Around 1340, when Joan was about twelve years old, she was betrothed to William Montagu, the son and heir of the Earl of Salisbury. However, when William was sent abroad on military campaigns, Joan secretly married Thomas Holland, a squire in the royal household. This secret marriage was considered scandalous, especially since Joan had not obtained the required royal consent.
When William Montagu returned from abroad, he demanded that Joan honor their betrothal, and she reluctantly married him. Thomas Holland, furious at this betrayal, appealed to the Pope, declaring their secret marriage valid and binding.
The ensuing legal battle lasted several years. Ultimately, the Pope annulled Joan’s marriage to Montagu, affirming that her earlier secret marriage to Holland was legitimate. Joan and Thomas Holland were reunited and remained married until his death in 1360.
This episode reveals several important things about Joan. Firstly, she was a woman who exercised agency in an era when noblewomen’s choices were tightly controlled. Secretly marrying Thomas Holland was a bold move that risked her reputation and safety. Secondly, her successful appeal to the Pope shows her ability to navigate ecclesiastical law and politics.
Joan and Thomas Holland: Family and Influence
Joan and Thomas Holland had several children together, including Thomas Holland, 2nd Earl of Kent, who would later play a significant role in English politics. Their marriage helped cement the Holland family's status within the nobility.
Thomas Holland fought in the Hundred Years’ War and died in 1360, leaving Joan a widow. Despite her widowhood, Joan remained an influential figure in English court life.
Her connection to the royal family grew stronger when her son Thomas married Alice FitzAlan, daughter of the powerful Earl of Arundel. Joan’s descendants would later be connected to the royal family in several important ways shutdown123