Philippa of Hainault (1310-1369)

Westminster, November 30^th 2019

Getting here is almost mundane now! Apart from the perpetual worry I’ll have a repeat performance of last time and I won’t be able to get in, it all went smoothly. I have gathered Caroline of Ansbach – a bit weird given all she has is a marble tile on the floor of the Lady Chapel and even as I stood over it taking a moment people kept walking on it. There were no friendly looking vergers to ask if its ever possible to visit the actual crypt. Perhaps when I’ve gathered all the queens who are down there I could make one grand gathering trip.

But today is about Philippa of Hainault, and I feel guilty because since I researched her I have also researched two other queens and I admit to having trouble recalling the facts of her life. On my way into the abbey I was pondering that she belongs to a sub-set of queens who married a prince very much under their mother’s control. Anne Neville and Margaret of Anjou. Isabella of Angouleme and Eleanor of Aquitaine. Philippa of Hainault and Isabella of France. The women who never moulded themselves but expected the world to mould to them. Strong, opinionated, martial, not always thoughtful or diplomatic. Demanding, headstrong. Those queens most likely to be described as ‘unwomanly’. Philippa was the daughter of Jeanne de Valois, daughter and sister to successive French kings. When Jeanne made a lengthy journey to visit elderly relatives, it was only the 10 year-old Philippa who accompanied her. It suggests their relationship was close, close enough that Philippa would have learned not only how to manage a household, but probably an attitude as well. I wonder how much of a gamble the marriage to Edward of Westminster seemed to Philippa and her family, or how much of a gamble it took to ally with Isabella. It is suggested that Edward chose Philippa but they were both barely 14 years old and he was under the complete control of Isabella so they almost certainly had no say in the matter. After the coup that deposed Edward II and created Edward III, after the ridiculously expensive wedding that left Yorkshire craftsmen begging for repayment and started a lifelong career of living beyond her means, after the executions and suspicious deaths, Philippa was whisked away to London and her own household to mature, and must have realised pretty quickly she was queen in name only. She was permitted none of her dower lands or money and had to survive on what was doled out to her while Isabella and Roger Mortimer plundered the country during their illegitimate regency. Was she ever close enough to Isabella to view her as a role model? Or was she just an amorphous power, out of sight, the only evidence of which was the control she exerted. I love that literally the first thing Philippa did after the arrest of Mortimer and the putting away of Isabella was to go shopping! In her case, she sent men to the great market fairs to purchase all the things she had been deprived of for the last few years, and according to her accounts she never stopped.

It feels like the end of Isabella and Roger is the end of the beginning. Once Edward was in control, things began to happen, both for the country and them as a couple. Edward’s claim to the French throne meant years of touring Holland, Belgium and northern France looking for support and that doesn’t seem to have slowed their family down. John of Gaunt and Lionel of Antwerp were both conceived and born on the road. That she followed Edward on his mission, or that he kept her with him, speaks to a bond forged in their teens, possibly in the face of their joint powerlessness. I chose not to see it as a reflection on Philippa that she wasn’t named regent, instead leaving the infant Edward of Woodstock as nominal keep of the realm under a council of nobles. You only have to count their children, surviving or not, to see they went beyond the simple expedient of heir and spare. They were a unit, a combined force. In whatever way was available to them, they loved each other. And there was respect. Philippa was seen as an expert in childbirth; during Blanche of Lancaster’s first pregnancy, which would result in Edward’s first legitimate heir, Philippa is personally drafted in as midwife to make sure everything goes smoothly. John of Gaunt’s name is bandied liberally through medieval histories as the start, the spring from which flows the next hundred years of kings but it was of Philippa that he was born. She is the root of that great oak. And not only of our own dynasty, but through John’s marriage to Constance of Castille , she is the ancestress of Katherine of Aragon.

Like Caroline of Ansbach, Philippa died in pain, but more importantly she died with her husband and at least some of her children around her. For her era, she lived a long and fruitful life; saw the arrival and departure of many children and was honoured with multiple namesakes and god-children. Described as the mother of too many sons, not for her was the pain of seeing them at each other’s throats like Eleanor of Aquitaine, or seeing them wasted and murdered like Margaret of Anjou. She created a family that would continue to influence the whole of Europe for centuries. Quiet ad obedient, yet demanding when the mood took her, compassionate, dedicated to her husband and his cause without letting go of her birth family, a lover of the finer things having been deprived of them for so long. Occasionally greedy and ill-advised but ultimately cherished and respected. Philippa of Hainault, I honour you.

