Review of The House of Beaufort by Nathen Amin

The House of Beaufort – The Bastard Line That Captured the Crown by Nathen Amin

This book charts the origin, rise and fall of one of the most notorious dynasties in English history, the Beaufort family.

The Beaufort family line descends from the union of John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster and son of Edward III and Katherine Swynford. They had four children together: John, Henry, Thomas and Joan.

Katherine was initially a mistress of John of Gaunt, but the pair eventually married in 1396 after the death of John’s second wife, Constance of Castile.  The Beaufort issue were subsequently legitimised both by Pope Boniface IX in 1396 and by Parliament in 1397.

John Beaufort, 1^st Earl of Somerset, nobleman, politician and military man, fathered five Beaufort children one of which, John, 1^st Duke of Somerset was father to Margaret Beaufort.  Margaret’s son Henry would eventually become Henry VII, the first Tudor King of England.

Henry Beaufort was a former Lord Chancellor of England, Cardinal of England and Bishop of Winchester.

Thomas Beaufort, 1^st Duke of Exeter, was an English Military Commander and one time Lord Chancellor of England.

Joan Beaufort became Countess of Westmorland when she married into the powerful Neville family.  A member of the Order of the Garter, Joan was mother to Cecily, Duchess of York and grandmother to Edward IV and Richard III.

The house of Beaufort came to a decisive end during the Wars of the Roses when Edmund Beaufort, 4^th Duke of Somerset and great grandson to John of Gaunt, was executed by Edward IV following the Battle of Tewkesbury in 1471, his brother John having died in the same battle. Only Margaret prevailed as did her son, Henry Tudor who became Henry VII following the Battle of Bosworth Field.

Nathen Amin follows the Beaufort family tree from its origin, investigating each member, their lives, and exploits in detail.  The book illustrates the incredible ambition, influence and achievements of the Beaufort family and their descendants, giving the reader a complete and comprehensive picture of their significant roles and contributions in England’s history. Whilst incredibly illuminating, the volume of information presented, and its academic tenor, can at times be overwhelming. Hence, I recommend that people wishing to read this book, who, like me, have a very basic knowledge of the family and this period of history, keep a notebook handy to keep track of all those titles.  For those looking for a meticulous and detailed account of the lives and times of each of the Beaufort family members, this book provides exactly that.

By Kate Hope

Author Biography

Nathen Amin grew up in the heart of Carmarthenshire, West Wales, and has long had an interest in Welsh history, the Wars of the Roses and the early Tudor period. His first book Tudor Wales was released in 2014 and was well-received, followed by a second book called York Pubs in 2016. His third book, the first full-length biography of the Beaufort family, the House of Beaufort, was released in 2017 and became an Amazon #1 Bestseller for Wars of the Roses. He is currently working on his fourth book, Pretenders to the Tudor Crown, for release in 2019.

Nathen is also the founder of the Henry Tudor Society and has been featured discussing the Tudors on BBC radio and television, as well as in print and online media across the UK. He has a degree in Business and Journalism and now lives in York, where he works as a Technical Writer.

Visit Nathen’s official website.