Those descended from English monarchs only through an illegitimate child would normally have no claim on the throne .
The situation was complicated when Gaunt and Swynford eventually married in 1396 ( 25 years after John Beaufort 's birth ) .
Those descended from English monarchs only through an illegitimate child would normally have no claim on the throne , but the situation was complicated when Gaunt and Swynford eventually married in 1396 ( 25 years after John Beaufort 's birth ) .