Brewer's: Joan

(Pope). A supposed female “pope” between Leo IV. and Benedict III. She is said to have been born in England and educated at Cologne, passing under the name of Joannes Anglicus (John of England). Blondel, a Calvinist, wrote a book in 1640 to prove that no such person ever occupied the papal chair; but at least a hundred and fifty authors between the thirteenth and seventeenth centuries repeat the tale as an historic fact. The last person who critically examined the question was Döllinger, in 1868. (See Historic Note Book, 701-2, for authorities pro and con.)

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