As a side note, I’m recognising a sense of guilt at leaving the abbey. As though I don’t want to leave them. Most of these women will not get a second glance from the majority of visitors, mine is the only attention they will get. I don’t want to leave them alone.

Paddington, later…

My days in the capitol are getting lazier. After Philippa I wandered around to a likely looking bus-stop and caught a bus to Borough Market and bought my body weight in cheese. Seriously. The first piece I bought, some L’Etivaz, was £13. I also got a gin and some pastries and a venison burger because that was exactly what I wanted before I even knew I could have it. And then I started back for the station. The tickets are cheap, but it makes for a very short day. I had no chance at all for geocaching which means I carried this vibrating cow trackable around all day for no reason. And I’m knackered. After one flight of stairs form the platform to the ticket hall I felt exhausted and a bit woozy. Nether of my current boots are comfortable any more, time for an upgrade. I’m falling asleep as I write this. There’s every chance I’ll overshoot Taunton and wake up in Plymouth.

The Life of Philippa of Hainault (or what we know of it)

1314

January-February: Philippa of Hainault is born in Valenciennes to William I, Count of Hainault and Jeanne de Valois, Countess of Hainault

1323

Philippa’s mother gives birth to Isabella of Hainault

1324

26 February: Philippa probably travels to Cologne to attend the double wedding of her sisters Margarethe and Johanna
5 July: Philippa probably attends the wedding of Charles IV of France and his third wife Jeanne d’Evreaux at Annet-sur-Marne

1325

Philippa’s mother gives birth to a son, Louis
1 December: Philippa travels with her mother to Paris to spend time with Charles of Valois, Jeanne’s father, as he is in poor health
6 December: Philippa and her mother Jeanne arrive in Paris and stay with the Bishop of Cambrai for a night
9 December: Philippa and her mother Jeanne visit Charles of Valois at Perray-en-Yvelines near Rambouillet. He dies a week later and is buried in Paris on 20th December, attended by Philippa and Jeanne
December: Philppa and her mother Jeanne spend the Christmas holidays in Paris, probably at Hotel Osteriche, owned by Philippa’s family

1326

4 January: Philippa and her mother Jeanne arrive home in Hainault
11-12 January: Philippa and her family receive a visit from Marie d’Evreaux, sister of the new Queen of France
11 May: Philippa probably attends the coronation of Jeanne d’Evreaux as Queen of France in Paris. Edward of Windsor and his mother Queen Isabella of England were also present and it is likely they met
27 August: Philippa and Edward of Windsor are betrothed in person at Mons in Hainault. As Edward II is in opposition to the betrothal, and Edward of Windsor is already betrothed to the Infanta of Castille, the betrothal is not lawful

1327

January: Edward II of England abdicates in favour of his son, Edward of Windsor, after the invasion and coup by Queen Isabella
1 February: Edward of Windsor is crowned Edward III at Westminster Abbey. Edward II is now known as Sir Edward of Caernarfon and put under house arrest at Berkley Castle in Gloucestershire
February: Philippa probably attends jousts arranged by her father at ‘s-Gravenzande in Holland
4 August: Philippa is probably present at Le Quesnay as her mother receives envoys from England
30 August: Papal dispensation for the marriage of Philippa to Edward III is issued by Pope John XXII as they are second cousins
September: Papal dispensation for the betrothal of Philippa and Edward III is received
October: Philippa is with her parents at Valenciennes as celebrations for her forthcoming marriage begin
October: Philippa takes part in a proxy-marriage ceremony, officiated by the Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield
2 December: Philippa and her retinue depart from Hainault
16 December: Philippa and her retinue embark at Wissant and sail for Dover
22 December: Philippa and her retinue arrive in England, arriving in London just before Christmas

