Joanna, Duchess of Brabant facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Joanna |
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| Duchess of Brabant, Lothier, and Limburg | |
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| Born | 24 June 1322 |
| Died | 1 December 1406 (aged 84) |
| Burial | Carmelite monastery, Brussels |
| Spouse | William II, Count of Hainaut Wenceslaus I, Duke of Luxembourg |
| House | House of Reginar |
| Father | John III, Duke of Brabant |
| Mother | Marie d'Évreux |
Joanna, Duchess of Brabant (born June 24, 1322 – died December 1, 1406), also known as Jeanne, was a powerful female ruler. She was the Duchess of Brabant from 1355 until she passed away. Brabant was a medieval duchy, which is a territory ruled by a duke or duchess.
Joanna ruled Brabant even when her brother-in-law, Louis II of Flanders, tried to take over her land. After Joanna's death, her great-nephew, Anthony of Burgundy, became the next ruler of Brabant.
Contents
Life of Duchess Joanna
Early Life and First Marriage
Joanna was born on June 24, 1322. Her parents were John III, Duke of Brabant and Marie d'Évreux.
In 1334, Joanna married William II, Count of Hainaut. Sadly, William died in a battle. Their only son, also named William, died when he was very young. This meant their plan to unite their lands could not happen.
Second Marriage and Brabant's Challenges
Joanna later married Wenceslaus of Luxembourg. In January 1356, an important document was created for Brabant. It was called the Blijde Inkomst (which means "Joyous Entry"). This document was made to ensure Joanna and Wenceslaus could peacefully enter their capital city. It also helped decide who would inherit the Duchy of Brabant.
The document stated that Joanna's sisters would be her "natural heirs." This was because the people of Brabant preferred them over the House of Luxembourg family. However, the Blijde Inkomst did not stop problems.
Conflict and Treaty of Ath
Soon after, Louis II of Flanders invaded Brabant in 1356. Louis was married to Margaret, Joanna's younger sister. He believed he should be the Duke of Brabant through his wife.
With Louis's army taking over the Duchy, Joanna and Wenceslaus had to sign a difficult agreement. This was called the Treaty of Ath. It forced them to give up the cities of Mechelen and Antwerp to Louis.
Seeking Imperial Help
By August 1356, Joanna and Wenceslaus asked for help from Emperor Charles IV. The Emperor was a very powerful ruler. Charles met with all the groups involved in Maastricht, including representatives from the towns. Everyone agreed to cancel some parts of the Blijde Inkomst document. This was done to please the Luxembourg family.
However, the Duchy continued to face problems. Wenceslaus was defeated and captured in the battle of Baesweiler in 1371.
Succession of Brabant
When Joanna passed away, it was agreed that the Duchy of Brabant would go to her great-nephew, Antoine. He was the second son of her niece, Margaret III, Countess of Flanders.
Joanna's Tomb
Joanna's tomb was built in the Carmelite church in Brussels much later, in the late 1450s. Her sister's great-grandson, Philip the Good, paid for it in 1459.
Sadly, the tomb was destroyed during the French Revolutionary Wars. However, people have been able to figure out what it looked like from old drawings and descriptions. Historian Lorne Campbell studied these and believed the tomb was built later to help Philip show his right to rule.
See also
- Dukes of Brabant family tree
Sources
- Campbell, Lorne. "The Tomb of Joanna, Duchess of Brabant". Renaissance Studies, volume 2, no. 2, 1988. JSTOR 24409392
| Regnal titles | ||
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| Preceded by John III |
Duchess of Brabant 1355–1406 with Wenceslaus (1355–1383) |
Succeeded by Anthony |
Juana de Brabante#top
