Joan, Queen of Naples

## Joan of England

Queen of Naples

**Joan of England** (C. 1138 - 1184) was Queen of Naples from 1138 to 1176, upon her husband's death. She was the second favourate child of Eleanor of Aquitaine who called her "My little Joan." Joan was raised in England being the only daughter of Eleanor of Aquitaine and Henry II of England to be born in England. Joan was raised mostly by her mother and her mother and her mothers ladies in waiting. Joan was bethrothed to Robert of Durazzo who was the second child of the Marquis of Durazzo, Robert invaded Naples and Forcalquier and crowned his Queen Joan, Queen of Naples, and Countess of Forcalquier. Joan had one son named Charles who became the future Robert I of Naples. Joan was very popular in Naples and was called "Queen Juana." Joan gave birth to one child, a son. When her husband died, Joan regented her son until she ordered the regency council to act as regent. Joan wen't back to England to see the reign of her brother King John who was very unpopular. She died in 1184.

## Early life

### Birth

Joan was born in Yorkshire, England in 1138, Joan was the only child of Eleanor of Aquitaine and Henry II of England to not be born in France. Eleanor adored Joan, and Joan was obviously Eleanor's favourate daughter. Joan's birth was celebrated in Durham Castle, her mother only trusted her ladies-in-waiting to take care of young Joan. A French ambassador wrote down "The birth was a quite easy one for a Queen." Joan's sister Constance was the only sibling to not be invited to the birth and celebration.

### Education

Joan was educated her mother, she was raised along with her sister Eleanor of England, Joan never liked school, and had a hard time studying. Eleanor of Aquitaine was a caring but at times strict mother when it came to studying, Joan found interest in William the Conquerer who was her paterenal ancestor. Joan's mother wanted Joan's engagement was undecided, but her parents debated on it all the time. A possible union was between Joan and Vladmir I of Kiev, but Eleanor of Aquitaine complained it would take to long for Joan to go all the way, to Kiev.

### Family Feud

Joan's family had turned into endless fighting ever sense Joan was born, he father favored John of England who was Joan's older brother to inherit all of Joan's parents domains. But Eleanor wanted Joan's older brother Prince Richard to inherit everything, and she made Prince Richard who was bestowed with the Earldom of Richmond and Cornwall heir to Aquitaine. But Joan's older sister Constance who was the least favourate daughter of Eleanor, favored the eldest son Henry the Young of England. Joan was only 8 and was protected by Eleanor's ladies in waiting. Joan's family fought each-other, Joan's older brother Henry the Young died in the feud, Joan knew about the death and tried to prevent her mother from killing more people. But there was no hope.

## Bethrothal and Marriage

Joan's parents beganing insulting each other and fighting over who should marry who, Eleanor berthothed Eleanor to the second son of the Marquis of Durazzo without Henry's permission. Joan was sent to Italy to meet her new husband, his name was Robert but he preferred to be called "Albert." Joan married Albert and became Princess of Durazzo, Joan was only 11 years old, but she was close to the age to start crusading to reconquer the Holy lands. "Albert" wanted more, he started invading a land owned by the Count of Barcelona, the Count started quarling with Albert, and Joan called for her mother's army to Northern Italy, Eleanor was quick to respond and sent a 6000 men army to crush the army of the Count of Barcelona, the Count was forced to give up his lands, and Albert was declared Lord of Campania and Joan was declared "Lady of Campania." But Albert had a better idea, he renamed the Lordship "Naples" and he crowned him and Joan, King and Queen of Naples. Albert's brother the Marquis of Durazzo attempted to kill Albert to invade the rich kingdom. But Albert killed his brother and added Durazzo to Naples. The month after, Albert wen't on crusade while the 11 year old was left regent, despite the fact she was 11, her 16 year old husband told the court, "I would indeed allow my youthful wife to take office as regent, its better then putting my kingdom in charge of a weak 67 year old." Everyone laughed, Joan was the youngest person to act as regent for a king.

