John of Gaunt

As younger brother of the Black Prince, and fourth son of Edward III, John of Gaunt was not destined to play an important role in the Plantagenet dynasty’s fortunes.
Never enjoying military successes as his brother or father had, John found his form in the dynastic games governing Europe, even claiming kingship of Castile and Leon by marriage. First published in 1904, Armitage-Smith’s authoritative biography of John of Gaunt has set the mark for all those that have followed.