Joan Beaufort, Queen of Scots

"Joan Stuart" redirects here. For the Canadian actress, see Joan Stuart (actress).

Joan Beaufort
Queen consort of Scots
Tenure	12 February 1424 – 21 February 1437
Coronation	21 May 1424
Born	c. 1404[1] The Palace of Westminster, England
Died	15 July 1445(1445-07-15) (aged 40–41) Dunbar Castle, East Lothian, Scotland
Burial	Perth Charterhouse, Scotland
Spouse	James I of Scotland ​ ​ (m. 1424; died 1437)​ James Stewart, the Black Knight of Lorne ​ ​ (m. 1439)​
Issue Detail	Margaret, Dauphine of France Isabella, Duchess of Brittany Eleanor, Archduchess of Austria Mary, Countess of Buchan Joan, Countess of Morton Alexander, Duke of Rothesay James II, King of Scotland Annabella, Countess of Huntly John, 1st Earl of Atholl James, 1st Earl of Buchan Andrew, Bishop of Moray
House	Beaufort
Father	John Beaufort, 1st Earl of Somerset
Mother	Margaret Holland

Joan Beaufort (c. 1404 – 15 July 1445)^[2] was Queen of Scots from 1424 to 1437 as the spouse of King James I.^[3] During part of the minority of her son James II (from 1437 to 1439), she served as the regent of Scotland, the first dowager Queen of Scotland to do so since the 13th century.^[4]

Background and early life

Joan Beaufort was a daughter of John Beaufort, 1st Earl of Somerset, a legitimised son of John of Gaunt by his mistress (and later third wife) Katherine Swynford.^[5] She was born in 1404.^[6] Joan's mother was Margaret Holland,^[7] the granddaughter of Joan of Kent (wife of Edward the Black Prince) from her earlier marriage to Thomas Holland, 1st Earl of Kent. Joan was also a half-niece of King Henry IV of England, first cousin once removed of Richard II, and great-granddaughter of Edward III. Her uncle, Henry Beaufort, was a cardinal and Chancellor of England.^[5]

King James I of Scotland met Joan during his time as a prisoner in England, and knew her from at least 1420.^[7] She is said to have been the inspiration for King James's famous allegorical romantic poem, The Kingis Quair,^[8] written during his captivity, after he saw her from his window in the garden.^[9] The poem described her as ‘beautee eneuch to mak a world to dote.’^[10]

The marriage was at least partially political, as their marriage was part of the agreement for his release from captivity^[11] under the Treaty of London (4 December 1423).^[12] From an English perspective an alliance with the Beauforts was meant to establish Scotland's alliance with the English, rather than the French.^[7] Negotiations resulted in Joan's dowry of 10,000 marks being subtracted from James's substantial ransom.^[13]

Queen of Scotland

Arms of Joan as queen consort of Scotland.

On 12 February 1424, Joan Beaufort and King James were wed at St Mary Overie Church in Southwark.^[7][14] 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 him at Scone Abbey.

As queen, she often pleaded with the king for those who might be executed.^[15] In 1429, Alexander Macdonald, Lord of the Isles, was captured after burning and pillaging the Scottish Highlands and she pleaded for him to be pardoned.^[16]

The royal couple had eight children, including the future James II, and Margaret of Scotland, future spouse of Louis XI of France.^[7] She also remained in contact with her English family, with her brothers and uncles visiting Joan and her husband ahead of formal embassies.^[4]

Regency

James I was assassinated in the Dominican Friary in Perth on 21 February 1437. Joan had also been a target of assassination along with her husband and was wounded,^[6] but managed to survive her injuries.^[7] She put her husband’s mutilated body on display, causing shock and anger at the brutality of the murder throughout Europe.^[17]

Joan 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.^[7] The prospect of being ruled by an English woman was unpopular in Scotland.^[7] The Earl of Douglas was thus appointed to power, though Joan remained in charge of her son^[7] and represented his interests.^[4]

Later life

In July 1439, she married James Stewart, the Black Knight of Lorne, after obtaining a papal dispensation for both consanguinity and affinity.^[7] After the marriage she was styled Queen Dowager Joan of Scotland.^[18] She was the second Scottish queen mother to remarry.^[4]

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.^[19] Livingston arrested Joan on 3 August 1439^[20] and forced her to relinquish custody of the young king until his majority.^[7] She was released on 31 August 1439.^[20] Joan died in 1445^[4] at Dunbar Castle^[20] and was buried beside her first husband in the Carthusian Priory at Perth.^[14]

Issue

16th century manuscript illustration showing James I of Scotland and Queen Joan Beaufort, from the National Library of Scotland, Edinburgh.

With James I of Scotland Joan had six daughters and two sons:^[21]

• Margaret Stewart, Princess of Scotland (1424–1445) married Dauphin Louis later King Louis XI of France.
• Isabella Stewart, Princess of Scotland (1426–1494) married Francis I, Duke of Brittany.
• Mary Stewart, Countess of Buchan (c. 1428 – 1465) married Wolfart VI van Borsselen in 1444.^[4]
• 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 II.
• King James II of Scotland (1430–1460) married Mary of Guelders on 3 July 1449.
• Eleanor Stewart, Princess of Scotland (1433–1484) married Sigismund, Archduke of Austria.
• Annabella Stewart, Princess of Scotland (c. 1436 – 1509) married and divorced firstly Louis of Savoy, and then married and divorced secondly George Gordon, 2nd Earl of Huntly.

