Joan the Lame

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Jeanne de Bourgogne (1293-12 September 1348), also known as Joan the Lame (French: Jeanne la Boiteuse) or Joan of Burgundy, Queen consort of France, first wife of Philip VI.

She was the daughter of Robert II, Duke of Burgundy and princess Agnes of France. Her mother was the youngest daughter of Louis IX and Marguerite of Provence.

Her older sister, Marguerite de Bourgogne, was the first wife and Queen of Louis X of France. Her brothers were Hugh V, Duke of Burgundy, and Eudes IV, Duke of Burgundy.

She married Philippe de Valois in July 1313. From 1315 to 1328, they were Count and Countess-consort of Maine; from 1325, they were also Count and Countess-Consort of Valois and Anjou.

Intelligent and strong-willed, Jeanne proved a capable regent whilst her husband fought on military campaigns during the Hundred Years War. However, such authority earned both a bad reputation, which was accentuated by her deformity (which was considered by some to be a mark of evil).

Jeanne died on 12 September 1348, of the Plague.

Her children with Philip VI include:

In 1361, Jeanne's grandnephew, Philip I of Burgundy, died without legitimate issue, ending the male line of the Dukes of Burgundy. The rightful heir to Burgundy was unclear: Charles II of Navarre, grandson of Jeanne's sister Marguerite, was closer by right to the title, but John II of France (Jeanne's son) was a generation closer to the Dukes. In the end, John won.