LANCASTER, HOUSE OF. The name of the dynasty which occupied the throne of England from 1399 to 1461, and again in 1470-71. The title originated during the reign of Henry 111., ho in 1267 made his second son, Edmund Crouchback, Earl of Lancaster. On the failure of male heirs, John of Gaunt, fourth son of Ed ward 111.. married Blanche, the Lancastrian heiress, and in 1362 was created Duke of Lan caster. Ilk older brother Lionel was at the same time created Duke of Clarence, and in this manner originated the rival houses of Lancaster and York. John of Gaunt's son, Henry IV., seized the crown, dethroning Richard II. (q.v.). Hen ry's usurpation could be justified on heredi tary principles only upon the assumption that the inheritance to the crown could not pass through females, or that his ancestor, Henry Crouchback, was really older than Edward 1I.„ having accord ing to the legend been set aside on account of a physical deformity, though in fact he was called Crouehback from having won the Crusader's cross.
Ilenry's rule was really based upon the accept ance by Parliament of his defective title, and he is the first English king who ruled by Par liamentary right. Henry IV. (1399-1413) and Henry V. (1413-22) maintained their position through the support of Parliament and the Church. which they were careful to conciliate, and through the brilliant victories of Henry V. in France, but the long minority and inefficient rule of the last Lancastrian, henry VI., which began in 1422, was a time of violence. ending in the Wars of the Roses. Consult : Stubbs. The ronstitutio»al IIistory of England, vol. iii. (5th ed., Oxford. 1895) ; Gairdner, The Houses of Lancaster and York (London. 1886) ; Ramsay, Lancaster and York (2 vols., Oxford, 1890) ; and the bibliographies under the separate kings. See ENGLAND; JOIIN OF GAUNT; 'HENRY 'C., VI.