Princess of England, Queen of Sicily, Countess of Toulouse, youngest daughter of Henry II. and Eleanor of Aquitaine. She married the 12 years older William II. 'the Good' of Sicily on Feb. 13 1177. William died childless in 1189 and was succeeded by Tancred of Lecce who treated her badly and held her prisoner for a while. Her brother Richard stayed in Sicily for a few months on his way to the holy land during the third crusade. He was later joined by mother who brought his bride Berengaria of Navarra with her. Tancred, who already fought against Heinrich VI. handed her over because he couldn't risk to have another enemy.A few days after her brothers departure from Sicily she went with Berengaria on board a ship that was supposed to bring them to Akko. After a storm they stranded in Cyprus where they where taken prisoners by Byzantine Emperor Isaac II. Angelus. Richard's troops conquered Cyprus after three weeks and they where able to continue their travel. They stayed in Akko during the whole Crusade. During the peace negotiations with Saladin, Richard suggested to marry Joan with Saladins brother Malik al-Adil and give them the Kingdom of Jerusalem to rule. This suggestion was soon dropped again. After the crusade she and Berengaria went to Rome where they stayed until after Richards release from his imprisonment. In Oct. 1196 Joan became the fifth wife of Raymond VI. of Toulouse. She gave birth to one son, Raymond VII., in July 1197. In 1199 she stayed in the Castle of Cassès where rebellious barons besieged her. She was already five months pregnant and escaped from the castle to ask her brother for help. It was too late Richard was already dead. In Nioret she met her mother and went with her to Rouen. She suddenly decided to become a nun in the Abbey of Fontevraud and shocked her environment with this revelation. The arch bishop of Canterbury tried to change her decision without success. She traveled to Fontevraud where she gave birth to a son on September 24, 1199, a few minutes later she died in her mothers arms, just five month after her brother. The child only lived a few days. She was buried in the Abbey but the body was never found.
Princess of England, Queen of Sicily, Countess of Toulouse, youngest daughter of Henry II. and Eleanor of Aquitaine. She married the 12 years older William II. 'the Good' of Sicily on Feb. 13 1177. William died childless in 1189 and was succeeded by Tancred of Lecce who treated her badly and held her prisoner for a while. Her brother Richard stayed in Sicily for a few months on his way to the holy land during the third crusade. He was later joined by mother who brought his bride Berengaria of Navarra with her. Tancred, who already fought against Heinrich VI. handed her over because he couldn't risk to have another enemy.A few days after her brothers departure from Sicily she went with Berengaria on board a ship that was supposed to bring them to Akko. After a storm they stranded in Cyprus where they where taken prisoners by Byzantine Emperor Isaac II. Angelus. Richard's troops conquered Cyprus after three weeks and they where able to continue their travel. They stayed in Akko during the whole Crusade. During the peace negotiations with Saladin, Richard suggested to marry Joan with Saladins brother Malik al-Adil and give them the Kingdom of Jerusalem to rule. This suggestion was soon dropped again. After the crusade she and Berengaria went to Rome where they stayed until after Richards release from his imprisonment. In Oct. 1196 Joan became the fifth wife of Raymond VI. of Toulouse. She gave birth to one son, Raymond VII., in July 1197. In 1199 she stayed in the Castle of Cassès where rebellious barons besieged her. She was already five months pregnant and escaped from the castle to ask her brother for help. It was too late Richard was already dead. In Nioret she met her mother and went with her to Rouen. She suddenly decided to become a nun in the Abbey of Fontevraud and shocked her environment with this revelation. The arch bishop of Canterbury tried to change her decision without success. She traveled to Fontevraud where she gave birth to a son on September 24, 1199, a few minutes later she died in her mothers arms, just five month after her brother. The child only lived a few days. She was buried in the Abbey but the body was never found.
Bio by: Lutetia
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