


Martin also wrote that she reigned in the 9th century and had first entered the church to follow her lover. Martin introduced the world to the female popes birth name, John Anglicus of Mainz. Written by Martin of Opava, it was the first chronicle to provide a name for this pope. The most popular story to come from this is Chronicon Pontificum ed Imperatorum. Though the pope in the chronicle is unnamed, it inspired several other stories and accounts in the coming years. The first mention of a female pope appears in Jean d Mailly’s chronicle, written in 1250. In 1600 protests erupted in response to the Siena Cathedral featuring a bust of Joan along with other previous pontiffs, and as such her image was removed entirely. It’s speculated that this event caused the Vatican to remove any traced of her from its official records and crafted new ritual laws that prevented any woman from ever becoming pope again. It is not clear if her death was natural, relating to complications of childbirth, or if she was indeed murdered.įollowing her death, all church processions would avoid moving through the spot where she gave birth. Historians are still mostly unsure of how she died. It wasn’t long after she gave birth that she died. However, one day during a procession, the pope gave birth, revealing herself to be a woman. She would have gotten away with it too, for not a single person had any doubts about her gender. It’s thought that she had a lover who was instructing her to disguise herself, though we are unsure why.ĭue to her smarts and talents, she quickly rose through the church hierarchy before being elected pope.
#POPES TIMELIME HOW TO#
Generally, Joan’s story tells of an incredibly talented and learned woman, who had learned how to carefully disguise herself as a man. At the time, most people believed the story and it was taken to be true for hundreds of years. Her story was first shared in the 13th century and quickly spread throughout Europe. She is said to have served for several years across approximately 855-857. Yes, Joan, not John.Īccording to legend Pope Joan served as pope during the middle ages. First, he is the head of the Catholic Church, and second, he is a man. There are generally two things people know about the pope without question. We’re just going to tell you the story, it’s up to you if you believe. Now we’re not here to tell you what to believe, or if this story is true or false. Are they true, are they just stories, often they sit somewhere in between. The First and Only Female Pope There are many famous urban legends around the world, and many people arguing both sides of them.