1328

Philippa’s younger brother Louis dies
23 January: Philippa and her retinue arrive in York
24-25 January: Philippa and Edward III are married by William Melton, Archbishop of York, as the new Archbishop of Canterbury had not yet been consecrated. The couple are married in Malton’s private apartments. More than £2,000 was borrowed from Italian lenders just for Philippa’s jewels. Two petitions were presented by the poor and tradesmen of York complaining they had been ruined through non-payment of wedding debts, one of which was turned down flat. On Philippa’s marriage and accession to the throne she also becomes Lady of Ireland, Duchess of Aquitaine, Countess of Chester and Ponthieu, though she was not granted the right to any of these titles until her own coronation in 1330, probably as a result of Queen Isabella’s determination to maintain power. Immediately after the wedding Philippa travels to London to live in a separate household.
1 February: Philippa’s maternal uncle, Philip of Valois accedes to the French throne as Philip IV after the death of Charles IV of Frances without male issue. Philippa’s mother-in-law Queen Isabella sends envoys to Paris registering Edward III’s right to the French crown, but the coronation goes ahead regardless
1 April: Philippa dictates a letter begging for the release of a prisoner while staying at Eltham in Kent
15 May: Edward III confirms his promise of a dowry for Philippa, settling £15,000 on her
23 November: Philippa receives gifts from the mayor, sheriffs and aldermen of London on the event of her marriage including 12 pigs, 12 swans and 2 barrells of sturgeon

1329

16 April: Philippa is finally granted an annuity of 1,000 marks as an interim payment. Up to this point she had no money of her own
26 May: Philippa and Edward III depart for France to pay homage to the new French king for their lands in Aquitaine and Ponthieu. Philippa goes as far as Dover, where Edward gives her a crown worth 200 marks.
10 June: Philippa is reunited with Edward III on his return from France
21 September: Philippa and Edward III are at Gloucester as rumours begin to circulate that Edward II is alive and living at Corfe Castle in Dorset
September: Philippa conceives her first child, either at Gloucester of Worcester
20 October: Philippa is present at a jousting tournament held at Dunstable, Bedfordshire
October: Philippa experiences difficulties during her first pregnancy, and as a result the court settles at Kenilworth Castle until January 1330

1330

12 February: Philippa is finally granted her first lands: the lordship of Glamorgan, the manor of Loughborough in Leicestershire and the town and castle of Pontefract in Yorkshire
18 February: Philippa is cornwed queen of England at Westminster Abbey in a shortened ceremony out of respect for her heavily pregnant state. The couple retire to Windsor Castle after the ceremony
March: Philippa and Edward III retire to the palace of Woodstock in Oxfordshire
15 June: Philippa gives birth to her first child, a son named Edward and later known as Edward of Woodstock
24 June: Philippa’s 16th birthday
1 November: No longer beholden to Queen Isabella for her finances, Philippa sends agents to the great fairs of Boston and St. Ives to purchase Flemish and Italian cloth
December: Philippa, Edward III, Queen Isabella and Prince Edward spend Christmas at Guildford in Surrey. Philippa is granted her proper annual dower of £3,000 plus an additional £1,000 and her lands including the city and castle of Bristol, town and castle of Knaresborough, towns and castles of Devizes and Marlborough

1331

January: Philippa is assigned £4,000 of dower lands, including Pontefract, Knaresborough, Tickhill and High Peak, previously in the hands of Isabella of France
25 February: Philippa’s sister-in-law Eleanor of Woodstock, 12 year old daughter of Edward II becomes part of Philippa’s household
15 April: Philippa is staying at Sturry in Kent
Summer: Philippa’s mother Jeanne, sister Johanna and brother-in-law Willen visit the English court. Celebratory tournemants are held, during which the stand the Queen and ladies were sat on collapsed. Philippa intercedes with Edward III on behalf of the carpenters, and rides around the site calming the spectators
14 July: Philippa attends the wedding of one of her ladies, Helen, to Robert Mauley
22 July: Philippa and Edward III are in the city of Lincoln
23 August: Philippa and Edward III are at Rockingham Castle, Northamptonsnhire
September: Philippa conceives her second child
30 November: Edward III sends envoys to Philip VI of France concerning a journey to the Holy Land, and to open the negotiations on the marriage of Edward of Woodstock and Philip’s daughter Jeanne
December: Philippa and Edward spend the Christmas holidays at Wells in Somerset

1332

March: Philippa founds a chantry with three chaplains in Suffolk to celebrate divine service for the soul of Alix, her paternal aunt
May-June: Philippa gives birth to her second child, Isabella, at Woodstock in Oxfordshire
8 October: Philippa and Edward III arrive at Clipstone hunting lodge in Nottinghamshire
Winter: Philippa and Edward III spend the winter at Knaresborough and Pontefract Castles

