House of Beaufort

The Beaufort family were descended from John Beaufort (1371-1410) the legitimized son of John of Gaunt and Katherine Swynford. Although officially barred from inheiriting the throne the Beauforts played an important role in the dynastic struggles of the fifteenth century as powerful nobles with close ties to the royal family. Henry VII traced his claim to the English crown through his descent from Margaret Beaufort

The Beaufort family in the male line is today represented by the Duke of Beaufort, a descendant of Henry Beaufort, 3rd Duke of Somerset through his illegitimate son Charles Somerset, 1st Earl of Worcester.

Notable Beauforts included:

* Thomas Beaufort (c. 1377–1426), Duke of Exeter
* John Beaufort, 1st Earl of Somerset (c. 1371–1410).
* Henry Beaufort, 2nd Earl of Somerset (c. 1401–1418).
* John Beaufort, 1st Duke of Somerset (c. 1404–1444).
* Edmund Beaufort, 2nd Duke of Somerset (c. 1406–1455).
* Henry Beaufort, 3rd Duke of Somerset (1436–1464).
* Edmund Beaufort, 4th Duke of Somerset (c. 1438–1471).
* Henry Cardinal Beaufort (c. 1375-1447), Bishop of Winchester
* Joan Beaufort, Countess of Westmorland (c. 1379–1440)
* Joan Beaufort, Queen of Scotland (c. 1404–1445), niece of the previous
* Three ladies named Margaret Beaufort:
** Margaret Beaufort, Countess of Devon (1409–1449)
** Lady Margaret Beaufort (1443–1509), mother of King Henry VII of England
** Margaret Beaufort, Countess of Stafford (c. 1427–1474)