Queen of Navarre who ruled from 1328 to 1349, known for her diplomatic efforts to maintain peace and stability in the region.
Joan II, also known as Jeanne of France, was the Queen of Navarre from 1328 until her death in 1349. She was the only surviving child of Louis X of France, King of France and Navarre, and Margaret of Burgundy, making her a key figure in the complex web of medieval European politics.
Joan's paternity was shrouded in doubt due to her mother's involvement in a scandal. However, Louis X declared her his legitimate daughter before he died in 1316. Despite this, the French lords opposed the idea of a female monarch and elected Louis X's brother, Philip V, king instead.
Joan's maternal grandmother, Agnes of France, and uncle, Odo IV of Burgundy, attempted to secure the counties of Champagne and Brie for her. However, the French royal troops defeated her supporters, and Odo eventually renounced Joan's claim to the counties in exchange for a compensation.
In an effort to strengthen her claim to the throne, Joan married Philip of Évreux, a member of the French royal family. After Philip V's death, Charles IV succeeded him in both France and Navarre in 1322, but the Navarrese lords refused to swear loyalty to him.
After Charles IV's death in 1328, the Navarrese expelled the French governor and declared Joan the rightful monarch of Navarre. In France, Philip of Valois was crowned king, but he acknowledged Joan's right to Navarre in exchange for her renunciation of her claims to Champagne and Brie.
Joan and her husband were crowned in Pamplona Cathedral on 5 March 1329. During their joint reign, they closely cooperated, although Philip of Évreux was more active in governing the kingdom. Despite this, Joan's legacy as the Queen of Navarre endured, and she remains an important figure in medieval European history.
Joan II's life was marked by controversy and struggle, but she ultimately emerged as a powerful queen in her own right. Her legacy serves as a testament to the complexities of medieval European politics and the enduring power of women in leadership roles.
Born in 1332
A cunning and ruthless monarch who ruled Navarre from 1349 to 1387, known for his Machiavellian tactics and brutal suppression of rebellions.
Born in 1350
King of Aragon from 1387 to 1396, known for his tumultuous reign marked by conflicts with the nobility and the papacy. He was also a patron of the arts and literature.
Born in 1380
Unified the Crown of Aragon, ruling over a vast territory in eastern Spain, and sponsored the voyages of Christopher Columbus, leading to the discovery of the New World.
Born in 1451
Unified the Spanish kingdoms, sponsored Christopher Columbus's voyage to the Americas, and established the Spanish Inquisition.
Born in 1710
The monarch who ruled France from 1715 to 1774, known as the "Sun King's" great-grandson, and remembered for his extravagance, absolutism, and the decline of the French monarchy.
Born in 1052
King of France from 1060 to 1108, known for his military campaigns and conflicts with the Church, particularly his excommunication by Pope Urban II.
