Joana Manrez

Joana Manrez (18 March 870/874-2 June 933), was Duchess of Salin as the second wife of Diagar I, Duke of Salin, as well as the mother of Kanaunt I. She was a famous poisoner during the Hafra period.

Biography
Joana Manrez was a Hsindran noblewoman, granddaughter of King Fabio III of Hsindra. Her father Enser Manrez was mighty during the reign of his half brother Minyaung IV. He gave support to the Mesarol family which was rising and married Hecaébel de Mesarol, then supported his wife's niece Ophia de Mesarol to become queen. However, when Ophia suffered hostility from most nobles, he betrayed the Mesarols without any hesitation, and contributed to Ophia's downfall and execution.

Joana was the firstborn daughter of Enser Manrez and Hecaébel de Mesarol. She was originally raised and educated as the future queen of Hsindra, but her father stopped considering to make her queen of Hsindra after the downfall of Ophia de Mesarol. Hecaébel requested Enser to marry their daughter far away from Hsindra, where political chaotics was raging. When Enser heard that Diagar I, Duke of Salin was looking for a new wife, he introduced Joana to the duke.

On 1 April 889, Diagar I and Joana got married in Pelba. A guest attending this marriage wrote to his friend in a letter: the duchess was comely, high, blonde hair and brown eyes, who looked like her notorious Mesarol cousin (Ophia de Mesarol).

Joana was not the first wife of Diagar I. Her husband's previous wife left 2 sons: Joan and Diagar. After Joana gave birth to her own son Henther Diagar on 7 May 890, she regarded her step-sons as obstacles who cut off the way of her son succeeding the duchy.

In May 892, a witch Ucaranalle Fonkaçon was arrested due to sell poisons and presiding over evil ritual sacrifices. Under interrogation, she confessed a noblewoman Madhri Bame from the Salinese court had brought poisons from her and asked for a cursing ritual. Madhri Bame was a close friend and lady-in-waiting of Joana Manrez, so many people thought she was ordered by Joana who wanted to kill her two stepsons by cursing and poisoning. Some officials requested to arrest Madhri Bame and inquest her, but Joana sent her away and wrote a letter to King Fabio IV of Hsindra, in which she hoped that Hsindra could shelter Madhri. More people suspected Joana was involved in this case because of her behaviors above.

On 25 July 896, Joan was found dead in his chamber, then he was buried immediately. Many people guessed he was poisoned dead by Joana who was at odds with him, but some other people said that Joan had many ideas different from his father in most of political issues, which may be the reason of his death.

Joana on various occasions excluded another stepson Diagar. In 902, there were some dead rats appearing in Diagar's chamber almost everyday, sometimes only one, but sometimes more than ten. No one knew who did this, but Joana was still the first subject to be suspected, who was considered to want to kill Diagar by infecting him with the plague.

Diagar I clearly knew how his wife persecuted his son, but he did nothing. He was known for his ruthlessness and cunning, thus he was called "the Treacherous", but he connived at Joana's behaviors. It seemed Diagar I really fell in love with his wife, but a historian Gonshe Pudukhaba pointed out that they were in harmony because they were both morally corrupt.

In 905, Diagar I died. Diagar, whom Joana hated, became duke of Salin as Diagar II. He ordered to banish Joana from the court the moment he came to power, and forced her to separate from her children.

Joana secluded in a temple in Pharimala, but she never gave up her ambition. In 908, two cooks was captured when they tried to put poison in Diagar II's food. They confessed they were hired by Joana. Diagar II demanded to arrest Joana. Joana fled to Hsindra, and was sheltered by Queen Kurwana. In the later years, she lived in a quiet life in Hsindra, and was forgotten almost by everyone. But in those years, she kept connection with her son Kanaunt by letters, in what she encouraged Kanaunt to fight against Diagar II.

In 928, Kanaunt rose his army in Resoundo against his brother Diagar II. Joana returned from disappearance to seek help and support for her son. Finally in 930, Kanaunt took over all of Salin. Diagar II lived in exile in Sayamati. Joana returned to Salin, and witnessed her son to be the duke delightedly. But she was still way too unpopular in Salin, thus she seldom showed on public.

She died on 2 June 933, and was entombed in Ibanela.

Issue
1. Henther Diagar (7 May 890-11 December 901)

2. Oraj (16 December 891-3 January 892)

3. Kanaunt I, Duke of Salin (24 January 894-10 February 952), married Madhri of Andon, with whom he had children, 2 sons and 1 daughter.

4. Manarella of Salin (16 October 898-13 July 956), was Duchess of Aguilette by her marriage to Henther IV, Duke of Aguilette, by whom she had children, 2 sons and 4 daughters, including Ophia of Aguilette, Queen of Sayamati.