Queen Joanna – Accused of Murder!

We’re deep into the story of Joanna, queen of the huge Kingdom of Naples in the 14th century. There’s no turning back for us now. Joanna had more than her share of issues to deal with, but her toughest challenge is still on the horizon. She’s about to be accused of murder.

Recap

Joanna I, Queen of the Kingdom of Naples, and Andrew of Hungary had said their wedding vows. Joanna was a true queen, but per the pre-arranged marriage contract, Andrew was king in name only, with zero power.  (More details here).

Joanna’s mother-in-law, Queen Elizabeth of Hungary came to Naples with 400 knights, intent on improving Andrew’s standing. Having failed to get what she wanted, she set off for Avignon to pay a personal visit to the pope. The pope would make things right for Andrew.

Joanna wasn’t the type to wait around to see what would happen. She started working on the pope, too, with a vigorous letter-writing campaign. Joanna’s family had been big pope supporters, and Naples paid a large tribute to the pope each year. He wouldn’t want to that revenue stream to dry up.

Joanna’s campaign worked, sort of. Elizabeth didn’t get what she wanted, but neither did Joanna. The pope didn’t make Andrew a real king, but he decreed that Joanna was too young to govern Naples. The pope decided to send his own guy to be in charge. (He could actually do that).

Chaos in the Court

The pope’s hand-picked guy didn’t work out. It was as if no one was in charge. The royal court in Naples was in chaos. Plots and schemes for a coup were rampant. Just when things seemed to be about as bad as they could be, they got even worse.

The Hungarian royal family kept working on the pope. They kept increasing the price of the bribe… uh, I mean the “tribute.” Surely the pope would change his mind and make Andrew the real king of Naples.

Joanna, Andrew, and the royal entourage left Naples to spend time at the family vacation castle in nearby Aversa. One day, Andrew went into the town to mix it up with the locals. He got home late. Joanna had already retired for the evening.

Later that night, Andrew’s Hungarian maid heard a loud noise outside her window. She got up to see what it was. The noise was Andrew’s lifeless body dropping from the royal suite’s second-floor balcony, slamming onto the pavement below. Whoa.

The maid screamed. She saw four men run off. The fall hadn’t been what killed Andrew. He’d been strangled to death. The four men were trying to lower Andrew’s body off the balcony when they dropped him.

Who Done It?

Andrew’s death certainly took a thorn out of Joanna’s side. On the other hand, since it was she who had the most to gain by Andrew’s death, she was the prime murder suspect.

In the 14th century, there was no Crime Scene Investigation. Crimes were solved by grabbing the most likely culprit, then torturing him until he confessed. A man who worked on Andrew’s staff was accused of being the inside man on the job.

The poor guy was tortured in public for the whole town to see. But he didn’t admit guilt. He couldn’t. His captors had cut out his tongue before the real torturing got started. Kind of in reverse order from what one might expect, eh? Hmmm…

Suspicion about Joanna’s involvement remained high. The Hungarians were certain that the murder plot was Joanna’s doing. And they let the pope know about it.

14th Century Colombo

If there had been a “Colombo” back then, he would have interviewed Joanna numerous times. Imagine the scene in Queen Joanna’s chambers…

Colombo — “Your highness… no disrespect meant, please, but… what were you doing that night when Andrew was murdered?”

Joanna — “Like I told you before — I was sleeping.”

Colombo — “All night?”

Joanna — “Until Isabelle, Andrew’s Hungarian maid, let out that horrible scream.”

Colombo — “I see. And you didn’t hear any thump outside the window?”

Joanna — “No, I didn’t hear anything.”

Colombo — “OK. Thank you, your Highness. That’ll be all for now.”

Colombo heads for the door, then stops and scratches his head. Then he turns around…

Colombo — “Oh, just one more question, your Highness… Those four guys that
grabbed, beat up, and strangled Andrew just steps outside your door… You didn’t hear anything like that?”

Joanna — “No. I’m a very sound sleeper. Especially on week-ends.”

Colombo — “Of course. Thank you, your Highness.”

Good old Colombo. Those were probably the same questions that everyone was asking. Now Joanna was up for a murder rap. And wouldn’t you know it — just when things seemed to be about as bad as they could be, they got worse — again!

To be continued…