Joan of the Tower: Queen of Scots, Plantagenet Princess, and Symbol of Border Peace

In the turbulent chronicle of medieval Anglo-Scottish relations, few figures embody the tragedy and political complexity of cross-border diplomacy as poignantly as Joan of the Tower (Joan of England, 1321–1362). Born in the formidable fortress of the Tower of London during a era of intense dynastic strife, this Plantagenet princess was thrust into the center of international politics while still a toddler.

As the queen consort of King David II of Scotland, Joan of the Tower spent her life navigating the fierce rivalries between her native England and her adopted Scottish realm. Her marriage—conceived as a grand diplomatic gesture to seal the Treaty of Edinburgh–Northampton and end decades of bloody warfare—became both a personal tragedy and a vital chapter in the history of fourteenth-century Britain.

This historical analysis explores the early life, royal marriage, years of Scottish exile, diplomatic negotiations, personal struggles, and enduring legacy of Joan of the Tower, Queen of Scots.

Early Life in the Shadow of the Tower (1321–1328)

To understand the royal background of Joan of the Tower, one must examine the chaotic political climate of England during the early 1320s under the disastrous reign of her father, King Edward II.

Birth and Royal Heritage

Princess Joan was born on July 5, 1321, inside the royal apartments of the Tower of London. It was a common medieval practice to append the birthplace to a royal child's name, especially when born in a landmark fortress; hence, history remembers her as Joan of the Tower. She was the youngest daughter of King Edward II and his formidable queen, Isabella of France (famously known as the "She-Wolf of France").

Her childhood unfolded against a backdrop of royal scandal and civil war. In 1326, Queen Isabella and her lover, Roger Mortimer, invaded England, deposed Edward II, and placed Joan's teenage brother, Edward III, on the English throne.

The Treaty of Edinburgh–Northampton and the Marriage of 1328

Following decades of devastating conflict known as the First War of Scottish Independence, the English regency council under Queen Isabella and Roger Mortimer sought a permanent diplomatic settlement with the legendary King of Scots, Robert the Bruce.

The Wedding at Berwick-upon-Tweed

On March 17, 1328, the Treaty of Edinburgh–Northampton was ratified. To seal the peace, the treaty mandated a royal marriage between Joan of the Tower (aged seven) and David Bruce (aged four), the only surviving legitimate son and heir of Robert the Bruce.

The wedding took place with immense pomp and ceremony at the border town of Berwick-upon-Tweed on July 17, 1328. Although King Edward III refused to attend—bitter over the humiliating treaty terms that recognized Scottish independence—his mother, Queen Isabella, brought the young princess to the border with a lavish retinue.

Despite the official celebration, the marriage was mockingly dubbed "The Treaty of the Ragman Peace" by disgruntled English nobles, while the young princess was given the informal Scottish moniker Joan Makepeace.

Accession to the Scottish Throne and Years of Exile (1329–1341)

In June 1329, less than a year after the royal wedding, Robert the Bruce died. Five-year-old David Bruce ascended the throne as King David II, making Joan of the Tower the Queen Consort of Scotland.

Coronation at Scone (1331)

On November 24, 1331, David II and Joan of the Tower were crowned at Scone Abbey. In a historic precedent, Joan became the first Scottish queen consort to be anointed with holy oil alongside her husband, following a special papal bull granted by Pope John XXII.

The Second War of Independence and French Refuge

The peace promised by Joan's marriage proved fragile. In 1332, Edward Balliol (son of former King John Balliol), backed by disinherited Anglo-Scottish barons and covertly supported by King Edward III, invaded Scotland.

Following the disastrous Scottish defeat at the Battle of Halidon Hill in July 1333, southern Scotland fell under English occupation. To protect the child-monarchs, the Scottish regency council arranged for David II and Queen Joan to flee across the sea to France in May 1334.

For seven years, King David II and Joan of the Tower lived under the protection of King Philip VI of France at the magnificent cliffside fortress of Château Gaillard in Normandy. Though living in comfort and receiving full royal honors, Joan remained an exile from both her native England and her adopted kingdom of Scotland.

Return to Scotland and Political Fracture (1341–1346)

By 1341, patriotic Scottish forces led by Robert the Steward (later King Robert II) had cleared most English garrisons from Scotland. On June 2, 1341, King David II and Queen Joan of the Tower returned to their realm, landing safely at Inverbervie in Kincardineshire.

The Tragedy of a Divided Heart

Joan's return to Scotland was fraught with personal and political conflict. As an English Plantagenet princess, she found herself in an impossible position: her brother, King Edward III, was actively seeking to subjugate Scotland, while her husband was bound by treaty and honor to wage war against her homeland.

Furthermore, after thirteen years of marriage, the royal couple remained childless. This lack of an heir created severe political strain, as the presumptive heir to the Scottish crown was David's ambitious nephew, Robert the Steward, whom David deeply distrusted.

The Battle of Neville's Cross and David's Captivity (1346–1357)

In October 1346, responding to appeals from King Philip VI of France (who was under heavy English pressure during the Crecy campaign), David II invaded northern England.

On October 17, 1346, the Scottish army was routed at the Battle of Neville's Cross near Durham. King David II was captured by English forces after suffering severe arrow wounds to his face.

He was transported to London and imprisoned in the very fortress where his wife had been born: the Tower of London.

Eleven Years of Separation

For eleven long years, David II remained an English prisoner. Queen Joan of the Tower remained in Scotland initially, dealing with a kingdom devastated by the Black Death (which struck Scotland in 1349) and governed by Robert the Steward as Guardian of the Realm.

