Joan, Duchess of Brittany
Encyclopedia
Joanna of Penthièvre or Joanna the Lame (in French Jeanne de Penthièvre, Jeanne la Boiteuse) (1319 – 10 September 1384) was reigning Duchess of Brittany
(suo jure
) together with her husband
Charles of Blois between 1341 and 1364. She was also Countess of Penthièvre
in her own right.
. Joanna was the only daughter of Guy of Brittany, count of Penthièvre, and thus niece and an heiress of duke John III
.
In 1337, she married Charles of Blois
in Paris and in 1341 on the death of John III, the couple assumed the rule of the duchy of Brittany, being supported by most of the local nobility and administration. However, John of Dreux
, born from the second marriage of duke Arthur II
to Yolande de Montfort, did not agree to let go of his own rights.
When John died in 1345 in the midst of the Breton War of Succession
, his wife Joanna of Flanders
took arms to protect the rights of her son John V, Duke of Brittany
against the party led by Charles and Joan. Joanna organized resistance
and made use of diplomatic means to protect her family and country. In the siege of Hennebont, she took up arms and, dressed in armour, conducted the defence of the town. Joanna even led a raid of knights outside the walls that successfully fired and destroyed one of the enemy's rear camps. After this she became known as "Jeanne la Flamme". She even captured Joan's husband Charles. However Joanna was eventually forced to retreat to England, where she became mentally ill leaving her young son in the care of the English court. Charles and Joan by this time controlled most of Brittany.
After these initial successes, Charles was taken prisoner by the English in 1347. Thomas Dagworth
was the official captor of Charles of Blois. He was released nine years afterwards against a ransom of about half a million ecús, and resumed the war against the Montforts.
Charles died in the Battle of Auray
which determined the end of the war and the victory of the Montforts. He was canonized as saint for his devotion to religion, but the process was made null by Pope Gregory XI
by request of Duke John V of Brittany. Subsequently, in 1904, he was beatified. Joan was left a widow.
, ceding sovereignty over Brittany, while retaining the ducal title for life.
In 1379, when John V had been forced into exile in England, Joan was shocked that King Charles V of France
wished to annex Brittany as part of France in violation of her rights and those of her son. Both local factions united to invite John V back from his exile in England and retake control of the Duchy.
After the death of Charles V, she signed on 15 January 1381 the second treaty
of Guérande by which she received a substantial pension and the opportunity for her heirs to recover the duchy if John V had no descendants. The problem of succession was finally settled.
Joan died on 10 September 1384 and she was buried at the church of the Friars Minor of Guingamp
.
Joan was grandmother of Louis II of Naples
.
Duke of Brittany
The Duchy of Brittany was a medieval tribal and feudal state covering the northwestern peninsula of Europe,bordered by the Alantic Ocean on the west and the English Channel to the north with less definitive borders of the Loire River to the south and Normandy to the east...
(suo jure
Suo jure
Suo jure is a Latin phrase meaning "in her [or his] own right".It is commonly encountered in the context of titles of nobility, especially in cases where a wife may hold a title in her own right rather than through her marriage....
) together with her husband
Jure uxoris
Jure uxoris is a Latin term that means "by right of his wife" or "in right of a wife". It is commonly used to refer to a title held by a man whose wife holds it in her own right. In other words, he acquired the title simply by being her husband....
Charles of Blois between 1341 and 1364. She was also Countess of Penthièvre
Counts and dukes of Penthièvre
In the 11th and 12th centuries the countship of Penthièvre in Brittany belonged to a branch of the sovereign house of Brittany. Geoffrey I, Duke of Brittany, gave it to his brother Eudes in 1035, and the line formed a cadet branch of the ducal house of Brittany...
in her own right.
Breton War of Succession
She was one of the protagonists of the Breton War of SuccessionBreton War of Succession
The Breton War of Succession was a conflict between the Houses of Blois and Montfort for control of the Duchy of Brittany. It was fought between 1341 and 1364. It formed an integral part of the early Hundred Years War due to the involvement of the French and English governments in the conflict; the...
. Joanna was the only daughter of Guy of Brittany, count of Penthièvre, and thus niece and an heiress of duke John III
John III, Duke of Brittany
John III the Good was duke of Brittany, from 1312 to his death. He was son of Duke Arthur II and Mary of Limoges, his first wife...
.
In 1337, she married Charles of Blois
Charles, Duke of Brittany
Charles of Blois , claimed the title Duke of Brittany, from 1341 to his death.Charles is the son of Guy I of Blois-Châtillon, count of Blois, by Margaret of Valois, a sister of king Philip VI of France. He was a devout man, who took piety to the extreme of mortifying his own flesh...
in Paris and in 1341 on the death of John III, the couple assumed the rule of the duchy of Brittany, being supported by most of the local nobility and administration. However, John of Dreux
John IV, Duke of Brittany
John IV of Montfort , was duke of Brittany, from 1341 to his death. He was son of Duke Arthur II and Yolande de Dreux, countess of Montfort, his second wife.In 1322 he succeeded his mother as count of Montfort, and in 1329, he married Joanna of Flanders at Chartres...
, born from the second marriage of duke Arthur II
Arthur II, Duke of Brittany
Arthur II , of the House of Dreux, was Duke of Brittany from 1305 to his death. He was the first son of John II and Beatrice, daughter of Henry III of England and Eleanor of Provence....
to Yolande de Montfort, did not agree to let go of his own rights.
