Katherine proved that love and ambition could break through the rigid barriers of medieval class structures.
Against all odds, Gaunt married Katherine, making her the second most powerful woman in England. 🛡️ Why Her Legacy Matters
She was the longtime mistress of John of Gaunt, the Duke of Lancaster.
Her great-granddaughter was Margaret Beaufort. Margaret's son, Henry Tudor, won the crown at the Battle of Bosworth Field and became King Henry VII. Every English and British monarch from Henry VIII to the current royal family descends directly from Katherine and John's love affair.