1333

12 February: Philippa is at Pontefract where she sends letters to the Chancellor of England, John Stratford appointing attorneys to the exchequer
March: Philippa is granted a further 500 marks to supplement the income of her household…it is not enough!
4 April: Philippa and Edward III are at Kanresborough when Philippa begs for the life of a thief, Agnes of Scarborough, to be pardoned after stealing a coat and 3 shillings
April: Philippa conceives her third child
May: Philippa and Edward III set out for the north of England, staying a night at Durham Cathedral where they agree to sleep apart out of respect for the patron Saint Cuthbert. Later Philippa was not permitted to remain at all and had to remove to Durham Castle, allegedly in her nightclothes. While Edward III continued his journey, Philippa remained at Bamburgh Castle
15 August: Edward III announces his intention of going on a pilgrimage
23 September: Philippa’s mother Jeanne visit the English court for a month at Philippa’s expense
19 December: Philippa gives birth to her third child, a daughter named Joan, at the Tower of London

1334

December: Philippa and Edward III spend the Christmas holidays at Roxburgh in Scotland

1335

May: Philippa attends a meeting of Parliament called by Edward III
21 July: Philippa entrusts John de Laundes with a gold ring, a velvet robe and assorted jewels and asks him to transport them to London. He is robbed and murdered on the road
December: Philippa and Edward III spend the Christmas holidays at Newcastle upon Tyne

1336

April: Philippa and Edward III are at the Tower of London, where Philippa conceives her fourth child
July: Philippa rests at Rockingham in Northamptonshire while Edward III continues north on a campaign in Scotland
2 September: Philippa summons a council including the Archbishop of Canterbury, 7 bishops and other lords and knights to discuss the issue of Scotland
5 September: Philippa is absolved by Pope Benedict XII after she uses her brother-in-law Ludwig of Bavaria’s correct title of Holy Roman Emperor, even though he has been excommunicated several times

1337

January: Philippa gives birth to her fourth child, a son named William, at Hatfield. The prince dies within a few days and is buried at York Minster on 10th February
March: Philippa creates Edward of Woodstock Duke of Cornwall, the first time the title of Duke has been bestowed on an Englishman separate to their French land holdings
7 June: Philippa’s father Willem of Hainault and Holland dies after a long illness, possibly gout. Her mother Jeanne becomes a nun at Fontanelle, later becoming abbess
December: Philippa and Edward III spend the Christmas holidays at Guildford in Surrey and at the Tower of London

1338

January: Philippa’s debts to Bardi of Florence bankers rises to £4,500, which is several millions in today’s money
February: Philippa conceives her fifth child
8 March: Philippa and Edward III are at Langley Manor in Hertfordshire when she writes to Paolo Montefiore to prepare passage for them both overseas. They would spend the next two years travelling around northern Europe, looking for allies against Philip VI. They take their daughters with them but leave 8 year old Edward of Woodstock at home as nominal regent
22 July: Philippa, Edward III and their daughters arrive in Antwerp. While staying there their house burns down, forcing them to flee to St. Bernard’s abbey in their nightclothes. They also receive a visit from Philippa’s sister-in-law Eleanor of Woodstock and her husband Reynald II of Guelders
29 November: Philippa gives birth to her fifth child, a son named Lionel, at St. Michael’s Abbey in Antwerp.

1339

6 January: Philippa is purified after Lionel of Antwerp’s birth
June: Philippa conceives her sixth child

1340

26 January: Edward III is proclaimed King of France at Ghent
6 March: Philippa gives birth to her sixth child, a son named John, at Ghent. He is to be known as John of Gaunt
June: Philippa travels to Ghent and stays on board the ‘Thomas’ to congratulate Edward III on his victory over the French at the sea battle of Sluis
Summer: Philippa and Edward III set up a separate household for their younger children, overseen by Isabella de la Mote, and sent back to England for their safety. Philippa and Edward III remain on the continent
September: Philippa conceives her seventh child
December: Philippa and Edward III spend the Christmas holidays at Reading

1341

31 January: Philippa stays at Langley in Hertfordshire
18 March: Philippa removes to Windsor Castle
5 June: Philippa gives birth to her seventh child, a son named Edmund, at Langley. Edward III grants Philippa all the lands of the late Duke of Brittany for the sustenance of his five younger children. Edmund would remain in his mothers custody until he is 13 years old
23 July: Philippa awards the advowson of a Westmorland church to Robert Eaglesfield after he founds Queen’s College Cambridge in her name

