Joanna of Aragon, Queen of Naples facts for kids

Joanna of Aragon (Spanish: Juana, Italian: Giovanna) was born on June 16, 1455. She became the Queen of Naples. She was the second wife of King Ferdinand I.

Joanna was born in Barcelona, Spain. She was the second child of King John II of Aragon. Her mother was Juana Enríquez de Córdoba. Joanna was their youngest child.

Becoming Queen of Naples

King Ferdinand I of Naples asked Joanna's father, King John II, if he could marry Joanna. Ferdinand was the son of Joanna's uncle, Alfonso V of Aragon. King John II agreed to the marriage.

The marriage contract was signed on September 14, 1476, in Navarre. It was officially agreed upon on November 25. Joanna's father gave her a dowry of 100,000 gold florins. A dowry was money or property a bride brought to her marriage.

Ferdinand gave Joanna many lands and cities. These included Sorrento, Theano, Isernia, Teramo, Sulmona, Francavilla, and Nocera. He also gave her more than 20,000 ducats each year. A ducat was another type of gold coin.

Alfonso, Duke of Calabria, who was the king's oldest son from his first marriage, sailed to Spain. He went to bring Joanna to Naples. She arrived on September 1, 1477. The official wedding took place on September 14, 1477. A church leader named Rodrigo Borgia, who later became Pope Alexander VI, led the ceremony. Joanna and Ferdinand had their first child in 1479 and another in 1480.

Joanna often helped with political matters. In August 1485, she began traveling around Italy. She likely did this to make sure people stayed loyal to her husband. This was important because some nobles were rebelling against the king. After these problems were solved, Joanna went to Abruzzo. Her daughter Joanna went with her. They visited many monasteries in L'Aquila that year.

Life as Queen Dowager

On January 25, 1494, King Ferdinand I died. He was 71 years old. His oldest son, Alfonso, became the new king. Joanna became the queen dowager. This means she was the widow of the former king.

From then on, Joanna signed her letters with the words the sad queen. She was so sad that she did not even go to her step-son Alfonso's coronation. A coronation is a ceremony where a king or queen is officially crowned. In return, Alfonso made Joanna the Lieutenant General of the Kingdom of Naples. This meant she had an important role in governing the kingdom.

Meanwhile, King Charles VIII of France was planning to take over Naples. Alfonso II decided to give up his throne to his son, who became Ferdinand II of Naples. Before Alfonso left, he told his son to listen to the queen dowager. He also told him never to upset her. Joanna was officially made regent, which meant she would rule for the young king.

When Charles VIII was about to enter Sicily, Ferdinand II left with Joanna and her daughter Joanna. Her daughter was also going to be his wife. They returned on October 13, 1495. Joanna then arranged for her daughter Joanna to marry King Ferdinand II. They were married on February 28, 1496.

However, Ferdinand II died of malaria in October of the same year. Joanna's daughter was only seventeen and had no children. She also began to sign her letters with the sad queen.

Joanna suggested that her brother, King Ferdinand II of Aragon, should be the new King of Naples. But another step-son of Ferdinand I, Prince Frederick, was chosen instead. At first, Frederick's relationship with Joanna was not good. When Frederick became king, Joanna gave up her role as lieutenant general. She wanted to move to Aversa.

After a year, she returned from Aversa and got her position back. But she had disagreements with Isabella del Balzo, who was Frederick's wife. Joanna did not go to Frederick's coronation.

Later, Joanna and her daughter Joanna returned to Naples. Joanna died there on January 9, 1517, after a short illness. Her daughter Joanna died the next year from the same illness.

Joanna's Children

Joanna and her husband, Ferdinand I, had two children. Only one of them lived past childhood:

• Joanna of Naples (born April 20, 1479 – died August 27, 1518). She married her half-nephew, King Ferdinand II of Naples. They did not have any children.
• Charles of Naples (Italian: Carlo, Spanish: Carlos; born 1480 – died October 26, 1486). He died at age six from a serious illness called typhus.

See also

In Spanish: Juana de Trastámara (1455-1517) para niños