## 7th Crusade

When Joan turned 12, she was the age to go on crusade, she wen't with her husband to Syria and killed many enemies warriors, Joan's mother was always concerned for her favourate daughter, but Joan was untouched in the crusades, she and Albert came home victorious and invaded Achaea (A province now apart of Turkey.) When Joan turned 15 her husband wen't to bed with her in hopes of producing an heir. But Joan was not happy, her mother Eleanor died of sickness during the 7th crusade, and had to be forced into bed. Joan's hope was a son would be born, so she would not have to go back into bed in hopes for another heir, when she was 16 she wen't into labor, she was also old enough to have her own royal court and Joan invited her Italian friends to become ladies-in-waiting.

## Birth of a son

In 1155, she gave birth to a son named Charles, sense it was a son, Joan was promised she would not have to go into bed with King Albert. The birth was celebrated in Naples and free wine was passed out, the name "Charles" was most likely named after his distant ancestor from Joan's side "Charlemange." Charles was styled heir to everything and named Prince of Naples as a heir, Joan's sister Constance the former Queen of Sicily briefly visited Joan, Constance despised Joan, but she only came to gain royal favor in Naples, Constance left after a fight with Joan over money and Constance never wen't to Naples again, Charles was baptized, the celebration that followed his baptize was held in Castel Capuano, the castle built by Charlemange. Joan did not show up for her sons baptism, as was formal for a Queen/woman at the time.

## 8th Crusade

When Joan got word that the pope was declaring a crusade, she gathered army's with her husband in Apulia to prepare, Joan was prepared to fight for Naples, King Albert allied Naples with Welf VI of Tuscany, who was the current Margrave of Tuscany. They marched east to Venice were the Ottomans sent army's, Joan was not the best fighter and often had to go back to her husband to avoid being killed, King Albert on the other-hand was a great fighter, he stopped the Ottoman invasion of Venice and headed for Greece, where Joan's half-sister Agnes was reigning as Empress of Byzantine. Agnes was in her late 30's and was to old to fight, so Joan offered to help her and her son Alexios, Welf wen't with Albert, and Joan wen't with Agnes and Alexios for a brief period until Alexios got his army ready. Joan wen't back to Albert and they headed for Jerusalem, in Jerusalem, the King there was very prepared, the king Baldwin at his heiress Isabella of Jerusalem showed up with 18,000 men. Joan and Albert fought with them until the crusade was declared over for now, Joan and Albert wen't home to Naples.

## 9th Crusade

Joan chose not to fight for this crusade as she had done in the 8th one, she stayed home, so her husband would not have to worry who would be in charge. Joan did somewhat fight in Venice by leading an army into the capital, she slaughtered 9 overlords of the Ottoman empire, she also sent her niece Berengaria of Castile 600 euros to pay for army's. When Joan's son turned 12, Joan sent him to his father to go all the way to Slovenia and crusade there, Joan was famous for saying while her son was about to crusade:

> "Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can, as long as eternity can"
>
>

Joan never fought after the fight in Venice, she was happy just being regent, when her son turned 15 he was declared senior king of Naples.

## Queen Dowager of Naples

While regenting in the 10th Crusade, her husband died after being imprisoned and murdered, Joan was devasated, the body of her once beloved was brought to her by a noble who was said to be the King's best friend, but her son Robert wasted no time crowning himself at 17 as king of Naples. Joan retired to the court of Naples and often spoke with her daughter-in-law about politics and more. Joan's life as Queen Dowager was not as rich as being Queen Consort, but she got a total of 400 euros a month from her son. Joan saw the royal births of her first 7 grand-children, and saw the deaths of most of her ladies-in-waiting.

## Death

Joan died in 1184 in England, she died in the arms of her older brother King John, (Known as John Lackland.) Joan was burried in westminister Palace.