1342

21 January: Philippa’s son John of Gaunt is made Earl of Richmond, though Philippa herself is at Langley while the ceremony takes place at Castle Rising
11-12 February: Philippa is at Dunstable for the great tournaments celebrating the betrothal of her son Lionel of Antwerp to Elizabeth de Burgh
March-June: Philippa gives birth to her eight child, a daughter named Blanche, at the Tower of London. Blanche does not live more than a few months and is buried at Westminster Abbey in February 1343
May-August: Philippa’s brother Willem of Hainault and Holland visit the English court to take part in the jousting tournaments. He and his sister would not meet again.
15 August: Philippa’s son Lionel of Antwerp marries Elizabeth de Burgh. All Elizabeth’s Irish lands are placed in Philippa’s hands for safekeeping
November: Philippa is granted official custody of all her children except Edward of Woodstock, as well as Lionel of Antwerp’s wife Elizabeth de Burgh

1343

28 February: Philippa is staying at Westminster Abbey
April-May: Philippa’s eldest son Edward of Woodstock is invested as Prince of Wales
13 August: Philippa is staying at Reading Castle
4 November: Philippa is staying at Langley Castle

1344

30 January: Philippa is staying at Reading Castle
20 March: Philippa is staying at Marlbrough Castle in Wiltshire
24 June: Philippa’s 30th birthday
10 October: Philippa gives birth to her ninth child, a daughter named Mary, at Bishop’s Waltham in Hampshire

1345

5 February: Philippa and Edward III attend the wedding of Richard Fitzalan, Earl of Arundel and Eleanor of Lancaster
17 September: Philippa is at Westminster when she intercedes with Edward III on behalf of Cicely le Clere, convicted of theft and sentenced to death. Edward III agrees to defer the death sentence on account of Cicely’s pregnancy.
26 September: Philippa’s brother Willem of Hainault and Holland is killed in battle near Staveren in Friesland. This leads to extensive tensions regarding to inheritance of his lands. By English law it should be split between the four remaining sisters, including Philippa, but by continental law it passes whole to Philippa’s eldest sister, Empress Margarethe.
10 October: Philippa is with Edward III at Westminster when she writes to the mayor and aldermen of London asking for a small tower on the banks of the Thames to be given to her. She is politely rebuffed.
December: Philippa and Edward III spend the Christmas holidays at Woodstock in Oxfordshire

1346

15 January: Philippa, Edward III and Queen Isabella attend the funeral of Isabella’s uncle Henry of Lancaster, at Leicester
23 February: Philippa and Edward III visit Edward of Woodstock at Berkhamstead
1 May: Philippa and Edward III are staying at Guildford
31 May: Philippa is with Edward of Woodstock at Reading
14 July: Philippa is staying at Southwick in Sussex
20 July: Philippa gives birth to her tenth child, a daughter named Margaret, at Windsor
August: Philippa’s uncle Charles of Alencon and her first cousin Louis de Chatillon are killed at the Battle of Crecy, where Edward III and Edward of Woodstock deliver a decisive victory over the French.
10 September: Philippa sets out for the continent to join her husband and son. Lionel of Antwerp is left as nominal ‘Keeper of the Realm’
21 September: Philippa arrives at Calais
October: Philippa meets her eldest sister Margarethe at Ypres

1347

January-February: Philippa is staying at Calais with her son Edward of Woodstock
12 October: Philippa and Edward III return to England

1348

February: Philippa is with Edward III at Westminster when she successfully requests pardons for five men accused of murder
23 April: Philippa’s eldest son Edward of Woodstock is the first member knighted into newly created Order of the Garter.
May: Philippa gives birth to her eleventh child, a son named William, at Windsor. The prince dies shortly after his birth and is buried at Westminster Abbey
24 June: Philippa is purified after the birth of her son William
June: Philippa’s daughter, Joan of Woodstock, dies of the plague in Gascony en-route to her marriage to Pedro of Castille
15 July: Philippa is with Edward III at Westminster when she grants Piers de Routh custody of Sandal Castle in Yorkshire
9 December: Philippa is staying at Otford in Kent, joined by Edward III later in the month to spend the Christmas holidays together

