Ancestral Stories #10

Katherine de Roet

My 20x Great Grandmother

Katherine’s Marriage to Sir Hugh Swynford

In 1362, my medieval ancestor Katherine de Roet married Sir Hugh Swynford. This was a political marriage and there is no evidence that love existed between the couple.

Descended from an ancient English family, Sir Hugh Swynford was a professional soldier. He served John of Gaunt (pictured), which created tensions in the household because Katherine and John of Gaunt loved each other, and John of Gaunt was married to Katherine’s friend, Blanche of Lancaster. The situation had the makings of a romantic tragedy, which slowly began to unfold.

Against her wishes, my medieval ancestor Katherine de Roet married Sir Hugh Swynford. Sir Hugh was a landowner with lands in Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire, Essex and Suffolk. However, he was not an aristocrat and his income was modest compared to the lords Katherine had rubbed shoulders with at the royal court.

Sir Hugh and Katherine lived on their estate at Kettlethorpe, located twelve miles west of Lincoln. Katherine received the title Lady Kettlethorpe and with Sir Hugh active in various military campaigns, she managed the estate. 

Katherine’s future was mapped out – estate manager and mother of Sir Hugh’s children. Yet, her heart still belonged to the love of her life, the unattainable John of Gaunt… 

From her marriage to Sir Hugh Swynford, my medieval ancestor Katherine de Roet gave birth to a daughter, Blanche, c1363, named after Katherine’s friend Blanche of Lancaster. More children followed, including Margaret, born c1364. In 1377 she became a nun at Barking Abbey. 

Sir Hugh was often away, fighting in military campaigns. Katherine, meanwhile, resided at John of Gaunt’s court. Katherine and John of Gaunt were in love, but it’s clear that Katherine respected her friend Blanche of Lancaster and her marriage to John of Gaunt. An air of Courtly Love pervaded, but how long could it last?

While her husband Sir Hugh Swynford was away on military campaigns, my medieval ancestor Katherine de Roet cared for her children and, as nursemaid, the children of John of Gaunt and his wife Blanche of Lancaster.

Katherine and Blanche were close friends, yet due to the politics of the time, Blanche was married to the man Katherine loved, John of Gaunt. 

In November 1366 the two women were pregnant at the same time. Katherine took the opportunity to move away from John of Gaunt’s household and care for her family at Kettlethorpe Hall.

*****

The period 1368 – 1371 saw dramatic changes in my medieval ancestor Katherine de Roet’s life. First, on 12 September 1368 Blanche of Lancaster, her friend and the wife of John of Gaunt, died. Then, on 13 November 1371 Katherine’s husband Sir Hugh Swynford died. The way appeared open for Katherine and John of Gaunt to marry. However, for political reasons, John of Gaunt married Constance of Castile (pictured).

Katherine was now a widow, and not a very prosperous one at that. Would she remarry, or find another way to win the affection of John of Gaunt?

As ever, thank you for your interest and support.

Hannah xxx

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