When John died in 1345 in the midst of the Breton War of Succession
Breton War of Succession
The Breton War of Succession was a conflict between the Houses of Blois and Montfort for control of the Duchy of Brittany. It was fought between 1341 and 1364. It formed an integral part of the early Hundred Years War due to the involvement of the French and English governments in the conflict; the...
, his wife Joanna of Flanders
Joanna of Flanders
Joanna of Flanders , also known as, Countess Jeanne, Jehanne de Montfort, and Jeanne la Flamme, was consort Duchess of Brittany by her marriage to John IV, Duke of Brittany...
took arms to protect the rights of her son John V, Duke of Brittany
John V, Duke of Brittany
John V the Conqueror KG was Duke of Brittany and Count of Montfort, from 1345 until his death.-Numbering:...
against the party led by Charles and Joan. Joanna organized resistance
Resistance movement
A resistance movement is a group or collection of individual groups, dedicated to opposing an invader in an occupied country or the government of a sovereign state. It may seek to achieve its objects through either the use of nonviolent resistance or the use of armed force...
and made use of diplomatic means to protect her family and country. In the siege of Hennebont, she took up arms and, dressed in armour, conducted the defence of the town. Joanna even led a raid of knights outside the walls that successfully fired and destroyed one of the enemy's rear camps. After this she became known as "Jeanne la Flamme". She even captured Joan's husband Charles. However Joanna was eventually forced to retreat to England, where she became mentally ill leaving her young son in the care of the English court. Charles and Joan by this time controlled most of Brittany.
After these initial successes, Charles was taken prisoner by the English in 1347. Thomas Dagworth
Thomas Dagworth
Sir Thomas Dagworth was an English knight and soldier, who led English armies in Brittany during the Hundred Years' War....
was the official captor of Charles of Blois. He was released nine years afterwards against a ransom of about half a million ecús, and resumed the war against the Montforts.
Charles died in the Battle of Auray
Battle of Auray
The Battle of Auray took place on 29 September 1364 at the French town of Auray. This battle was the decisive confrontation of the Breton War of Succession, a part of the Hundred Years' War....
which determined the end of the war and the victory of the Montforts. He was canonized as saint for his devotion to religion, but the process was made null by Pope Gregory XI
Pope Gregory XI
Gregory XI was pope from 1370 until his death.-Biography:He was born Pierre Roger de Beaufort, in Maumont, in the modern commune of Rosiers-d'Égletons, Limousin around 1336. He succeeded Pope Urban V in 1370, and was pope until 1378...
by request of Duke John V of Brittany. Subsequently, in 1904, he was beatified. Joan was left a widow.
Later life
After this defeat, Joan had to sign the first treaty GuérandeGuérande
The medieval town of Guérande is located in the département of Loire-Atlantique in western France.The inhabitants are so called Guérandais, for men, and Guérandaise, for women....
, ceding sovereignty over Brittany, while retaining the ducal title for life.
In 1379, when John V had been forced into exile in England, Joan was shocked that King Charles V of France
Charles V of France
Charles V , called the Wise, was King of France from 1364 to his death in 1380 and a member of the House of Valois...
wished to annex Brittany as part of France in violation of her rights and those of her son. Both local factions united to invite John V back from his exile in England and retake control of the Duchy.
After the death of Charles V, she signed on 15 January 1381 the second treaty
Treaty
A treaty is an express agreement under international law entered into by actors in international law, namely sovereign states and international organizations. A treaty may also be known as an agreement, protocol, covenant, convention or exchange of letters, among other terms...
of Guérande by which she received a substantial pension and the opportunity for her heirs to recover the duchy if John V had no descendants. The problem of succession was finally settled.
Joan died on 10 September 1384 and she was buried at the church of the Friars Minor of Guingamp
Guingamp
Guingamp is a commune in the Côtes-d'Armor department in Brittany in northwestern France.-Population:Inhabitants of Guingamp are called guingampais.-Breton language:...
.
Joan was grandmother of Louis II of Naples
Louis II of Naples
Louis II of Anjou was the rival of Ladislaus as King of Naples. He was a member of the House of Valois-Anjou.-Biography:...
.
Children
Joan and Charles had the following children:- John I of Blois-Châtillon (1340–1404)
- Guy
- Henry (d. 1400)
- Marie (1345–1404), Lady of GuiseGuiseGuise is a commune in the Aisne department in Picardy in northern France.-Population:-Sights:The ruins of the medieval castle of Guise, seat of the Dukes of Guise, are located in the commune.-Miscellaneous:...
, married in 1360 Louis I of NaplesLouis I of NaplesLouis I of Anjou , or Louis I of Naples, was the second son of King John II of France and Bonne of Luxembourg... - Marguerite, married in 1351 Charles de la CerdaCharles de la CerdaCharles de La Cerda , Franco-Castilian nobleman and soldier, was the son of Alfonso de la Cerda and Isabelle d'Antoing....
(d. 1354)
See also
- Dukes of Brittany family treeDukes of Brittany family treeThis is a family tree of the Dukes of Brittany from the 9th century, to the annexation of Brittany by France in 1532.See also: Brittany - List of family trees...