1349

1 July: Philippa is staying at Devizes Castle in Wiltshire
8 October: Philippa is staying at Sheen Palace in Richmond
December: Philippa and her family spend the Christmas holidays at Havering-atte-Bower manor

1350

3 March: Philippa and Edward III are staying at Croydon
22 May: Philippa is staying at Colchester Castle
22 August: Philippa’s maternal uncle King Philip VI of France dies. He is succeeded by Philippa’s first cousin, King John II
10 October: Philippa is staying at Mortlake

1351

12 January: Philippa is staying at Reading Castle
25 February: Philippa is staying at Westminster
7 August: Philippa is staying at Henley on Heath
28 August: Philippa is staying at Chertsey

1352

Spring: Philippa and Edward III attend the wedding of Maud of Lancaster to Philippa’s nephew Wilhelm of Bavaria. Philippa’s eldest sister and Wilhelm’s mother, Empress Margarethe also attends – it is likely this is the last time the sisters met
7 March: Philippa’s mother, Jeanne de Valois dies, and is buried at Fontanelle Abbey

1353

December: Philippa and Edward III spend the Christmas holidays at Eltham in Kent

1354

6 March: Philippa is staying at Colchester Castle
April: Philippa conceives her twelfth and last child
23 May: Philippa is with Edward III at Westminster when she requests a licence for the priory of St. Frideswide in Oxford to enlarge their house
24 June: Philippa’s 40th birthday
December: Philippa and Edward III spend the Christmas holidays at Hamstead Marshall in Berkshire

1355

7th January: Philippa gives birth to her twelfth child, a son named Thomas, at Woodstock in Oxfordshire.
April-May: Philippa and Edward III receive news that Edward III’s sister, Eleanor of Woodstock had died. She is buried at Deventer Abbey
1 July: Philippa’s youngest son, Thomas of Woodstock, is named guardian of the realm while Edward III and his four older sons go on a military campaign in France
16 August: Philippa’s son Lionel of Antwerp and his wife Elizabeth de Burgh have a daughter, Philippa, the first of Queen Philippa’s legitimate grandchildren
October-November: Philippa is staying at Westminster

1356

11 March: Philippa’s uncle, Jan van Beaumont, dies
23 June: Philippa’s oldest sister, dowager Empress Margarethe dies at Le Quesnoy Castle of infectious tuberculosis. She is buried at Valenciennes
19 September: Philippa’s eldest son, Edward of Woodstock, wins a decisive victory over the French at the Battle of Poitiers, capturing King John II of France and bringing him to England. John would be held under house arrest in a series of English castle and would never return to France

1357

26 October: Philippa and Edward of Woodstock accompany Edward III to visit with the now elderly Queen Isabella
December: Philippa and Edward III spend the Christmas holidays at Bristol Castle and Marlborough Castle in Wiltshire

1358

22 February: Philippa and Edward III are staying at Westminster
April: Philippa and Edward III are at Windsor for St. George’s day and the celebrations for the Order of the Garter
July: Philippa is staying at Marlborough in Wiltshire
Summer: Philippa falls from her horse while hunting, resulting in a broken shoulder blade. She would suffer considerable pain for the rest of her life and could never go hunting again
22 August: Philippa’s mother-in-law Queen Isabella dies at Hertford Castle
24 November: Philippa and Edward III meet Queen Isabella’s funeral cortege as it arrives in London
27 November: Queen Isabella is buried at Greyfriars in London
November: Philippa and Edward III attend the wedding of their granddaughter, 4 year-old Philippa to 6 year-old Edmund Mortimer, grandson of the executed Roger Mortimer

1359

19 May: Philippa’s son John of Gaunt marries Blanche of Lancaster at Reading Abbey. On the same day, Philippa’s daughter Margaret of Windsor marries John Hastings
6 June: Philippa is staying at Reading Castle
June: Philippa appoints Richard Ravenser as her receiver, and decades of debt and poor management of her lands and finances begin to improve

1360

9 January: Philippa is requested by Edward III to oversee the final months of pregnancy of their daughter-in-law Blanche of Lancaster
31 March: Philippa’s daughter-in-law Blanche of Lancaster gives birth to a daughter, Philippa
May: Philippa’s finances and household are merged with the King’s, but it would take several more years for her massive debts to be paid off
26 July: Philippa is awarded a further £2,000 to maintain her household
23 August: Philippa is staying at Havering-atte-Bower in Essex, remaining until October while Edward III and his sons depart for Calais to sign the Treaty of Bretigny

