The illegitimate line that eventually captured the English crown
In short: In the late 14th century, a series of children born outside of marriage were legitimized by royal decree. This move created the House of Beaufort—a junior branch of the House of Lancaster that would navigate dynastic wars to ultimately produce the first Tudor monarch.
The House of Beaufort originated from John of Gaunt, 1st Duke of Lancaster, and his mistress Katherine Swynford. While their children were initially illegitimate, they were legitimized by Pope Boniface IX and a royal proclamation from King Richard II in 1397. This transition allowed the family to become a powerful noble house, though it came with strict limitations. During 1406, King Henry IV ruled that despite their legitimacy, the Beaufort descendants were barred from seeking the crown.
Despite these restrictions, the family became central to English power dynamics. They served as chief supporters of the House of Lancaster during the Wars of the Roses in the late 15th century. The family's influence was vast: Joan Beaufort’s descendants included the Dukes of York and Norfolk, while her daughter Catherine Parr became the last queen of Henry VIII. However, the male line suffered heavy losses during the wars; several high-ranking Dukes of Somerset died without legitimate male heirs.
The dynasty survived through a complex genealogical pivot. Through Charles Somerset, 1st Earl of Worcester—the natural offspring of Henry Beaufort, 3rd Duke of Somerset—the male lineage persisted. He adopted the surname 'Somerset' and used the Beaufort arms with a baton sinister to denote his birth status. This line eventually produced the current senior representative, Henry Somerset, 12th Duke of Beaufort. Meanwhile, the family's legacy was cemented by Lady Margaret Beaufort, whose marriage to Edmund Tudor produced King Henry VII, effectively ending the Middle Ages in England.
The house is also defined by its distinct heraldry. They adopted symbols like the Beaufort Portcullis (now a symbol of Parliament), the white and blue colors of Lancaster, and the 'Forget-me-Not' flower. The latter was linked to Lady Margaret’s motto, 'Souvent me Souvient,' and was likely first used as a badge by her half-brother, King Henry IV.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: House of Beaufort
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