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King John of England had two daughters named Joan. The names also appear in both cases as Joanna:
King John Lackland acknowledged his natural daughter Joan, so there is no question regarding paternity. [1]
Joan's mother, however, is the subject of an ongoing historical debate, which is summarized below.
Joan was born at a time when both King John "Lackland" and Joan's mother were unmarried, according to letters of pope Honorius III in 1228 legitimating Joan. [2] Addressing Joan, Pope Honorius' April 1226 document states, "King John of England, when unmarried, fathered you by an unmarried woman." [3] This places Joan's birth prior to August 1189, when when John married Isabella of Gloucester."
King John, born December 24, 1166, would have been several months short of 23 when he married Isabella, so the several years immediately prior to 1189 are of greatest interest in learning of Joan's birth. During the period 1187-1189 John was spending almost all of his time in France, away from the court and his familiar social environs in England. He was in France in 1187 when Chateauroux was being beseiged. He may have returned to England with his father in January 1188 but in the summer of 1188 was sent back to Normandy by his father. In August 1189 Richard brings John back to England with him and later that month he is married to Isabelle of Gloucester. [4] This suggests the likelihood that Joan was conceived in France.
The only contemporary evidence of the mother's name does not support her being Agatha Ferrers.[5] See Disputed Parentage on Joan's profile page.
The only document that names Joan's mother is Joan's own obituary which notes the death of Joanna, "lady of Wales and wife of llywelyn, daughter of King John and Queen Clementia." (Obiit domina Johanna domina Wallia, uxor Lewelini filia Regis Johannis et regina Clemencie, iii. Kal. Aprilis.”) [6] The reference to Clementia as queen is surprising, since she was never queen. Sharon Kay Penman suggests that since the obituary was written after Joan's legitimation, the monk making the record may have simply assumed that since Joan became legitimate after the fact, her mother became queen after the fact. [4]
It is also noted that Clemence is a relatively uncommon name in England in this period, but more common in France. [4]
When in December 1203 Joan's marriage Llywelyn ap Iorwerth was being arranged, the royal financial records of the time record the expense of bringing Joan from Normandy. [4] This suggests that Joan was living in Normandy at the time; John was not given to unnecessary expenses for his children and it is difficult to imagine John incurring the expense of sending her to Normandy if she had no reason to be there.
While none of this proves the origins of Joan's mother, it provides a preponderance of circumstantial evidence that her father was King John, that her mother was a woman named Clemence, that Joan was born before 1189, and that she most likely grew up in Normandy or elsewhere in France.
G. R. Stephens acknowledges that Joan seems to have spent her childhood in France, since John brought her from there for her marriage. At the time, 1203, Joan was about 15. That same year, John's expenses for her were recorded in Normandy. While Stephens supposes the Normandy travel may have referred to Joan's half-sister of the same name, that Joan was probably not even born in 1203. [7]
One of the key acknowledgements of the relationship between John and Clemence is an entry in the annals of Tewkesbury: Obiit domina Johanna domina Wallia, uxor Lewelini filia Regis Johannis et regina Clemencie, iii. Kal. Aprilis.” (Died lady Joanna, lady of Wales, wife of Llywelyn, daughter of King John and Queen Clementia, 3 Kal. April.” [8] Clemence was never a queen; Penman suggests that the monk making the entry, following Joan's legitimation by the Pope, assumes that since Joan had, after the fact, been made legitimate, her mother had, after the fact, been made a queen.
Per Wikipedia: Her name is known only from Joan's obituary in the Tewkesbury Annals, where she is called "Regina Clementina" (Queen Clemence). Associated with King John 1 of England, illegitimate daughter Joan.
Joan's mother could be Clemence unknown, or another Clemence or Clementia.
