Princess Joanna of Latium

Jump to navigation Jump to search
Princess Joanna
Duchess of Ravenna
Princess Joanna of Latium.jpg
Born (1970-06-02) 2 June 1970 (age 53)
Palatium Supranio, Adrianople, Latium
Spouse
Issue
Full name
Joanna Claudia Anicia Maria Agnes Leontia
HouseClaudia
FatherLeo Claudius, Duke of Adrianople
MotherDiana I Anicia
ReligionImperial Church (Catholicism)

Princess Joanna, Duchess of Ravenna (Joanna Claudia Anicia Maria Agnes Leontia; b. 2 June 1970) is a Latin princess, and is the daughter of Diana I Anicia and Leo X Claudius. Joanna is 28th in the line of succession to the Latin throne; at the time of her birth she was fifth.

Joanna married Prince Michael of Ravenna, in 1990. They have four children.

Early life and education

Joanna was born at Palatium Supranio, on 2 June 1970, as the fifth child of Empress Diana Augusta and Leo, Prince Consort. She was born an hour after her twin brother, John. She was baptized alongside her twin brother at Sancta Sapientia on 13 September 1970, by Patriarch of Alba Thomas Appuleius. Her godparents are Duke Isidorus Claudius (her father’s brother); Damiane Vitruvia (her mother’s friend). Born during her mother's reign, Joanna was afforded the honor of Purpurogenita ("Born in the Purple"). She was named Joanna for her great-great grandmother Empress Joanna I.

Education

Similar to her twin brother, Joanna's education was handled by a governess between the ages of five and eight. Both she and her brother continued to be educated by private tutors until the age of 17. Unlike her older siblings, she did not attend formal schooling. Joanna was said to have a love of reading according to one of her former tutors, who described her as a "calm, proper, and even keeled child...who enjoyed a good book more than anything else." Joanna and her younger sister, Princess Eirene, took dancing, and music lessons in order to socialize with other children her age. At the age of 13, Joanna played violin in the Castellum Youth Symphony, where she continued to play until age 17. Along with other members of her family, Joanna often visited the Imperial stables as a child for horseback riding.

Joanna enrolled at the University of Ascanium, in 1986. During her time in Ascanium, she resided at the chief imperial residence in the former capital city, Palatium Purpura. She hosted study sessions and group projects at the palace, and often invited classmates to the palace for gatherings – irrespective of their social standing.

Marriage

Joanna first met her future husband, Michael of Ravenna, at a ball to celebrate her sister Princess Isadora's 19th birthday, in 1985. Joanna was said to be rather taken by Michael, and often spent time with him, or regularly exchanged letters when he was attending university. The courtship was later confirmed by Imperial Offices in 1988, shortly before Joanna's 18th birthday. Joanna became engaged soon after on 20 August 1989.

On 22 July 1990, Joanna married Michael at Basilica of the Blessed Virgin, in Adrianople. After a brief honeymoon, Joanna and Michael travelled to Belfras to represent Empress Diana Augusta for an imperial tour. She and Michael have four children: Victor, Silvia, William, and Diana.

Activities

Joanna has been a musician since a young age, taking lessons in piano and violin. She continued to play violin throughout her adolescence and into adulthood. She is noted for her sponsorship of charities focused on arts, music and theatre for children and women. Joanna and her husband have sponsored the Imperial Youth Symposium since 1991.

Joanna has undertaken various imperial duties on behalf of her mother, and later her brother and nephew. She has visited nations such as Belfras, Ghant, Gelonia, South Ottonia, Thraysia, Uluujol, Sante Reze, and Yisrael for official visits, whether with her mother or brother, or with her husband. She was appointed Chancellor of the University of St Ambrose-Ravenna, in 2010, an honorary role which she continues to hold. As Chancellor she conducts commencements and often speaks at new student orientation events.

Joanna and her family are regularly seen at PC Imperialis Ianiculum matches.

Titles, styles and honors

Styles

  • 2 June 1970 – present: Her Imperial Highness The Princess Joanna
    • in Ghant 22 July 1990 – present: Her Imperial Highness Princess Joanna of Ghant

Joanna is the daughter of a Sovereign, and a Latin princess by birth. As such, she does not utilize a surname. If Joanna were to utilize a surname, it is likely that she would take on the Claudia Anicia name; however, it is also possible that the surname for all children of the Sovereign to simply be "of Latium". For ceremonial and formal purposes, all children of the Monarch - with exception to the heir apparent - are entitled to the rank of "prince" or "princess" after their Christian name followed by the territorial designation "of Latium."

Joanna is also a Princess of Ghant, by virtue of her husband Prince Michael, who is an extended Prince of the Blood of Ghant, as a male-line descendant of Nicholas II.

Honors

  •  Latium: Knight of the Order of the Winged Ram Red ribbon bar - general use.svg
  •  Latium: Dame of the Ancient Equestrian Order St.AlexanderOrder-ribbon.svg
  •  Latium: Dame Grand Cross of the Most Excellent Order of the Crown Army Good Conduct Medal ribbon.svg
  • Iotopha House of Hazaraspid: Dame Grand Cordon of the Order of Hazaraspid Order of Pahlavi (Iran).gif
  • Flag of the German Empire.svg House of Hechenreyt: Dame Grand Cross of the Order of [Name] Order of the Black Eagle - Ribbon bar.svg

Issue

Name Birth Death Notes
By Prince Michael of Ravenna
Prince Victor (1991-04-04) 4 April 1991 (age 32) Married Princess Constance of Burgoy
Princess Silvia (1994-06-29) 29 June 1994 (age 29) Married Merrick of Dakmoor; had issue.
Prince William (1998-06-11) 11 June 1998 (age 25)
Prince Diana (2000-11-07) 7 November 2000 (age 23)

Ancestry

See also

Princess Joanna of Latium
Born: 2 June 1970
Lines of succession
Preceded by
Princess Adriana
Succession to the Latin throne
28th in line
Followed by
Prince Victor of Ravenna