Though separated from her husband, Joan acted as a vital diplomatic bridge. She was granted safe-conducts by her brother, Edward III, allowing her to travel to England to visit David during his captivity, attempting to negotiate terms for his release.

The Return to England and Final Years (1357–1362)

In October 1357, the conflict reached a temporary resolution with the signing of the Treaty of Berwick. David II was released in exchange for a massive ransom of 100,000 merks, to be paid in annual installments.

Marital Collapse and Departure

Upon returning to Scotland, the personal relationship between David II and Joan of the Tower collapsed completely. David had taken a mistress, Katherine Mortimer, during his captivity and openly paraded her at the Scottish court.

Indignant at her husband's infidelity and tired of the hostility surrounding her English origins, Queen Joan decided to leave Scotland permanently.

In late 1357, with the permission of her brother, Edward III, Joan returned to England. Edward granted her a generous annual pension of £200 and assigned her royal residences, including Hertford Castle and Marlborough Castle.

Death and Burial

Queen Joan spent her final five years living peacefully in England. She cared for her aging mother, Queen Isabella, during her final months at Rising Castle in 1358.

On September 7, 1362, Joan of the Tower died at Hertford Castle at the age of forty-one. Per her explicit final wishes, she was buried at Greyfriars Church in London alongside her mother, rather than in Scotland beside her estranged husband.

Historical Assessment and Permanent Legacy

The historical legacy of Joan of the Tower is defined by the tragedy of medieval royal women used as diplomatic pawns in inter-state politics.

Key Dimensions of Her Legacy:

1. Diplomatic Sacrifice: Her marriage was created to forge "perpetual peace" between England and Scotland. Though the peace was short-lived, her presence maintained a essential channel of negotiation during times of total war.
2. Precedent in Coronation: As the first Scottish queen consort to receive sacred anointing with papal blessing, her 1331 coronation elevated the sacral prestige of the Scottish monarchy.
3. Dynastic Turning Point: Because her marriage to David II produced no surviving children, the royal House of Bruce became extinct in the legitimate male line upon David's death in 1371. The Scottish crown passed to Robert the Steward, inaugurating the House of Stewart, which ruled Scotland and eventually England for centuries.

Recommended Books and Reading Material

For readers, researchers, and history enthusiasts seeking to explore primary documents, royal biographies, and academic studies on Joan of the Tower and fourteenth-century Anglo-Scottish history, the following works are highly recommended:

• David II: 1329–1371 by Michael Penman. The definitive academic biography of King David II, detailing his reign, French exile, English captivity, and troubled personal relationship with Joan of the Tower.
• The Last Plantagenets by Thomas B. Costain. A vivid narrative history covering the royal House of Plantagenet, including the reign of Edward II and the life of Princess Joan.
• The Wars of Scotland, 1214–1371 by Michael Brown. An exceptional historical study analyzing the political dynamics, diplomatic treaties, and royal marriages during the Wars of Independence.
• Isabella: She-Wolf of France, Queen of England by Alison Weir. An outstanding biography of Joan's mother, Queen Isabella, exploring the royal household into which Joan was born.
• The Chronicle of Lanercost (1201–1346) translated by Sir Herbert Maxwell. A primary fourteenth-century monastic chronicle offering contemporary accounts of the 1328 royal wedding and border diplomacy.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Explore the answers to the ten most common historical queries regarding the life, marriage, exile, and death of the Plantagenet queen.

1. Who was Joan of the Tower?

Joan of the Tower (1321–1362) was an English Plantagenet princess, the youngest daughter of King Edward II, who served as Queen Consort of Scotland through her diplomatic marriage to King David II.

2. Why was she given the name Joan of the Tower?

In accordance with medieval royal customs, she was called Joan of the Tower because she was born inside the royal apartments of the Tower of London on July 5, 1321.

3. What was the purpose of her marriage to David II of Scotland?

Her marriage in July 1328 was mandated by the Treaty of Edinburgh–Northampton to establish a formal peace alliance between England and Scotland following the First War of Scottish Independence.

4. Did Joan of the Tower have any children?

No. Her marriage to King David II produced no heirs. Upon David's death in 1371, the House of Bruce became extinct in the male line, passing the Scottish crown to the House of Stewart.

5. Why did Joan of the Tower live in French exile at Château Gaillard?

Following English invasions and the defeat at Halidon Hill in 1333, young David II and Queen Joan fled to Normandy, living under the diplomatic protection of King Philip VI of France from 1334 to 1341.

6. What made her coronation at Scone Abbey historically unique?

On November 24, 1331, Joan of the Tower became the first Scottish queen consort to be anointed with holy oil, following a special papal bull issued by Pope John XXII.

7. How did Joan react when her husband was imprisoned in England?

After David II was captured at the Battle of Neville's Cross in 1346, Joan used her position as sister to King Edward III to secure safe-conducts, visiting her husband during his eleven-year captivity in London.

8. Why did Joan return permanently to England in 1357?

Tired of Scottish anti-English hostility and deeply hurt by David II's open infidelity with his mistress Katherine Mortimer, Joan left Scotland permanently in 1357 to reside at the court of her brother, Edward III.

9. Where is Joan of the Tower buried?

Following her death on September 7, 1362, she was buried in accordance with her final wishes at Greyfriars Church in London, beside her mother, Queen Isabella.

10. How was Joan of the Tower related to King Edward III of England?

Joan of the Tower was the youngest sister of King Edward III of England, a genealogical connection that created immense personal tension during the Anglo-Scottish wars.

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