Joan of Navarre, Queen of England
| Joan of Navarre | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Duchess consort of Brittany | |
| Tenure | 2 October 1386 – 1 November 1399 |
| Queen consort of England | |
| Consort | 7 February 1403 – 20 March 1413 |
| Coronation | 26 February 1403 |
| Born | c. 1370 Pamplona, Navarre |
| Died | 10 June 1437 (aged c. 66–67) Havering-atte-Bower, London |
| Burial | Canterbury Cathedral, Kent |
| Spouse |
John IV, Duke of Brittany m. 1386; dec. 1399 Henry IV of England m. 1403; wid. 1413 |
| Issue among others |
John V, Duke of Brittany Marie, Duchess of Alençon Margaret, Viscountess of Rohan Arthur III, Duke of Brittany Gilles, Lord of Chantocé and Ingrande Richard, Count of Benon, Étampes and Marles Blanche, Countess of Armagnac |
| House | Évreux |
| Father | Charles II of Navarre |
| Mother | Joan of Valois |
Joan of Navarre, also known as Joanna (c. 1370 – 10 June 1437) was the Duchess consort of Brittany by marriage to John IV, Duke of Brittany, and later the Queen consort of England by marriage to King Henry IV of England. She served as regent of Brittany from 1399 until 1403 during the minority of her son. She also served as regent of England during the absence of her step-son in 1415.
She was a daughter of King Charles II of Navarre and Joan of France.
On 2 October 1386, Joan married her first husband, John IV, Duke of Brittany (known in traditional English sources as John V). She was his third wife and the only one to bear him children. They had nine children:
Upon the death of John IV on 1 November 1399, he was succeeded by their son, John V. Her son being still a minor, she was made his guardian and the regent of Brittany during his minority. Not long after, she was given a proposal by Henry IV. The marriage proposal was given out of mutual personal preference rather than a dynastic marriage. According to the Encyclopædia Britannica, affection developed between Joan and Henry Bolingbroke (the future King Henry IV) while he resided at the Breton court during his banishment from England. Joan gave a favorable reply to the proposal, but stated that she could not go through with it until she had set the affairs of Brittany in order and arrange for the security of the duchy and her children. She knew that it would not be possible for her to continue as regent of Brittany after having married the king of England, nor would she be able to take her sons with her to England. A papal dispensation was necessary for the marriage, which was obtained in 1402. Joan negotiated with the Duke of Burgundy to make him guardian of her male children and regent of Brittany. Finally, she surrendered the custody of her sons and her power as regent of Brittany to the duke of Burgundy, who swore to respect the Breton rights and law, and departed for England with her daughters.
On 7 February 1403, Joan married Henry IV at Winchester Cathedral. The 26th, she held her formal entry to London, where she was crowned queen of England. Queen Joan was described as beautiful, gracious and majestic, but also as greedy and stingy, and was accused of accepting bribes. Reportedly, she did not have a good impression of England, as a Breton ship was attached outside the English coast just after her wedding. She preferred the company of her Breton entourage, which caused offence to such a degree that her Breton courtiers were exiled by order of Parliament, a ban the king did not think he could oppose to given his sensitive relation to the Parliament at the time.
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