Joan, Countess of Ponthieu facts for kids

Jeanne de Ponthieu Portrait

Joan of Dammartin (born around 1220 – died March 16, 1279) was an important noblewoman in medieval Europe. She became the Queen of Castile and León by marrying Ferdinand III of Castile. Joan also ruled two areas in France: Ponthieu (from 1251 to 1279) and Aumale (from 1237 to 1279).

Her daughter, Eleanor of Castile, later became the Queen of England. Eleanor inherited Ponthieu from Joan. Joan's son, Ferdinand II, Count of Aumale, died before her. So, her grandson, John I, Count of Aumale, inherited Aumale.

Joan's Family Background

Joan was born around the year 1220. She was the oldest daughter of Simon of Dammartin, who was the Count of Ponthieu. Her mother was Marie of Ponthieu.

Her grandparents on her father's side were Alberic III of Dammartin and Mahaut de Clermont. On her mother's side, her grandparents were William IV of Ponthieu and Alys, Countess of the Vexin. Alys was a daughter of Louis VII of France, a French king.

Marriage Plans and Politics

In 1234, there were secret talks for Joan to marry Henry III of England. This marriage would have given the English king control over lands in France. These lands included Ponthieu and Aumale.

However, the French kings did not want this to happen. They had recently taken back control of Normandy from England. Allowing England to gain land nearby could let them try to take Normandy back.

Joan's father, Simon, had promised the French king that his daughters would not marry without the king's permission. In 1235, Blanche of Castile, the Queen of France, reminded Simon of this promise. She threatened to take away his lands if Joan married Henry III. The Pope also stopped the marriage because Joan and Henry were distantly related. So, Henry III married someone else in 1236.

Becoming Queen of Castile

Coat of arms of Joan as Queen of Castile

In 1235, King Ferdinand III of Castile lost his first wife. His mother, Berengaria of Castile, wanted him to marry again. Queen Blanche of France suggested Joan of Dammartin. This marriage would prevent Joan's French lands from falling into the hands of enemies.

In October 1237, Joan married King Ferdinand III in Burgos. She was about 17 years old. Ferdinand already had many sons from his first marriage. This meant there was little chance that Joan's French lands would become part of Castile.

Joan and Ferdinand had five children:

• Ferdinand II, Count of Aumale (born 1239 – died around 1265). He married Laure de Montfort.
• Eleanor (born 1241 – died 1290). She became Countess of Ponthieu. Eleanor married King Edward I of England.
• Louis (born 1243 – died around 1275). He married Juana de Manzanedo.
• Simon (born 1244). He died when he was very young.
• John (born 1246). He also died when he was very young.

Joan traveled with Ferdinand during his military campaigns. She was with him when he besieged Seville in 1248.

When her mother died in 1251, Joan became the Countess of Ponthieu and Montreuil. She ruled these areas herself.

After King Ferdinand III died in 1252, Joan had disagreements with her stepson, Alfonso X of Castile. He was the new king. They argued about the lands and money she should receive as the former queen. In 1254, Joan and her oldest son, Ferdinand, left Castile. They returned to her home region of Ponthieu in France.

Ruling Ponthieu and Aumale

Between 1260 and 1261, Joan married a second time to Jean de Nesle. In 1263, Joan was recognized as the Countess of Aumale. This happened after a relative from the Dammartin family died without children.

However, her son Ferdinand died around 1265. He left behind a young son named John of Ponthieu. Later, around 1275, her second son, Louis, also died. He left two children.

According to the rules of inheritance in Ponthieu, Joan's young grandson John could not inherit Ponthieu. Instead, her adult daughter Eleanor of Castile, who was married to King Edward I of England, became her heir for Ponthieu. Joan seemed happy for Ponthieu to pass to English rule. From 1274 to 1278, Joan even had her granddaughter, Joan of Acre (Eleanor's daughter), living with her in Ponthieu.

Joan died in Abbeville in March 1279. She had built up many debts. To prevent the King of France from getting involved, Eleanor and Edward had to pay these debts quickly. They borrowed money from citizens and wealthy churches in France.

They also had a long legal fight with Eleanor's nephew, John of Ponthieu. Joan had given John a lot of land and rights in Ponthieu in her will. The dispute ended with John of Ponthieu becoming the ruler of Aumale. This followed the inheritance rules in Normandy. Edward and Eleanor kept Ponthieu. They used their wealth to bring stability to Ponthieu and bought more land there.

See also

In Spanish: Juana de Ponthieu para niños