Joan of The Tower
Encyclopedia
Joan of England known as Joan of The Tower, was the first wife and Queen consort of king David II of Scotland
.
and was the youngest daughter of Edward II of England
and Isabella of France
. Her siblings included Edward III of England
, John of Eltham, Earl of Cornwall
and Eleanor of Woodstock
.
In accordance with the terms of the Treaty of Northampton, she was married on 17 July 1328 (at seven years of age) to David II of Scotland
at Berwick-upon-Tweed
. On 7 June 1329, her father-in-law Robert I of Scotland
died and David II became King. He was crowned at Scone
in November 1331.
and his protégé Edward Balliol
at Halidon Hill in July 1333, David and his Queen were sent for safety into France, reaching Boulogne
in May 1334, where they were received by the French King, her relative Philip VI
. Little is known about the life of the Scottish King and Queen in France, except that Château Gaillard was given to them as their residence and Philip treated them with regard. David was present at the bloodless meeting of the English and French armies at Vironfosse in October 1339.
Meanwhile David's representatives had obtained the upper hand in Scotland, and David and Joan were thus enabled to return to his kingdom in June 1341, when he took the reins of government into his own hands. In 1346, David II was taken prisoner at the Battle of Neville's Cross
on 17 October 1346, and remained imprisoned in England for eleven years. Joan was allowed to visit him in the Tower of London
a few times by her brother, but his imprisonment meant that Joan and David no children were born during this time. After he was released in 1357, she decided to remain in England.
Joan herself died in 1362, aged 41, at Hertford Castle
, Hertfordshire
and was buried at the Grey Friars Church
, London
.
David II of Scotland
David II was King of Scots from 7 June 1329 until his death.-Early life:...
.
Birth
She was born in the Tower of LondonTower of London
Her Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress, more commonly known as the Tower of London, is a historic castle on the north bank of the River Thames in central London, England. It lies within the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, separated from the eastern edge of the City of London by the open space...
and was the youngest daughter of Edward II of England
Edward II of England
Edward II , called Edward of Caernarfon, was King of England from 1307 until he was deposed by his wife Isabella in January 1327. He was the sixth Plantagenet king, in a line that began with the reign of Henry II...
and Isabella of France
Isabella of France
Isabella of France , sometimes described as the She-wolf of France, was Queen consort of England as the wife of Edward II of England. She was the youngest surviving child and only surviving daughter of Philip IV of France and Joan I of Navarre...
. Her siblings included Edward III of England
Edward III of England
Edward III was King of England from 1327 until his death and is noted for his military success. Restoring royal authority after the disastrous reign of his father, Edward II, Edward III went on to transform the Kingdom of England into one of the most formidable military powers in Europe...
, John of Eltham, Earl of Cornwall
John of Eltham, Earl of Cornwall
John of Eltham, 1st Earl of Cornwall was the second son of Edward II of England and Isabella of France. He was heir to the English throne from the date of the abdication of his father to the birth of his nephew Edward of Woodstock .-Life:John was born in 1316 at Eltham Palace, Kent...
and Eleanor of Woodstock
Eleanor of Woodstock
Eleanor of Woodstock was an English princess.She was born at Woodstock Palace in Oxfordshire to the king Edward II of England and queen Isabella of France...
.
Marriage
David II of Scotland
David II was King of Scots from 7 June 1329 until his death.-Early life:...
at Berwick-upon-Tweed
Berwick-upon-Tweed
Berwick-upon-Tweed or simply Berwick is a town in the county of Northumberland and is the northernmost town in England, on the east coast at the mouth of the River Tweed. It is situated 2.5 miles south of the Scottish border....
. On 7 June 1329, her father-in-law Robert I of Scotland
Robert I of Scotland
Robert I , popularly known as Robert the Bruce , was King of Scots from March 25, 1306, until his death in 1329.His paternal ancestors were of Scoto-Norman heritage , and...
died and David II became King. He was crowned at Scone
Scone, Scotland
Scone is a village in Perth and Kinross, Scotland. The medieval village of Scone, which grew up around the monastery and royal residence, was abandoned in the early 19th century when the residents were removed and a new palace was built on the site by the Earl of Mansfield...
in November 1331.
Queen
Owing to the victory of Edward III of EnglandEdward III of England
Edward III was King of England from 1327 until his death and is noted for his military success. Restoring royal authority after the disastrous reign of his father, Edward II, Edward III went on to transform the Kingdom of England into one of the most formidable military powers in Europe...
and his protégé Edward Balliol
Edward Balliol
Edward Balliol was a claimant to the Scottish throne . With English help, he briefly ruled the country from 1332 to 1336.-Life:...
at Halidon Hill in July 1333, David and his Queen were sent for safety into France, reaching Boulogne
Boulogne-sur-Mer
-Road:* Metropolitan bus services are operated by the TCRB* Coach services to Calais and Dunkerque* A16 motorway-Rail:* The main railway station is Gare de Boulogne-Ville and located in the south of the city....
in May 1334, where they were received by the French King, her relative Philip VI
Philip VI of France
Philip VI , known as the Fortunate and of Valois, was the King of France from 1328 to his death. He was also Count of Anjou, Maine, and Valois from 1325 to 1328...
. Little is known about the life of the Scottish King and Queen in France, except that Château Gaillard was given to them as their residence and Philip treated them with regard. David was present at the bloodless meeting of the English and French armies at Vironfosse in October 1339.
Meanwhile David's representatives had obtained the upper hand in Scotland, and David and Joan were thus enabled to return to his kingdom in June 1341, when he took the reins of government into his own hands. In 1346, David II was taken prisoner at the Battle of Neville's Cross
Battle of Neville's Cross
The Battle of Neville's Cross took place to the west of Durham, England on 17 October 1346.-Background:In 1346, England was embroiled in the Hundred Years' War with France. In order to divert his enemy Philip VI of France appealed to David II of Scotland to attack the English from the north in...
on 17 October 1346, and remained imprisoned in England for eleven years. Joan was allowed to visit him in the Tower of London
Tower of London
Her Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress, more commonly known as the Tower of London, is a historic castle on the north bank of the River Thames in central London, England. It lies within the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, separated from the eastern edge of the City of London by the open space...
a few times by her brother, but his imprisonment meant that Joan and David no children were born during this time. After he was released in 1357, she decided to remain in England.
Death and burial
Joan was close to her mother, whom she nursed during her last days.Joan herself died in 1362, aged 41, at Hertford Castle
Hertford Castle
Hertford Castle was a Norman castle situated by the River Lea in Hertford, the county town of Hertfordshire, England.-Early history:Hertford Castle was built on a site first fortified by Edward the Elder around 911. By the time of the Norman Invasion in 1066, a motte and bailey were on the site...
, Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England. The county town is Hertford.The county is one of the Home Counties and lies inland, bordered by Greater London , Buckinghamshire , Bedfordshire , Cambridgeshire and...
and was buried at the Grey Friars Church
Christ Church Greyfriars
Christ Church Greyfriars, also known as Christ Church Newgate, was an Anglican church located on Newgate Street, opposite St Paul's Cathedral in the City of London. Built first in the gothic style, then in the English Baroque style by Sir Christopher Wren, it ranked among the City's most notable...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
.