Joan of England (1335-1348)
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Joan of England (1335-1348) was the daughter of King Edward III of England and his queen, Philippa of Hainault. Joan was born at Woodstock Palace in Oxfordshire, probably in about February 1335 and was the King's favourite daughter. Perhaps because of this, Edward III arranged a grand marriage for her to King Pedro I of Castile, as part of a plan that would ultimately assist in his ambition to conquer France.
As Joan embarked on her journey to Castile, the Black Death had not yet taken hold in England, and it is unlikely that the English were aware of the dangers that lay ahead. While travelling through France, Joan contracted the plague and died at Bayonne on September 2, 1348.
Joan's death sent shockwaves back home. Not only was she one of the earliest English victims of the plague, but it seemed to prove that even royalty were not going to be spared this deadly affliction.
