When did you find Joan II of Navarre?
I found Joan just before Easter 2023, I remember sat in a bar with my father and discussing her though kind of against his will. I found it incredibly fascinating to find a queen that many didn’t know even within academic circles.
At the time I was heavily fixated on women accused of witchcraft and Mary I. This took a different route and I became fixated on reinstating women into the historical narrative.
Why did you choose Joan ?
Joan of Navarre is a recent interest of mine, ever since I was introduced to her thanks to one of my master alumni friends. I have found her such a fascinating individual because the she is different to the assumptions made when studying the late medieval period.
Further, she is important to discuss as the late medieval period is taken by Eleanor of Aquitaine. Joan of Navarre shapes how consorts are represented and what roles they have within the royal household.
She needs more people writing and talking about her as she is essential to fully comprehending how the Hundred Years War plays out.
It is shocking how many people don’t know about her and her role within the French and English courts. How her legacy paved the way for future queen consorts and regnants in England.
Therefore, by introducing Joan of Navarre as the first Girlboss of the Month this should hopefully engage people to do their own research surrounding her.
What specifically drew you to Joan?
When I first came across Joan I was invested heavily within the history of witchcraft and forgotten women. Well Joan’s life encompasses both elements as she is a forgotten queen and then accused of taking part in witchcraft.
Further research that I have done on Joan, makes me admire her for her ability to use dower lands and wardship to maintain an element of financial independence. Within this there is the ability for Joan to write and have her own seal. This fascinates me as it is very rare for a seal like Joan’s to survive. Therefore, conveying how Joan was a real girlboss due to the ability to maintain power through revenue especially when she was married to Henry IV. Therefore, the evidence we have for Joan’s use of revenue is fascinating. The way that she made Southampton as a port take accountability for unpaid duties was important as it displays her ability to negotiate. Southampton was not the easiest to get revenue out of so the ability to dispute it, illustrates the power that Joan held over them.
What is your fave fact about her?
My favourite fact is that she is the only ever queen to be tried and imprisoned for witchcraft in English history. Where she was imprisoned at Pevensey Castle in 1419. Many are mistaken that Anne Boleyn the wife of Henry VIII was but this was instead the ground of adultery. She was never charged of being a witch.
What is one thing you want readers to take away?
Mainly I want people to realise that there many women that are lost even in the elite narrative. It isn’t just ‘ordinary’ people that are lost or that are demonised by whig historians.
Joan of Navarre’s legacy and image helped consorts have a better role during later years of the late medieval period. She is a good example of using finances and dower lands efficiently.
Also women could rule in western Europe as highlighted by Joan because theres the assumption that women rulers become queens in the early modern period. Though queens and women in power have always been there. Joan of Navarre is most definitely a girlboss and it is important to recognise the impact she had on both France and England.
Final thoughts on Joan:
Ultimately, Joan had to kick off the slay she’s a girlboss rebranding just because she is so cool and her life is something that should be discussed more. She is no longer invisible due to the academic discussions that are happening, especially in how she had become forgotten in history. This is interesting as the elite narrative is one that holds a plethora of documents meaning that to be able to understand the life of Joan is able to be interpreted. This is due to the fact that there was communication through letters but unfortunately museums and archives over the years have often gotten rid of these letters and writings as it has not been deemed ‘important’. This is because it was often not a white male cishet narrative meaning that these pieces have been lost in antiquity. Fortunately, there are records that have survived though they are in poor condition meaning that it is a lengthy process to gather a comprehendible understanding of the life of Joan and other women. Therefore, it is important to place these women at the forefront of history so that they are never lost again.
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