Joan Beaufort, Queen of Scots

Joan Beaufort
Joan Beaufort
Queen consort of Scotland
Tenure	2 February 1424 – 21 February 1437
Born	c. 1404
Died	15 July 1445 (aged c. 41) Dunbar Castle, East Lothian
Burial	Perth Charterhouse
Spouse	James I of Scotland (m. 1424; his death 1437) James Stewart, the Black Knight of Lorn (m. 1439; her death 1445)
Issue	Margaret, Dauphine of France Isabella, Duchess of Brittany Eleanor, Archduchess of Austria Mary, Countess of Buchan Joan, Countess of Morton James II of Scotland Alexander, Duke of Rothesay Annabella, Countess of Huntly John, 1st Earl of Atholl James, 1st Earl of Buchan Andrew Stewart, Bishop of Moray
House	Beaufort
Father	John Beaufort, 1st Earl of Somerset
Mother	Margaret Holland
Religion	Roman Catholic

Joan Beaufort (c. 1404 – 15 July 1445) was the Queen Consort of Scotland from 1424 to 1437 as the spouse of King James I of Scotland. During part of the minority of her son James II (from 1437 to 1439), she served as the Regent of Scotland.

Background and early life

She was a daughter of John Beaufort, 1st Earl of Somerset, and Margaret Holland,^[1] and a half-niece of King Henry IV of England.^[2] James I of Scotland met Joan during his time as a prisoner in England and knew her from at least 1420.^[1] She is said to have been the inspiration for James's famous long poem, The Kingis Quair, written during his captivity after he saw her from his window in the garden.^[3] However, the marriage was at least partially political as their marriage was part of the agreement for his release from captivity, and from an English perspective an alliance with the Beauforts was meant to establish his country's alliance with the English, rather than the French.^[1] Negotiations resulted in Joan's dowry of 10,000 merks being subtracted from his substantial ransom.^[4]

Queen of Scotland

On 12 February 1424, Joan Beaufort and King James were wed at St Mary Overie Church in Southwark.^[1][5] They were feasted at Winchester Palace that year by her uncle Cardinal Henry Beaufort. She accompanied her husband on his return from captivity in England to Scotland, and was crowned alongside her husband at Scone Abbey. As queen, she often pleaded with the king for those who might be executed.^[6]

The royal couple had eight children, including the future James II, and Margaret of Scotland, spouse of Louis XI of France.^[1]

Regency

James I was assassinated in Perth on 21 February 1437. Joan had also been a target of assassination along with her husband, but managed to escape with just injuries.^[1] She successfully directed her husband's supporters to attack his assassin Walter Stewart, Earl of Atholl, but was forced to give up power three months later.^[1] The prospect of being ruled by an English woman was unpopular.^[1] The Earl of Douglas was thus appointed to power, though Joan remained in charge of her son.^[1]

Near the end of July 1439, she married James Stewart, the Black Knight of Lorne^[1] after obtaining a papal dispensation for both consanguinity and affinity. James was an ally of the latest Earl of Douglas, and plotted with him to overthrow Alexander Livingston, governor of Stirling Castle, during the minority of James II. Livingston arrested Joan in August 1439 and forced her to relinquish custody of the young king.^[1] In 1445, the conflict continued and she fell under siege at Dunbar Castle, where she died on 15 July 1445. She was buried in the Carthusian Priory at Perth.^[1][5]

Issue with James I of Scotland

• Margaret Stewart, Princess of Scotland (1424–1445) married Prince Louis, Dauphin of Viennois (later King Louis XI of France)
• Isabella Stewart, Princess of Scotland (1426–1494) married Francis I, Duke of Brittany
• Mary Stewart, Countess of Buchan (died 1465) married Wolfart VI van Borsselen
• Joan of Scotland, Countess of Morton (c. 1428–1486) married James Douglas, 1st Earl of Morton
• Alexander Stewart, Duke of Rothesay (born and died 1430); Twin of James
• James II of Scotland (1430–1460)
• Annabella Stewart, Princess of Scotland married and divorced 1. Louis of Savoy, and then married and divorced 2. George Gordon, 2nd Earl of Huntly
• Eleanor Stewart, Princess of Scotland (1433–1484) married Sigismund, Archduke of Austria.

Issue with James Stewart, the Black Knight of Lorne

Adapted from:^[5]

• John Stewart, 1st Earl of Atholl (c. 1440 – 1512)
• James Stewart, 1st Earl of Buchan (1442 – 1499)
• Andrew Stewart, Bishop of Moray (c. 1443 – 1501)

Ancestry

Ancestors of Joan Beaufort, Queen of Scots

16. Edward II of England[7]               8. Edward III of England[5]                       17. Isabella of France[7]               4. John of Gaunt, 1st Duke of Lancaster[1]                             18. William I, Count of Hainaut[8]               9. Philippa of Hainault[8]                       19. Joan of Valois[8]               2. John Beaufort, 1st Earl of Somerset[1]                                   10. Payne de Roet[9]                       5. Katherine Swynford[2]                             1. Joan Beaufort, Queen of Scotland                                         24. Robert de Holland, 1st Baron Holand[10]               12. Thomas Holland, 1st Earl of Kent[11]                       25. Maud la Zouche[10]               6. Thomas Holland, 2nd Earl of Kent[1]                             26. Edmund of Woodstock, 1st Earl of Kent[12]               13. Joan of Kent[11]                       27. Margaret Wake, 3rd Baroness Wake of Liddell[12]               3. Margaret Holland[1]                                   28. Edmund Fitzalan, 9th Earl of Arundel[13]               14. Richard Fitzalan, 10th Earl of Arundel[11]                       29. Alice de Warenne[13]               7. Alice Fitzalan[14]                             30. Henry, 3rd Earl of Lancaster[15]               15. Eleanor of Lancaster[15]                       31. Maud Chaworth[15]

Notes

1. Brown 2004.
2. Marshall 2003, p. 50.
3. Marshall 2003, pp. 49–50.
4. Marshall 2003, pp. 50–51.
5. Weir 2008, p. 232.
6. Marshall 2003, pp. 51–52.
7. Weir 2008, p. 92.
8. Weir 2008, p. 93.
9. Weir 2007, p. 6.
10. Browning 1898, p. 288.
11. Weir 2008, p. 125.
12. Weir 2008, pp. 94–95.
13. Weir 2008, pp. 97, 104.
14. Weir 2008, pp. 94, 125.
15. Weir 2008, p. 77.

References

• Brown, M.H. (2004). "Joan [Joan Beaufort] (d. 1445)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/14646. Retrieved 21 November 2013. (subscription required)
• Browning, Charles H. (1898). The Magna Carta Barons and Their American Descendants. London: Genealogical Publishing Company.
• Marshall, Rosalind (2003). Scottish Queens, 1034-1714. Tuckwell Press.
• Weir, Alison (2008). Britain's Royal Families, The Complete Genealogy. London: Vintage Books. ISBN 978-0-09-953973-5.
• Weir, Alison (2007). Mistress of the Monarchy: The Life of Katherine Swynford, Duchess of Lancaster. London: Random House. ISBN 978-0-345-45323-5.