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According to Medieval legend, Pope Joan (also known as Pope Joanna or La Papessa) was a female pope who allegedly reigned for less than two years in the 850s C.E. under the name Pope John VIII/Johannes VIII (formerly John Anglicus). [1] . She is described as being a very theologically gifted orator with a perspicacity for spiritual discourse.
According to a centuries-old legend, an Englishwoman named Joan disguised herself as a man, went to Rome, and reigned as pope before suffering a dramatic downfall. Is there any truth to this, or is it just a medieval myth? The tale’s history kicks off in the 11th century with Germany-based Irish chronicler Marianus Scotus.
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. More about: Pope Joan. Timeline.
