Joanna of Sicily (1165–1199)

views updated

Joanna of Sicily (1165–1199)

Queen of Sicily. Name variations: Joan or Johanna of Sicily; Joanna of England. Born in Angers, 1165; died in childbirth, 1199; 3rd dau. of Henry II, king of England, and Eleanor of Aquitaine; sister of Richard the Lionheart, king of England, and Matilda of England, among others; m. William II (d. 1189), king of Sicily (whose mother was Margaret of Navarre), 1177; m. Raymond VI (d. 1222), count of Toulouse, 1196.

After death of husband William II of Sicily (1189), accompanied her brother Richard the Lionheart and Berengaria of Navarre to the Holy Land; became a lasting friend of her sister-in-law Berengaria; when Richard suggested to Saladin that in return for Jerusalem he would arrange for a marriage between Joanna and Saladin's brother Saphadin, indignantly refused, unless Saphadin would convert to Christianity (which, of course, he would not).

See also Women in World History.

About this article

Joanna of Sicily (1165–1199)

Updated About encyclopedia.com content Print Article