Page "John of Gaunt, 1st Duke of Lancaster" Paragraph 9

In 1386, John left England to claim the throne of Castile, through his marriage to his second wife, Constance.

However, crisis ensued almost immediately, and in 1387, King Richard's misrule brought England to the brink of civil war.

Only John, on his return to England in 1389, was able to persuade the Lords Appellant and King Richard to compromise, ushering in a period of relative stability.

During the 1390s, John's reputation of devotion to the well-being of the kingdom was largely restored.

John died of natural causes on 3 February 1399 at Leicester Castle, with his third wife Katherine by his side.