Pope Joan is one of the most intriguing and controversial figures in medieval history. According to legend, she was a woman who disguised herself as a man and rose through the ranks of the Catholic Church, eventually becoming Pope. Her story has been passed down for centuries, blending myth, folklore, and religious controversy.
Although there is no verified historical record of her papacy, the legend of Pope Joan has persisted, fueling debate among historians, theologians, and skeptics alike. Many believe her tale was fabricated to serve as a moral lesson or to critique the Church’s hierarchy. Others argue that records may have been deliberately erased to cover up her existence.The earliest mentions of a female Pope date back to the 13th century.
This initial mention was picked up by other writers and the legend propagated over the centuries. By the late Middle Ages, many Europeans firmly believed that Pope Joan was an actual figure. However, subsequent investigations by the Catholic and Protestant scholars revealed that Pope Joan couldn’t have been a real person.
📜 Timeline of the Legend of Pope Joan
- 855–858 AD (Alleged Papacy): According to the legend, Pope Joan reigned under the name Pope John Anglicus, situated between the real Popes Leo IV (died 855) and Benedict III (began papacy in 855). This discrepancy in papal succession is one of the key arguments used both for and against the plausibility of her existence.
- 11th Century: Hints and rumors of a female pope begin to surface in medieval chronicles and oral traditions.
- 13th Century (First Written Accounts): The story of Pope Joan appears in detail in Chronica Universalis Mettensis, written by Jean de Mailly, and later expanded by Martin of Opava in Chronicon Pontificum et Imperatorum. These texts help solidify the legend in European consciousness.
- 14th–15th Centuries: The story is widely believed and circulated across Europe, even appearing in woodcuts and manuscripts. A specific location in Rome—the “Via Sacra”—was said to be where she gave birth during a procession, revealing her gender.
- 16th Century (Reformation Era): Protestant critics of the Catholic Church use the Pope Joan story as a tool for anti-papal rhetoric, arguing it demonstrates flaws in papal authority.
- 17th–18th Centuries: Catholic scholars begin to discredit the legend, citing chronological inconsistencies and lack of credible sources. The story is dismissed by many as a myth or satirical invention.
- Modern Scholarship: Most contemporary historians regard Pope Joan as a fictional character, though the legend continues to inspire novels, films, and scholarly curiosity.
Origin of the Legend
The earliest mention of the female Pope Joan was found in the works of a Dominican chronicler. Although the work itself dates to the 13th century, the chronicler claims that the female Pope reigned much earlier in 1099. In this first mention of the female Pope, the chronicler says that she was able to mount a horse when she gave birth to a child.
It was then that other people discovered her true identity. The chronicler says that the female Pope was then dragged behind a horse and stoned to death. The account also claims that this led to the establishment of the ‘fast of the female Pope.’
Variations of the Legend
A number of variations of the legend exist. As opposed to the first account which is rather limited, subsequent accounts embellish more details regarding the life of Pope Joan. In one of these legends, Pope Joan was led to the city of Athens in the clothes of a man by her lover.
In the city, Joan learned arts and attained knowledge so that she soon had no equal in the city.
Her exceptional knowledge eventually led her to be elected as the Pope. As per this variation of the legend, Pope Joan gave birth during one of the processions of the Church. The place where she gave birth came to be known as the ‘shunned street.’ Legend had it that she remained the Pope for two years and seven months.
Death of Pope Joan
In some accounts, it is claimed that Pope Joan was put to death after it was discovered that she was a woman. Other accounts reveal that she died of childbirth. Yet other accounts reveal that Pope Joan was actually imprisoned after her identity was revealed. She continued to be in prison until her son grew up, became a Bishop, and had her entombed in a cathedral.
After Pope is Revealed as a Woman
Some chroniclers also painted a vivid picture of the travails that visited different parts of Europe once the Pope was discovered to be a woman. As per one of these accounts, blood rained from the skies for several days after the discovery. Large locusts with teeth also appeared in France and caused diseases and pestilence among the people.
The Chair to Check Pope
Some of the legends surrounding Pope Joan also state that after Joan was discovered, the Church mandated a method to confirm that the incumbent Pope was a man. To do this, a special chair was devised with a hole in it. This was known as the dung chair. To ascertain that the Pope was a man, the Pope would be asked to sit down on a chair. A cardinal would then check the Pope’s body and make sure he was a man in an elaborate ceremony.
The End of the Legend
During the Reformation, attempts began to critically analyze the history of the Church. During this time, some scholars set their focus on the story of Pope Joan. Critical analysis of several scholars revealed that Pope Joan was not an actual figure in ecclesiastical history. Instead, her story had largely been invented by various medieval chroniclers.