1361

March: Philippa’s daughter, Mary of Waltham marries John de Montfort the younger, heir to the duchy of Brittany. Both she and her sister Margaret of Windsor die within the year.
April: Philippa, Edward III and all their children attend the funeral of Henry of Grosmont at Leicester
10 October: Philippa’s eldest son Edward of Woodstock marries his cousin, Joan of Kent, daughter of Edmund of Woodstock who had been executed for trying to free Edward II

1362

9 June: Philippa’s eldest son, Edward of Woodstock is invested as Prince of Aquitaine. He and his wife Joan depart for France. Philippa would never see her son again
September: Philippa’s sister-in-law Joan of the Tower dies, and is buried ay Greyfriars in London

1363

February: Philippa’s daughter-in-law Blanche of Lancaster gives birth to her second child and Philippa’s second grandchild, Elizabeth
6 August: Philippa is staying at Rockingham in Northamptonshire when she makes a grant giving Robert atte Hethe custody of Odiham park in Hampshire in case of her death. She begins to frequently include such phrases in her grants, suggesting her health was poor and she did not expect to live long
December: Philippa’s daughter-in-law Elizabeth de Burgh dies in Dublin, and is buried at Bruisyard Abbey in Suffolk
December: Philippa spend the Christmas holidays at Windsor

1364

12 January: Philippa is staying at Eltham in Kent
9 April: Philippa’s cousin, King John II of France dies in English custody at the Savoy Palace. He is succeeded by his eldest surviving son, Charles V
24 June: Philippa’s 50th birthday
1 December: Philippa is staying at Windsor

1365

27 January: Philippa’s daughter-in-law Joan of Kent gives birth to her first child, Edward, at Angouleme
27 July: Philippa’s oldest daughter Isabella of Woodstock marries Enguerrand VII de Coucy, 1st Earl of Bedford

1366

12 September: Philippa has in her retinue one Philippa Chaucer, wife of Geoffrey Chaucer

1367

9 January: Philippa’s daughter-in-law Joan of Kent gives birth to her second child, Richard of Bordeaux
January: Philippa is seriously ill, enough that Edward III commissions the construction of her tomb for Westminster Abbey
15 April: Philippa’s daughter-in-law Blanche of Lancaster gives birth to a son, Henry Bolinbroke

1368

April: Philippa’s son Lionel of Antwerp sets sail for Milan to marry Violante Visconti. Philippa would not see her son again
June: Philippa’s son, Lionel of Antwerp marries Violante Visconti at Milan
12 September: Philippa’s daughter in law Blanche of Lancaster dies, and is buried at Westminster Abbey
17 October: Philippa’s son Lionel of Antwerp dies and is buried at Pavia, later being transported to England an re-interred at Bruisyard
1 December: Philippa sends an envoy to Louis, Count of Flanders to open negotiations for a marriage between her son, John of Gaunt, and Louis’ daughter Margarethe of Flanders. The marriage does not come about.
December: Philippa, Edward III and their children spend the Christmas holidays at Windsor Castle

1369

January: Philippa’s son, Edmund of Langley, leaves England for Aquitaine to lend support to his brother Edward of Woodstock
June: Philippa’s son John of Gaunt leaves England for Picardy to take up his captaincy and forestall a French invasion of England
22 June: Philippa intercedes on behalf of Alice Marchant of Somerset, convicted of stealing goods worth 23 shillings. Her death sentence is deferred until she had given birth, but Philippa successfully begs Edward III to spare her life. Several other petitions and intercessions are dated this day, suggesting Philippa had been unwell up until this point and could not conduct the business
15 August: Philippa dies of an apparent oedema at Windsor Castle after a decade of pain and ill-health. Edward III and her son Thomas of Windsor are by her side
9 January: Philippa is afforded a state funeral and interred at Westminster Abbey. The solemnities last 6 days with her funeral cortege travelling from Windsor via Kingston-on-Thames, St. Mary Othery in Southwark, St. Paul’s Cathedral and finally to Westminster Abbey. Edward III grants Philippa’s Franciscan confessor 40 marks a year for the saying of divine service in Philippa’s honour

References

Warner, Katherine (2019) Philippa of Hainault: mother of the English nation. Stroud, Amberley