The Tree of Europe · Person

Joan III of Navarre

She adopted the Reformation and made her domains an important base for the Huguenot cause. She was the mother of Henry of Navarre, the future Henry IV of France.

1528 – 1572Queen regnant of NavarreAlbret · ES

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This complete profile is available in English. Bibliographic titles retain their original language. Links marked ES open the Spanish edition.

Historical profile

Key details

Birth: 1528 Documented

Death: 1572 Documented

Role: Queen regnant of Navarre

Other recorded names: Jeanne d’Albret · Joan III of Navarre · Joanna III of Navarre

Dynasty: Albret · ES

Territories: Navarre (ES) · Béarn (ES) · Foix (ES) · County of Bigorre (ES) · Albret (ES)

Recorded governments and reigns

Queen · Navarre · Reign Pending review1555–1572Branch ruleFrom 1512 the two lines did not effectively govern the whole of the former kingdom.

Viscountess · Béarn · Viscounty Pending review1555–1572Effective rule

Countess · Foix · County Documented1555–1572Effective ruleSuccession of the counts of Foix; the dates follow the Viscounty of Béarn, inherited by the same person.

Countess · County of Bigorre · County Documented1555–1572Effective ruleFrom 1425 Bigorre was ruled by the counts of Foix.

Duchess · Albret · Duchy Documented1555–1572Effective ruleThe lordship was elevated to a duchy in 1556.

Family network

Recorded relationships

Parents

Henry II of NavarrePending reviewMargaret of Angoulême · ESPending review

Partners

Antoine of BourbonPending review

Children

Henry IV of France

Crowns and unions

Their titles over time

Follow the changing territories and offices of Joan III of Navarre. Each title retains its own status.

Period

Governments in 1555

NavarreQueen
View titles and jurisdictions
- Navarre · ESQueen · Branch rule · Albret-Bourbon dynasty; Lower Navarre after the conquest1555–1572 · From 1512 the two lines did not effectively govern the whole of the former kingdom.
BéarnViscountess
View titles and jurisdictions
- Béarn · ESViscountess · Effective rule1555–1572
FoixCountess
View titles and jurisdictions
- Foix · ESCountess · Effective rule1555–1572 · Succession of the counts of Foix; the dates follow the Viscounty of Béarn, inherited by the same person.
County of BigorreCountess
View titles and jurisdictions
- County of Bigorre · ESCountess · Effective rule1555–1572 · From 1425 Bigorre was ruled by the counts of Foix.
AlbretDuchess
View titles and jurisdictions
- Albret · ESDuchess · Effective rule1555–1572 · The lordship was elevated to a duchy in 1556.

Annual dates: overlap within one year does not prove that two offices were held on the same day. Regencies and co-rulerships retain their labels.

Documentation

Sources for this profile

Biographical and contextual references in their original language. Sources and methodology.

Evidence for this profile

10 recorded claims · 5 without a claim-specific source. Context references do not by themselves verify every fact.

Dates (2/2 with a precise source)

BirthDocumented
1528
The authority record gives the birth as 1528.
Deutsche Nationalbibliothek · GND · Johanna, Navarra, Königin · Vital data: birth date
Reviewed on 2026-10-17 by El Árbol de Europa ·
DeathDocumented
1572
The authority record gives the death as 1572.
Deutsche Nationalbibliothek · GND · Johanna, Navarra, Königin · Vital data: death date
Reviewed on 2026-10-17 by El Árbol de Europa ·

Family and relationships (0/3 with a precise source)

FatherPending review
Henry II of Navarre
A precise source has not yet been added.
No individual review recorded ·
MotherPending review
Margaret of Angoulême
A precise source has not yet been added.
No individual review recorded ·
Marriage or partnershipPending review
Antoine of Bourbon
A precise source has not yet been added.
No individual review recorded ·

Governments (3/5 with a precise source)

GovernmentPending review
Queen · Navarre · 1555–1572
A precise source has not yet been added.
No individual review recorded ·
GovernmentPending review
Viscountess · Béarn · 1555–1572
A precise source has not yet been added.
No individual review recorded ·
GovernmentDocumented
Countess · Foix · 1555–1572
Succession of the counts of Foix; the dates follow the Viscounty of Béarn, inherited by the same person.
Gran Enciclopèdia Catalana · Comtat de Foix · Gaston IV (1436); his grandchildren Francis Phoebus and Catherine, monarchs of Navarre; Henry (II of Navarre), Jeanne (III) and Henry IV of France, who incorporated the domains into the French crown in 1607.
Reviewed on 2026-10-19 by El Árbol de Europa ·
GovernmentDocumented
Countess · County of Bigorre · 1555–1572
From 1425 Bigorre was ruled by the counts of Foix.
Gran Enciclopèdia Catalana · Bigorra · In 1425 John I of Grailly, Count of Foix, received the county from Charles VII. Thereafter it was ruled by the counts of Foix; Henry IV incorporated it into his kingdom in 1607.
Reviewed on 2026-10-19 by El Árbol de Europa ·
GovernmentDocumented
Duchess · Albret · 1555–1572
The lordship was elevated to a duchy in 1556.
Gran Enciclopèdia Catalana · Albret · Alain the Great (1440–1522), guardian of his grandson Henry II of Navarre; Jeanne III; duchy created in 1556 and incorporated into the crown by Henry IV in 1607.
Reviewed on 2026-10-19 by El Árbol de Europa ·

Biographical and contextual references (3)

Editorial history

2026-10-12 · Claim registry added; existing historical data kept. Specific sourcing remains to be reviewed.
2026-10-08 · Claim registry added; existing historical data kept. Specific sourcing remains to be reviewed.
2026-10-04 · Claim registry added; existing historical data kept. Specific sourcing remains to be reviewed.
2026-10-04 · Claim registry added; existing historical data kept. Specific sourcing remains to be reviewed.
2026-10-03 · Claim registry added; existing historical data kept. Specific sourcing remains to be reviewed.
2026-09-30 · The duchy is limited to Dijon and Autun; each other fief now enters the map only under its dated ruler. John III of Namur and the Nevers/Rethel branch were added. The previous shape combined later counties and unrelated lands as if all belonged to the duchy from 1363.
2026-09-28 · Claim registry added; existing historical data kept. Specific sourcing remains to be reviewed.

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