Constance of Castile (1354-1394)

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Constance of Castile (1354 – June 1394) was claimant of the Castilian throne after the death of her father Pedro the Cruel. She married, at Roquefort, near Bordeaux, Guienne, on 21 September 1371, John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster, third son of Edward III of England and Philippa of Hainault, as his second wife.

This was the way for Gaunt to obtain a kingdom of his own (he had also pursued Scotland), England having already many heirs with higher rights than his. John of Gaunt acted as King Consort, but was unsuccessful in obtaining Castile. Their daughter Catalina was married to the claimant of the Trastamara line, Henry III of Castile, thus uniting these two rival claims.