the Saint Prince", a warrior who was captured during the Disaster of Tangier in 1437 and died a prisoner of the Moors.
Legacy
Philippa and King John's union was praised for establishing purity and virtue in a court that was regarded as particularly corrupt.17 She introduced reforms to the royal court, including to religious practices.18
Philippa 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.18 Edward became the eleventh King of Portugal, and was known as, "The Philosopher," or the "Eloquent". Henry the Navigator sponsored expeditions to Africa.11
Philippa's influence was documented in literary works. The medieval French poet Eustache Deschamps dedicated one of his ballads to "Phelippe en Lancastre," as a partisan of the Order of the Flower.20 It has also been speculated that English writer Geoffrey Chaucer may have alluded to Philippa in his poem, "The Legend of Good Women," through the character Alceste.21
Bouza Serrano, Joana (2009). As Avis: As Grandes Rainhas que Partilharam o Trono de Portugal na Segunda Dinastia (in Portuguese). Lisbon: A Esfera dos Livros.
Major, Richard H. (1967). The Life of Prince Henry the Navigator. London: Frank Cass & Co.
Marques, Oliveira (1971). Daily Life in Portugal in the Late Middle Ages. Madison: University of Wisconsin.
Born on 31 March 1360, Philippa was the eldest child of John of Gaunt, 1st Duke of Lancaster, and Blanche of Lancaster.2 Philippa spent her infancy moving around the various properties owned by her family with her mother and her wet-nurse, Maud.3 Here, she was raised and educated alongside her two younger siblings, Elizabeth, who was three years younger, and Henry, seven years younger, who would later become King Henry IV. Philippa's mother, Blanche, died in 1368. Her father remarried in 1371 to Infanta Constance of Castile, daughter of King Peter of Castile, and on Constance's death in 1394, he married his former mistress, Katherine Swynford, who had been Philippa's governess. The affair and eventual marriage were considered scandalous, and in the future, Philippa would protect herself against such embarrassment.
Katherine seems to have been well liked by Philippa and her Lancastrian siblings and played an important role in Philippa's education. Katherine had close ties with Geoffrey Chaucer, since her sister, Philippa Roet, was Chaucer's wife. John of Gaunt became Chaucer's patron, and Chaucer spent much time with the family as one of Philippa's many mentors and teachers. She was remarkably well educated, especially for a woman at the time, and studied science under Friar John, poetry under Jean Froissart, and philosophy and theology under John Wycliffe.3 She was well read in the works of Greek and Roman scholars such as Pliny the Elder and Herodotus and was diligent in her study of religion.3
Queen of Portugal
Philippa became Queen consort of Portugal through her marriage to King John I. This marriage was the final step in the Anglo-Portuguese Alliance against the Franco-Castillian axis. The couple were blessed by the church in the Cathedral of Porto on 2 February 1387 and their marriage was on 14 February 1387. The Portuguese court celebrated the union for fifteen days.5 Philippa married King John I by proxy, and in keeping with a unique Portuguese tradition, the stand-in bridegroom pretended to bed the bride. The stand-in for King John I was João Rodrigues de Sá.6
The marriage itself, as was usually the case for the nobility in the Middle Ages, was a matter of state and political alliance, and the couple did not meet until twelve days after they were legally married. Philippa was considered to be rather plain, and King João I (John I) already had a mistress, Inês Peres Esteves, by whom he had three children.78 Their son Afonso was ten when Philippa and John married. Philippa allowed Afonso and his sister Beatrice to be raised in the Portuguese court (the third child, Branca, died in infancy). Their mother left the court at Philippa's command to live in a convent, and under Philippa's patronage, she became the Prioress.8
In marrying Philippa, John I 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 his second wife Constance of Castile. As the "de facto King of Castile," it was feared that John of Gaunt could challenge King John's claim to the newly installed dynasty.5 Instead, at Windsor in 1386, John I of Portugal signed the remarkably long-lasting Portuguese–English Alliance, which continued through the Napoleonic Wars and ensured Portugal's tenuous neutrality in World War II.910
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 the King's children; however, Philippa bore nine children, six of whom survived into adulthood.
Influence at court
Though Philippa was seen to present a demeanour of queenly piety,11 commenting that "it would be regarded as an indecent thing for a wife to interfere in her husband's affairs",11 she wielded significant influence in both the Portuguese and English courts and was "actively involved in world affairs".11
Surviving letters show that Philippa often wrote to the English court from Portugal and stayed involved in English politics. In one instance, Philippa intervened in court politics on "behalf of followers of the dethroned Richard II when they appealed for her help after her brother, Henry IV, had usurped the English throne".11 On another occasion, she persuaded a reluctant Thomas Fitzalan, 5th Earl of Arundel to marry her husband's illegitimate daughter Beatrice,11 further cementing the alliance between Portugal and England.
Philippa's main political contribution, however, was 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 now unemployed. Philippa knew that the conquest and control of Ceuta would be quite 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, a goal that was realised on 14 August 1415 in the Conquest of Ceuta.3
Death
At the age of 55, Philippa fell ill with the plague. She moved from Lisbon to Sacavém and called her sons to her bedside so that she could give them her blessing. Philippa presented her three eldest sons with jewel-encrusted swords, which they would use in their impending knighthoods, and gave each a portion of the True Cross, "enjoining them to preserve their faith and to fulfil the duties of their rank".12
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".12 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 quite beneficial for her son's and husband's voyage to Africa, which she had coordinated.13 At her death she prayed with several priests and, "without any toil or suffering, gave her soul into the hands of Him who created her, a smile appearing on her mouth as though she disdained the life of this world".12
Issue
Philippa was apparently a generous and loving queen, the mother of the "Illustrious Generation" (in Portuguese, Ínclita Geração) of infantes (princes) and infantas (princesses).
Ferdinand15 (29 September 1402 – 5 June 1443), called "the Saint Prince", a warrior who was captured during the Disaster of Tangier in 1437 and died a prisoner of the Moors.
Legacy
Philippa and King John's union was praised for establishing purity and virtue in a court that was regarded as particularly corrupt.17 She introduced reforms to the royal court, including to religious practices.18
Philippa 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.18 Edward became the eleventh King of Portugal, and was known as, "The Philosopher," or the "Eloquent". Henry the Navigator sponsored expeditions to Africa.11
Philippa's influence was documented in literary works. The medieval French poet Eustache Deschamps dedicated one of his ballads to "Phelippe en Lancastre," as a partisan of the Order of the Flower.20 It has also been speculated that English writer Geoffrey Chaucer may have alluded to Philippa in his poem, "The Legend of Good Women," through the character Alceste.21
Bouza Serrano, Joana (2009). As Avis: As Grandes Rainhas que Partilharam o Trono de Portugal na Segunda Dinastia (in Portuguese). Lisbon: A Esfera dos Livros.
Major, Richard H. (1967). The Life of Prince Henry the Navigator. London: Frank Cass & Co.
Marques, Oliveira (1971). Daily Life in Portugal in the Late Middle Ages. Madison: University of Wisconsin.