Sharon Kay Penman's blog identifies the alternative women who have been suggested as the possible mother of Joan:
Taking the story of each of these ladies in turn, I found the following:
*'Clemence de Dauntsey' A genealogist named Paget identified a Clemence de Dauntsey as the wife of Nicholas de Verdun, to whom Henry III granted the custody of Susanna in 1228. Subsequent review indicates there was no such person as Clemence de Dauntsey. [4]
*Clemence de Fougers. "Clemence de Fougers was the sister of Richard de Hommet, Constable of Normandy, and Geoffrey de Fougeres. Her father was Guillaume de Fougères, seigneur de Fougères in Brittany and her mother Agatha du Hommet, daughter of Guillaume du Hommet, Constable of Normandy, by Lucy, granddaughter of Adam de Brus. [9] She first married Alain de Vitre who died 1198, seigneur of Dinan[10] Clemence was prominent enough to marry in October 1200, as her next husband, Ranulph de Blundeville, Earl of Chester and Vicomte d’Avranches. In 1189, aged seventeen, Ranulph had been married to Constance of Brittany the widow of Henry II's son Geoffrey, and the mother of Arthur of Brittany with whom King John contested the succession. Henry did not trust the Countess and wanted her married to a magnate he could trust. The marriage gave Ranulph control of the earldom of Richmond and the duchy of Brittany, but it was not a success (see subject 6. below). The couple had no issue and they separated. It was rumoured that Earl Ranulph divorced Constance for having had an affair with King John! Given that Clemence de Fougers was daughter and sister of Constables of Normandy, It is thought likely that John, Count of Mortain, in Normandy, knew of her [and perhaps *knew* her, prior to her marriage to Ranulph]. A close connection to John might explain what would seem a very advantageous second marriage for Clemence to Ranulph. Ranulph, 6th Earl of Chester however, was a powerful baron and it beggars belief, at least for me, that he would have accepted a marriage to a woman who had had a known affair and a subsequent child by John, Count of Mortain some ten years previously. Particularly given the rumours surrounding a possible affair between John and his first wife Constance! [4] No documentation other than circumstances of name, proximity in time and space, confirm the speculation. Sharon Penman questions why Ranulph would be interested in marrying Clemence in 1200 if Clemence by that time had an 11 year old daughter whose father was the king. [4]
The only source that explicitly names Joan's mother is her obit in the Tewkesbury Annals: "Obiit domina Johanna domina Walliae, uxor Lewelini filia regis Johannis et regina Clemencie, iii. kal. Aprilis."
It is suggested[11] that the only Queen Clemence in Europe at that time was Clemence of Toulouse, wife of Sancho VII of Navarre. But it seems doubtful that John could have had an affair with such a prominent woman without mention.
A much more likely candidate is Clemence, wife of Nicholas de Verdun. From the Patent Rolls of the Reign of Henry III comes this entry from 1228, from King Henry III (son of King John and thusly Joan's half-brother):
The entry notes that Henry III put his niece Susanna[12] in the care of Nicholas de Verdun and his wife Clemence. This entry is worth a second look since it's possible that Joan's mother was also named Clemence. If true, she would've had an obvious interest in her granddaughter Susanna.
Clemence was the daughter of Philip le Boteler.[13] She inherited lands in Steeple Lavington, Wiltshire that she later gave to another granddaughter. She and Nicholas de Verdun had one known daughter and heiress, Rohese.
Rohese de Verdun first married William Perceval de Somery[14]. They had Nicholas[15]. She later married Theobald Butler in 1225 [citation needed]. When Nicholas de Verdun died in 1231, Clemence was still living in October of that year. So was Rohese.
Constance, Duchess of Brittany "Constance was born on the 12th June 1161 in Brittany and was married to (1) Geoffrey Plantagenet in 1181. Geoffrey was killed in a riding accident in 1186 and Constance married (2) Ranulph de Blundeville, 4th Earl of Chester, on 3rd February 1188, in a marriage arranged by King Henry 11. This marriage deteriorated and Ranulph imprisoned Constance in 1196. Rebellions were sparked across Brittany on her behalf and Ranulph released her in 1198. Back in Brittany, Constance had her marriage annulled and later in 1198, she took Guy de Tours as her ‘second’ husband. Constance died aged 40, (possibly of leprosy, possibly after giving birth to twin girls) on 5th September 1201 at Nantes.[4]
The theory that Constance had an affair with John after the death of Geoffrey and before John’s marriage to Isabella of Gloucester in 1189, and that she was mother to Joanna is very contentious and has provoked much discussion within genealogical circles. One comment from a genealogist states that ‘the journal ‘The Plantagenet Connection’ has published an ahnentafel of Elizabeth Plantagenet, wife of Henry VII, which gives Joanna’s mother’s name as Constance (perhaps misnamed Clemence?), Duchess of Brittany. [4]
This is the Constance who was John’s sister-in-law! Considering the well-known animosity between John and Constance and her own attempts to press her son Arthur’s interests as far as the throne of England was concerned (and we all know how disastrously that turned out!), I really find the proposed relationship a little hard to swallow. The Constance that history portrays does not strike me as one whom John could easily coerce into bed.’ [4]
