The Tudors Dynasty podcast.

Welcome to a new week of interesting bits of history with this week in Royal History.

I'm your host, Rebecca Larson.

Now, I created this series to encourage fans of the show to dig a little deeper into all royal history, because it's through

understanding the past that we get a better idea of why people did the things they did. This week we

begin our journey in beautiful Lisbon, Portugal, overlooking the Tagus River to the south, with views of the Atlantic Ocean to the west.

It's 1436 when our event happens, but in order to tell the story properly,

we must first travel back to 14th century England and John of Gaunt.

The daughter of John of Gaunt and his queen consort, Blanche of Lancaster, was Philippa,

or Philippa of Lancaster, as you would probably know her.

Philippa was married to John I of Portugal in 1387, and while the marriage was not a love match,

the couple had many children together, and their

son Edward would go on to become King of Portugal after his father's death in 1433.

But Philippa, sadly, would not have the opportunity to see her son become king.

She had died 16 years earlier of the plague before he ascended the throne.

On her deathbed, Philippa called her sons to her bedside so she could give them her blessing

and to present them with jewel and crested swords, which they would use in their upcoming

knighthoods. She also gave them each a portion of the true cross,

instructing them to preserve their faith and fulfill the duties of their rank.

One of those sons present was the future King Edward of Portugal.

Often referred to as Edward the King philosopher or Edward the eloquent.

It would appear that this king had heeded his mother's deathbed instructions.

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