Queen of France from 1332 to 1342, known for her beauty and her role in the transition of the French monarchy from the Capetian to the Valois dynasty.
Known for her significant role as Queen of France by marriage to King Charles V, Joanna of Bourbon was a powerful and ambitious woman who left an indelible mark on French history. As the queen, she not only acted as her husband's political adviser but also played a crucial role in shaping the country's fate as a potential regent in case of a minor regency.
Born on February 3, 1338, in the Château de Vincennes, Joanna was the daughter of Peter I, Duke of Bourbon, and Isabella of Valois, a half-sister of Philip VI of France. Her early life was marked by a series of failed marriage negotiations, first with Amadeus VI, Count of Savoy, and later with Humbert, Dauphin of Viennois.
Eventually, on April 8, 1350, Joanna married her cousin, the future Charles V of France, at Tain-l'Hermitage. The marriage required a papal dispensation due to their close familial relationship, and they were both just 12 years old at the time.
When Charles ascended to the throne in 1364, Joanna became queen of France and played a significant role in supporting her husband's reign. Despite their initially strained relationship due to Charles' infidelity, Joanna remained a trusted adviser and confidante, offering counsel on matters of state and culture.
Rumors of her alleged affair with the poet Hippolyte de Saint-Alphon, which resulted in a short-lived child in 1366, notwithstanding, Joanna's intelligence and political acumen earned her the respect of her contemporaries.
In 1373, after giving birth to her son Louis, Joanna suffered a complete mental breakdown. The episode deeply concerned Charles V, who undertook a pilgrimage and offered prayers for her recovery. Fortunately, Joanna recovered and regained her mental faculties, and Charles V appointed her legal guardian and regent of France in the event of his death while their son was still a minor.
Joanna of Bourbon died on February 6, 1378, at the royal residence Hôtel Saint-Pol in Paris. Her legacy as a shrewd politician, loyal wife, and devoted mother has endured, cementing her place in French history as a queen of remarkable stature.
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