Jeanne of Anjou
Encyclopedia
Joan of Anjou was a daughter of Philip I, Prince of Taranto and his first wife Thamar Angelina Komnene. She was Queen consort of Armenia by her first marriage. She was a member of the Capetian House of Anjou
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and Blanche, who married Ramon Berenguer of Aragon.
Joan's parents did not have a good relationship, Philip suspected Thamar of acting in her family's interests over his during the two-year conflict that raged between the Angevins and Epirus
, despite the fact that she had pawned the remainder of her jewellery to help him pay for the military effort. Distrustful of Thamar, Philip decided to divorce her and in 1309 accused her of having committed adultery. She was forced into confessing that she had had sexual relationships with at least forty of the lords of his court, and that she had formed a particular relationship with Bartolomeo Siginulfo, the Grand Chamberlain of Taranto. Thamar became an outcast, probably never seeing her children again, she either became a nun or was imprisoned by Philip. In either case she died not long afterwards in 1311.
Shortly following her mother's death, Jan acquired a stepmother in Catherine of Valois, who Philip married in July 1313. From this marriage Joan acquired five half-siblings, including Philip II, Prince of Taranto.
On his death on July 20, 1320, Oshin was succeeded by his minor son Leo (sometimes referred to as Leo V). It was believed that Oshin was poisoned
Soon after Oshin's death, his cousin Oshin of Korikos
became regent. He wished to make himself and his family more secure in Armenia. Steps were taken to make this happen; Oshin married Joan, who was forced into the marriage. Oshin married his daughter Alice
off to Joan's stepson Leo. Oshin was also probably responsible for the deaths of King Oshin's sister Princess Isabella of Armenia
and two of her sons, in order to remove rival claimants.
Oshin and Joan had one daughter:
Joan died in March 1323, she was outlived by her ill-fated second husband.
Six years after Joan's death, Leo reached majority, he took revenge on his regent. Joan's husband and brother-in-law Constantine, Constable of Armenia and Lord of Lampron, and Leo's wife Alice were all murdered on the king's orders, the head of Oshin being sent to the Ilkhan and of Constantine to Al-Nasr Muhammad.
Capetian House of Anjou
The Capetian House of Anjou, also known as the House of Anjou-Sicily and House of Anjou-Naples, was a royal house and cadet branch of the direct House of Capet. Founded by Charles I of Sicily, a son of Louis VIII of France, the Capetian king first ruled the Kingdom of Sicily during the 13th century...
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Early life and family
Joan was possibly born in about 1297, and was the eldest daughter of five children, having had two older brothers: Charles, Prince of Achaea and Philip, Despot of Romania, and two younger sisters: Margaret, who married Walter VI of BrienneWalter VI of Brienne
Walter VI of Brienne was Count of Brienne, Conversano, and Lecce, and titular Duke of Athens. Walter was the son of Walter V, Duke of Athens, and Jeanne de Châtillon , the daughter of the Count of Porcien, a constable to King Philip IV of France.As grandson of Hugh of Brienne Walter VI of Brienne...
and Blanche, who married Ramon Berenguer of Aragon.
Joan's parents did not have a good relationship, Philip suspected Thamar of acting in her family's interests over his during the two-year conflict that raged between the Angevins and Epirus
Despotate of Epirus
The Despotate or Principality of Epirus was one of the Byzantine Greek successor states of the Byzantine Empire that emerged in the aftermath of the Fourth Crusade in 1204. It claimed to be the legitimate successor of the Byzantine Empire, along with the Empire of Nicaea, and the Empire of Trebizond...
, despite the fact that she had pawned the remainder of her jewellery to help him pay for the military effort. Distrustful of Thamar, Philip decided to divorce her and in 1309 accused her of having committed adultery. She was forced into confessing that she had had sexual relationships with at least forty of the lords of his court, and that she had formed a particular relationship with Bartolomeo Siginulfo, the Grand Chamberlain of Taranto. Thamar became an outcast, probably never seeing her children again, she either became a nun or was imprisoned by Philip. In either case she died not long afterwards in 1311.
Shortly following her mother's death, Jan acquired a stepmother in Catherine of Valois, who Philip married in July 1313. From this marriage Joan acquired five half-siblings, including Philip II, Prince of Taranto.
Life
In February 1316, Joan married her first husband, Oshin, King of Armenia. Joan was Oshin's third wife, from his first marriage he had had a son Leo. From this marriage she adopted the name Eirene. The couple were only married for four years, in that time they had one child, a son:- George (1317-after 1323), died young
On his death on July 20, 1320, Oshin was succeeded by his minor son Leo (sometimes referred to as Leo V). It was believed that Oshin was poisoned
Soon after Oshin's death, his cousin Oshin of Korikos
Oshin of Korikos
Oshin of Korikos served as regent of the Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia from 1320 to 1329. He was the son of the historian Hayton of Korikos. He became regent for Leo IV on the death of King Oshin in 1320, whom he was rumoured to have poisoned...
became regent. He wished to make himself and his family more secure in Armenia. Steps were taken to make this happen; Oshin married Joan, who was forced into the marriage. Oshin married his daughter Alice
Alice of Korikos
Alice of Korikos was the only daughter of Oshin of Korikos and his first wife Margaret d'Ibelin. She was Queen consort of Armenia by her marriage....
off to Joan's stepson Leo. Oshin was also probably responsible for the deaths of King Oshin's sister Princess Isabella of Armenia
Princess Isabella of Armenia
Princess Isabella, Isabelle or Zabel of Armenia was the daughter of Leo II of Armenia. Originally she was promised in marriage to the King Andrew II of Hungary when he was returning home from the Fifth Crusade, but the wedding plan was eventually abandoned.She was married at Nicosia in 1292/1293...
and two of her sons, in order to remove rival claimants.
Oshin and Joan had one daughter:
- Maria who consecutively married two Armenian Kings of Cilicia, Constantine VConstantine V of ArmeniaConstantine III was the King of Armenian Cilicia from 1344 to 1362...
and Constantine VIConstantine VI of ArmeniaConstantine IV was the King of Armenian Cilicia from 1362 until his death. He was the son of Hethum of Neghir, a nephew of Hethum II of Armenia. Constantine came to the throne on the death of his cousin Constantine III, whose widow, Maria, daughter of Oshin of Corycos, he married...
. She had issue.
Joan died in March 1323, she was outlived by her ill-fated second husband.
Six years after Joan's death, Leo reached majority, he took revenge on his regent. Joan's husband and brother-in-law Constantine, Constable of Armenia and Lord of Lampron, and Leo's wife Alice were all murdered on the king's orders, the head of Oshin being sent to the Ilkhan and of Constantine to Al-Nasr Muhammad.