Again on the subject of Constance, John Parsons, an eminent historian/genealogist writes: ‘A theory that would identify Joanna’s mother as Constance fails to take into account a very critical point in canon law. By merely having sex with John, let alone bearing him a child, Constance would have established a first-degree relationship of affinity with all of John’s siblings –– including John’s brother Geoffrey. Even though this was not a consanguineous relationship but one of affinity, any first-degree relationship would have rendered matrimony between Constance and any of John’s brothers impossible without a dispensation –– which given the party’s rank would have had to come from the pope himself. That would mean that some trace of the matter must surely have come down to us, whether it involved the request for it, the deliberations, or the actual dispensation itself. As far as I am aware, nothing of the kind exists.’ [4]
My own opinion for what it’s worth, is that had Constance been the mother of Joanna she would surely have brought her up in her household and her name would be as well known as Constance’s other children by Geoffrey (Eleanor, Fair Maid of Brittany, Matilda/Maud of Brittany and Arthur)."[4]
It is well known that Agatha was a mistress of John and several family trees give her, though unmarried, as the mother of Joanna. [4]
Most genealogists however are of the opinion that it is only supposition that she is Joanna’s mother as no proof or records exist to demonstrate this. [4]
One source frequently given is Sir William Dugdale, in the Baronage of England (1675-6). He states his source to be Dr David Howell’s ‘History of Wales’ (1584). Powell’s work is an enlarged edition of H Lloyd’s translation of ‘The Historie of Cambria’ by the 12th century Saint Caradoc of Llancarfan. [4]
Another source, ‘Magna Carta Barons’ by Charles Browning, copyright 1969 also names Agatha de Ferrers, daughter of Robert de Ferrers, fourth Earl of derby, as Joanna’s mother. [4]
Although she cannot be entirely dismissed as a candidate for mother of Joanna, surely there would be some trace of her in a chronicle or other historic reference, if she had indeed been the mother of the wife of the Prince of North Wales. [4]
The History and Antiquities of the County of Buckingham gives a pedigree of the Ferrers family and shows Agatha, daughter of Robert, as "concubine of King John; mother of Joane, wife of Llywelyn, Prince of Wales." [16] Note a copy of this pedigree is attached as an image.
Citing an email from Tim Boyle, The Peerage identifies a child of Agatha de Ferrers and John I 'Lackland', King of England as Joan, born illegitimately [17]
She could also be Agatha de Ferrers.[18]
In 1823 William Warrington wrote, "About 1203, the English King, having lost a great part of his territories in France, returned into England. On his arrival, he gave Joan, a daughter, which he had by a lady of the house of Ferres, in marriage to Llewelyn; as a reward for the due observance of the late treaty, or as a means of securing those advantages, which he might think would naturally result from such an alliance. With this lady, was given as a dower, the lordship of Elesmere in Shropshire." This Warrington, unfortunately, made a number of errors, including his statement that LLywelyn had married Tangwystl, generally recognized as his mistress, early in life. [19]
"Agatha was born about 1168 in Chartley Castle, Staffordshire. It is well known that she was a mistress of John and several family trees give her, though unmarried, as the mother of Joanna. Most genealogists however are of the opinion that it is only supposition that she is Joanna’s mother as no proof or records exist to demonstrate this. One source frequently given is Sir William Dugdale, in the Baronage of England (1675-6). He states his source to be Dr David Howell’s ‘History of Wales’ (1584). Powell’s work is an enlarged edition of H Lloyd’s translation of ‘The Historie of Cambria’ by the 12th century Saint Caradoc of Llancarfan. Another source, ‘Magna Carta Barons’ by Charles Browning, copyright 1969 also names Agatha de Ferrers, daughter of Robert de Ferrers, fourth Earl of derby, as Joanna’s mother. Although she cannot be entirely dismissed as a candidate for mother of Joanna, surely there would be some trace of her in a chronicle or other historic reference, if she had indeed been the mother of the wife of the Prince of North Wales. I can find no record of Agatha having ever married and it is possible that she and John had a long standing relationship. The date of her death is unknown." [4]
She was born, probably in Normandy, about 1188, prior to the marriage of her father King John, to his first wife.
Joan was betrothed to Llywelyn ap Iorwerth (q.v.) in 1204 , and married to him in 1205. [1]
Joan married Llywelyn the Great[20] Category: House of Hanover[21]at Ascensiontide 1206,[22] Joan and Llywelyn were married , probably around mid-May.[23][24]
Her role as ambassador and intermediary between her husband and the Crown in the period 1211-32 was an important one. [1]
In April 1226 Joan obtained a papal decree from Pope Honorius III, declaring her legitimate on the basis that her parents had been unmarried at the time of her birth, but without giving her a claim to the English throne.
