#popejoan

Pope Joan: A Legendary Figure

Imagine a world where a woman secretly rises to the highest position of power in the Catholic Church. Pope Joan is a legendary figure from the Middle Ages, said to have reigned as pope from 855 to 858. Her story, popularized by Italian writer Giovanni Boccaccio, has become a fascinating tale of deception and intrigue. According to legend, Joan was elected pope after disguising herself as a man and impressing the church with her scholarly prowess. Her secret was exposed after she gave birth during a procession.

Key Facts

Legendary Reign: Pope Joan supposedly reigned from 855 to 858.

Origin Story: Born in Mainz to English parents, she traveled to Athens, disguising herself as a man to pursue a religious education.

Rise to Power: She became a respected scholar and was unanimously elected pope by the College of Cardinals.

Exposure: Her true identity was revealed when she gave birth during a procession.

Historical Context

The story of Pope Joan gained prominence during the Reformation as a controversial figure. Reformers like Martin Luther and John Calvin used her legend to challenge Catholic doctrine. The tale was widely accepted until it was questioned by French writer Florimond de Raemond.

Historical Significance

The legend of Pope Joan highlights the societal attitudes towards women in positions of power during the Middle Ages. Her story also played a significant role in the debates of the Reformation, serving as a tool for critics of the Catholic Church to question its authority. Despite being largely discredited as a historical fact, Pope Joan remains a captivating figure in the annals of history.

The legendary (and probably fictional) medieval Pope Joan was said to have revealed both her sex and her pregnancy by giving birth during a procession. 

Protestant polemicist Alexander Cooke (1564-1632) first published Pope Joane, A dialogue betweene a Protestant and a Papist, manifestly proving that a woman called Joane was Pope of Rome in London in 1610, nine years before the appearance of this Latin translation.

Pope Joan

Pope Joan was a legendary female pope of the Middle Ages said to have reigned from 855 to 858. After her story was popularized by Italian writer Giovanni Boccaccio (1313-1375), a statue of her was placed alongside those of other popes at Siena Cathedral. During the Reformation, her status was a focus of controversy.