1. Do you think Joanna conspired to kill her husband Andrew? If not, who do you think masterminded the crime? How much do you think Elizabeth of Hungary’s refusal to accept the terms of the original agreement between Robert the Wise and Carobert contributed to her son’s death? Why do you think she persisted in pursuing policies which she knew increased the danger around him?

2. As a woman attempting to rule in her own name during the Middle Ages, Joanna had to overcome extraordinary obstacles and numerous threats to her survival. Although endowed with great courage, this attribute alone would not have been enough to secure her position. What other character traits and skills did she develop that allowed her to triumph over her many adversaries? Did any of these contribute to her downfall?

3. Do you think Joanna was more or less effective as a ruler because she was a woman, or do you believe that the skills of leadership do not relate to gender?

4. A handful of women, including Eleanor of Aquitaine, Blanche of Castile, and Elizabeth I of England, are generally recognized by historians as exercising real authority during their lifetimes and achieving a measure of success on a par with those of their male counterparts. Do you think that Joanna’s accomplishments merit her inclusion in this group? How do you think her reign compared to that of Elizabeth I, for example?

5. Throughout history, monarchs have secured their thrones by dispensing with their closest rivals. For example, at the beginning of his reign, Edward III of England had his mother’s lover, Roger Mortimer, overthrown and executed in order to establish his own power. Similarly, Elizabeth I had her cousin and rival Mary, queen of Scots, placed under house arrest for eighteen years before finally trying and executing her for treason. Given this context, what do you think of Joanna’s treatment of her sister Maria? The sisters’ relationship seems to have improved over time --- what do you think is responsible for this?

6. What do you think of Joanna’s attitude toward Jeanne of Durazzo’s prospective marriage to the king of Sicily? Do you think that Joanna was being too hard on her niece or that Jeanne should have married Frederick of Sicily even though she didn’t want to for the sake of her kingdom?

7. The Church was much more active in temporal affairs during the Middle Ages than it is today. Bearing this in mind, of the various popes Joanna dealt with during her lifetime, which one do you think was the most effective at guiding the Church both spiritually and politically?

8. At the beginning of the Great Schism, Joanna believed Cardinal Orsini when he told her that Urban VI was “not the true pope” because the pressure brought to bear upon the cardinals to choose an Italian had compromised his election. The people of Naples thought that the nullification of the election was a cynical gesture by a primarily French Curia to rid themselves of an inconvenient Italian pontiff. Which do you believe is the truth?

9. Joanna’s story is filled with strong aristocratic women who influenced events and exercised significant political power both within their kingdoms and internationally. Yet it is still a commonplace among historians that women were powerless victims in the Middle Ages. Do you think that the evidence of Joanna’s reign is sufficient to cast doubt on this theory, or is more research needed?

10. Do you think that Joanna is a good role model for women seeking political office today?