In 1228 King John placed Susanna, daughter of Llywelyn, Prince of North Wale, and his wife Joan, in the custody of Nicholas de Verdun and his wife Clemence. Since there is no indication that Llywelyn and Joan were unable to care for Susanna, or that King Joan was given to care for the wellbeing of relatives' children, it generally assumed that Susanna was so placed as a hostage to guarantee the good behavior of Llywelyn and Joan. [25]
Richardson further notes, "If Clemence was Susanna's grandmother, it would explain her inclusion in the grant of Susanna's custody. Regardless, stronger evidence is needed before any firm conclusion can be drawn about a possible relationship between these families." [25]
At Easter 1230, William de Braose, 10th Baron Abergavenny, who was Llywelyn's nominal prisoner at the time, was discovered together with Joan in Llywelyn's bedchamber. William de Braose was hanged in the marshland at the foot of Garth Celyn, the place known since as Gwern y Grog.
Joan herself was placed out of public view, under virtual house arrest, at Garth Celyn, for twelve months after the incident. She was then (apparently) forgiven by Llywelyn, and restored as wife and princess. She may have given birth to a daughter early in 1231.
In 1230, Llywelyn discovered Joan in adultery with William de Braose in their bedchamber. William de Braose was hanged, and Joan herself was imprisoned for some time before Llywelyn accepted her back as his wife.
The liaison with William de Breos (see Braose family ), which resulted in the execution of William and a short term of imprisonment for Joan, did not permanently end Llywelyn 's attachment to Joan, which appears to have been genuine, since she was freed from house arrest after a year. [1]
When Joan died at the palace of Aber in Wales on 2 Feb. 1237 her body was conveyed across the Menai and buried in a new cemetery near the manor of Llan-faes , where Llywelyn founded a Franciscan friary in her memory. She was the mother of Dafydd ap Llywelyn (q.v.) . [A stone coffin, removed from Llan-faes at the Dissolution, and now preserved in S. Mary's church at Beaumaris , is reputed to be hers.][1]
Joan was never called Princess of Wales, but, in Welsh, "Lady of Wales." She died at the royal home, Garth Celyn, Aber Garth Celyn, on the north coast of Gwynedd in 1237. Llywelyn's great grief at her death is recorded; he founded a Franciscan friary on the seashore at Llanfaes, opposite the royal home, in her honour. The friary was consecrated in 1240, shortly before Llywelyn died.
Joan was buried at the priory of Llanfaes near Beaumaris. Her sarcophogus is at Beaumaris parish church, Anglesey.[26]
(Royal Ancestry) His (Llywelyn's) wife, Joan, died at Aber (colloquial name for Aberystwyth) 2 Feb.1237, and was buried in the new cemetery at Friars Minors, Llanfaes, Angelsey.
Llywelyn had several mistresses; only one is known: Tangwystl Goch (c.1168-1198[citation needed]). Sources do not agree on the mothers of Llywelyn's children.[32]
See also:
(Iorweth-1), June 18, 1205 in England
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Categories: Day-1904 Temporary Euroaristo Project | House of Plantagenet
If you look at the illegitimate children of Henry I, one daughter is called FitzHenry and all the rest of the illegitimate children FitzRoy. The question is whether we standardise on FitzRoy for illegitimate offspring of both genders. I have no strong views. Is this something we should raise in the Medieval project Google Group?
edited by Michael Cayley
Not sure how to fix it since Category:Prince of Wales is no more.
Elen/Ellen/Helen, legitimate daughter of Llywelyn by his wife Joan [see CCR Henry III, 3:538-9, and Andrew B. W. MacEwen, "Elen, Countess of Chester: a daughter of Joan, Princess of North Wales, _The Genealogist 4:137-8], married John 'le Scot', Earl of Huntingdon, Cambridge and Chester, son of David, Earl of Huntingdon and his wife Maud [of Chester]. Helen is suspected of poisoning her first husband (she afterwards married Robert de Quincy, who died s.p.). At John 'le Scots death, his heirs were the two daughters of his eldest sister and his three surviving other sisters.
Hi! I know my "to-do" category to review the attached profiles has been on this profile for a while. Recent discussion about "daughter" Margaret has prompted bumping her up to my "To Do Today or Tomorrow" list. See http://www.wikitree.com/g2g/217409/detach-wrong-mother-from-margaret-verch-lewellyn-clifford
Cheers, Liz
Plantangenet-2 and FitzJohn-120 appear to represent the same person because: dates are off between the two, but these profiles are both intended to represent the same person. Please merge. Thanks!