Joan of England

Joan of England, born in October 1165, was the seventh child of Henry II, King of England, and Eleanor, Duchess of Aquitaine. Her early years were spent at her mother’s courts, preparing for a future political marriage. She became Queen of Sicily through her marriage to William II and later Countess consort of Toulouse when she married Raymond VI.

Her reign as Queen of Sicily did not produce an heir, leading to a succession crisis upon William’s death. Her second marriage to Raymond VI resulted in the birth of her children, including her successor, Raymond VII. Despite facing political strife, she played a role in the Third Crusade and was ultimately veiled a nun on her deathbed after a life marked by significant political and military events.