Joan of England
19 December 1333 or 28 January 1334 - 2 September 1348
House: Plantagenet
Joan of England, born in either December 1333 or January 1334, was a member of the Plantagenet dynasty as the daughter of King Edward III and Philippa of Hainault. Her early life was spent under the guardianship of Marie de St Pol, and she was betrothed to the heir of the Austrian duchy as part of a political alliance. Her education was intended to take place at the Austrian court, but her father delayed her departure, and the marriage contract was eventually dissolved due to changing political alliances.
Joan’s second betrothal was to Peter of Castile, which led her to travel to Bordeaux in 1348. Tragically, she encountered the Black Death there, succumbing to the disease at the age of 14. Her death was a personal loss for her family and had implications for English-Spanish relations at the time.
Notable events
- 1333 or 1334Born in the Tower of London, potentially impacting her future as a political pawn.
- 1336Betrothed to the eldest son of Otto, Duke of Austria, as part of a political alliance.
- 1338Traveled with her father, King Edward III, to Antwerp and Koblenz, becoming involved in the politics of the Holy Roman Empire.
- 1339Stayed at the Munich court with Margaret of Hainault before being taken to the Austrian court.
- 1340Returned to England after her father dissolved her Austrian betrothal due to shifting political allegiances.
- 1345Betrothed to Peter of Castile, indicating a strategic English alliance with Castile.
- Summer 1348Departed England for Castile with a grand trousseau and armed retinue, showcasing her importance in diplomatic relations.
- August 1348Caught in the outbreak of the Black Death in Bordeaux, marking a significant and fatal turn in her life.
- 2 September 1348Died of the Black Death, her death highlighting the pandemic's reach across Europe.
- After 1348Legacy includes her burial in Bayonne Cathedral and a statue in Westminster Abbey, signifying her royal status.
Other details
Death: Died at the age of 14 from the Black Death, buried in Bayonne Cathedral.
Children: 0
Parents: Edward III of England and Philippa of Hainault