With James Stewart, the Black Knight of Lorne:^[22]

• John Stewart, 1st Earl of Atholl (c. 1440 – 1512), married firstly Margaret Douglas, Fair Maid of Galloway, and secondly Eleanor Sinclair.
• James Stewart, 1st Earl of Buchan (1442–1499),^[23] married Margaret Ogilvy.
• Andrew Stewart, Bishop of Moray from 1483-1501. (c. 1443 – 1501).

Ancestry

Ancestors of Joan Beaufort, Queen of Scots

8. Edward III of England[14] 4. John of Gaunt, 1st Duke of Lancaster[7] 9. Philippa of Hainault[26] 2. John Beaufort, 1st Earl of Somerset[7] 10. Payne de Roet[27] 5. Katherine Swynford[24] 1. Joan Beaufort, Queen of Scotland 12. Thomas Holland, 1st Earl of Kent[28] 6. Thomas Holland, 2nd Earl of Kent[7] 13. Joan of Kent[28] 3. Margaret Holland[7] 14. Richard Fitzalan, 10th Earl of Arundel[28] 7. Alice Fitzalan[25] 15. Eleanor of Lancaster[29]

Notes

1. "Joan Beaufort, Queen of Scotland". Medievalists.net. 27 February 2014. Retrieved 31 October 2021.
2. Weir, Alison (18 April 2011). Britain's Royal Families: The Complete Genealogy. Random House. p. 232. ISBN 978-1-4464-4911-0.
3. Amin, Nathen (15 August 2017). The House of Beaufort: The Bastard Line that Captured the Crown. Amberley Publishing Limited. ISBN 978-1-4456-4765-4.
4. Downie, Fiona Anne (23 October 2006). She is But a Woman: Queenship in Scotland 1424–1463. Birlinn Ltd. ISBN 978-1-78885-342-2.
5. "James I and Joan Beaufort: A Royal Love Story". History... the interesting bits!. 31 March 2015. Retrieved 30 March 2018.
6. Cannon, John (2009), "Joan Beaufort", A Dictionary of British History, Oxford University Press, doi:10.1093/acref/9780199550371.001.0001, ISBN 978-0-19-955037-1, retrieved 11 September 2024
7. Brown 2004.
8. "The Kingis Quair: Introduction | Robbins Library Digital Projects". d.lib.rochester.edu. Retrieved 11 September 2024.
9. Marshall 2003, pp. 49–50.
10. Cannon, John; Hargreaves, Anne (1 January 2009), "Joan Beaufort", The Kings and Queens of Britain, Oxford University Press, doi:10.1093/acref/9780199559220.001.0001, ISBN 978-0-19-955922-0, retrieved 11 September 2024
11. "Joan Beaufort, Queen of Scotland: Biography on Undiscovered Scotland". www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk. Retrieved 11 September 2024.
12. "treaty of London". Oxford Reference. Retrieved 11 September 2024.
13. Marshall 2003, pp. 50–51.
14. Weir 2008, p. 232.
15. Marshall 2003, pp. 51–52.
16. Darsie, Heather R. (2024). Stuart Spouses: A Compendium of Consorts from James I of Scotland to Queen Anne of Great Britain. Barnsley: Pen & Sword. p. N.p. ISBN 978 1 39909 592 1. Retrieved 18 November 2024.
17. Morrison, Susan (10 May 2024). "Stewart Widows Club: Joan Beaufort, Queen of Scots, and a tale of true love, murder and savage revenge". The Scotsman. Retrieved 11 September 2024.
18. Cokayne, G. E. et al, eds. (2000) The Complete Peerage of England, Scotland, Ireland, Great Britain and the United Kingdom, Extant, Extinct or Dormant, new ed., 13 volumes in 14. 1910-1959; reprint in 6 volumes. Gloucester: Alan Sutton Publishing, 2000, volume I. p. 312
19. Venning, Timothy (2013). The Kings & Queens of Scotland. Barnsley: Amberley. p. N.p. ISBN 978 1 39909 592 1. Retrieved 18 November 2024.
20. Ewan, Elizabeth L.; Innes, Sue; Reynolds, Sian; Pipes, Rose (27 June 2007). Biographical Dictionary of Scottish Women. Edinburgh University Press. p. 184. ISBN 978-0-7486-2660-1.
21. Richardson, Douglas. Everingham, Kimball G. (ed.). Magna Carta Ancestry: A Study in Colonial and Medieval Families, 2nd Edition, 2011. Douglas Richardson. pp. 579–582. ISBN 978-1-4610-4520-5.
22. Weis, Frederick Lewis; Beall, William Ryland (1999). The Magna Charta Sureties, 1215: The Barons Named in the Magna Charta, 1215, and Some of Their Descendants who Settled in America During the Early Colonial Years. Genealogical Publishing Com. p. 117. ISBN 978-0-8063-1609-3.
23. Morrison, Elspeth (18 December 2007). The Dorothy Dunnett Companion: Volume II. Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group. p. 73. ISBN 978-0-307-42844-8.
24. Marshall 2003, p. 50.
25. Weir 2008, pp. 94, 125.
26. Weir 2008, p. 93.
27. Weir 2007, p. 6.
28. Weir 2008, p. 125.
29. Weir 2008, p. 77.

References

• Brown, M.H. (2004). "Joan [Joan Beaufort] (d. 1445)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/14646. Retrieved 21 November 2013. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.) (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.

Scottish royalty
Vacant Title last held by Anabella Drummond	Queen consort of Scotland 1424–1437	Vacant Title next held by Mary of Guelders