Joana of Eadien, Queen of the Saungson Island

Joana (19 July 986-14 December 1041), was an Eadien Princess Imperial who later was crowned the first Queen of the Saungson Island, and became Duchess of Mohal and Queen consort of Hsindra and Bekinla by her two marriages. She is the only legitimate daughter of Hsinpalay the Great, Eadien emperor, by his second wife Joana Caterina de Mesarol, also his favorite child. Joana served as an advisor for her father and brothers, and was considered one of the main rulers during Jakigan's early tenure, who exerted a tremendous influence on Jakigan and Isatal III. She became the protector of Rogathu, Jakigan's only survived son, after Jakigan was overthrown in 1021. She was one of the most powerful women in the early 11th century, serving as a regent for her father, brothers, husband and two sons in succession.

Early life
Joana was the first child of Hsinpalay IV, Eadien emperor, and his new wife Joana Caterina de Mesarol, born on 19 July 986. Her coming greatly comfort her parents, as his father was certified that can have more children with his spouse, who was nearly 40 but only had 1 legitimate son alive, Jakigan. Four years later, her mother Joana Caterina gave birth to a son, also the last child of this couple, future Isatal III, Eadien emperor.

Joana was brought up in a loving environment, and her parents had positive influence on her, who were well known for their love. Empress Joana Caterina, though born in a humble family, was erudite and versatile. Under her education, Joana had read a lot and showed great wisdom since she was a child. Compared with her romantic mother, Joana was more pragmatic and even colder, which should be due to her father's political influence. Hsinpalay IV was cunning, witty, sophisticated, shrewd and ambitious, and Joana was generally considered the most father like of Hsinpalay's children. This can be seen from her attitude towards bards. Joana Caterina appreciated bards and gave them a lot of financial support. However, Joana thought that some bards preached heresy and had no preference for this group. On religious issues, Joana was as radical as her father.

Joana was very attractive, who inherited her mother's beauty very well. From the age of 12, although unmarried, she began to attend public social occasions with her father. Hsinpalay made no secret of his love for his daughter. He loved Joana more than his other two sons. He once said, "I have many reasons to be proud of Joana." From then on, until she got married in 1006, she often accompanied Hsinpalay, and even played the role of empress in the absence of her mother, so she was called "the second lady" in the court at that time. Because Joana was not as amiable as Joana Caterina and always kept a high attitude, she was also called "Joana the Proud". In 1000, the Eadien empire finally recaptured the Saungson Island, which had been lost for more than 200 years, from Maharapura. Hsinpalay IV did not grant the Island to his sons, but granted it to Joana. In this way, Joana was a female Lord with her own fiefdom and gained economic independence to a certain extent; More than that, he also upgraded the island to a kingdom in August 1001, and crowned her queen on 29 of that month. Although this was a way of demonstration to Maharapura and Hsindra, it was enough to show that Hsinpalay was very fond of her daughter.

During this period, Hsinpalay began to teach Joana some ways of governing the country. It may be because the crown prince Jakigan was too mediocre. Hsinpalay hoped that his daughter could help her brother to a certain extent in the future. Therefore, Hsinpalay was not in a hurry to betroth her to someone, especially after the failure of marriage negotiation with Hsindra in 1001, He didn't plan to find a suitable marriage for his daughter for a long time.

Hsinpalay IV was ill in his later years, and Joana Caterina was busy taking care of him, so the responsibility of controlling the court fell to Joana, who was the Princess Imperial. Joana disliked her sister-in-law, Emmé, Duchess of Limgoo, because she had been trying to oppose the Empire and gain independence for Limgoo. Joana forbade her to use the title of "Duchess of Limgoo" in the court, and monitored her letters to the outside world. In this way, although Hsinpalay, who was seriously ill, can't contain Emmé's ambition as before, she still can't make useful actions.

In September 1005, when Hsinpalay IV was critically ill, Empress Joana Caterina immediately appointed Jakigan as regent to stabilize the situation. However, Jakigan was also flustered and didn't know how to react. In a critical moment, Joana stood by his brother's side and asked the imperial princes to go to Nanwa to meet the emperor, ambitious Reramonsi II, Duke of Andon was forced to submit to Jakigan, and the rest of them did not dare to do anything. Hsinpalay IV recovered soon after. He appreciated Joana's ability and formally decided to give her regency, not only for him when he could not govern, but also for later Eadien emperors. At the same time, Hsinpalay also felt that his life was not long, and began to find a suitable marriage for Joana and Isatal.

First marriage
Joana was engaged with Prince Fabio of Hsindra (future King Fabio V), son of King Joao I, however, due to its prosperity and great power of the Eadien empire during Hsinpalay IV's reign, Joao I increasingly postponed this marriage who worried this marriage will made Hsindra a vassal to the empire; conversely, he was more likely to get close to Maharapura. In 1000, it strengthened his resolve to ally Maharapura that the empire defeated Maharapura and got the Saungson Island back. The next year, Joao I died; his son, new king Fabio V succedded not only his father's throne, but his father's will. In May, Fabio V signed Treaty of Desayamose with Maharapura, as part of which, Princess Elanche of Maharapura, the eldest daughter of King Suriya I of Maharapura, was betrothed to Fabio V. In July, the wedding was held in the Palace of Brohan, and Princess Elanche became Queen of Hsindra, meaning the abolish of the engagement between Fabio V and Joana.

Hsinpalay IV was very angry at Hsindra’s treachery. As a counterattack, he upgraded the Saungson Island to a kingdom and crowned Joana as the queen regnant, by which he demonstrated to Hsindra and Maharapura. Because of the failure of the marriage contract, Joana felt extremely humiliated and hated Maharapura. In the following years, Joana’s marriage negotiation was not carried out. Until 1005, Hsinpalay IV felt that his life was not long, and worried that his daughter’s value in the marriage market would plummet after his death. So he began to look for a suitable marriage for Joana and Isatal.

Under Hsinpalay’s arrangement, Joana married Diagar I, Duke of Mohal, on 19 April 1006. After marriage, she and her husband lived in Mohal, so no longer took charge of Eadien's affairs. There was no specific record of the relationship between Diagar and Joana. Diagar I was very weak, and many affairs were entrusted to his granduncle, Lebinande, Count of Lamban. If Diagar I had no children, Lebinande will become the new Duke of Mohal. In fact, Mohal already regarded him as the ruler. When Diagar I was absent, Lebinande enjoyed everything that the Duke had, and the court was led by Madhri Mehtamena, wife of his eldest son Mehtamen.

Lebinande was looking forward to his grandnephew's death. However, Joana became pregnant soon, which meant that Lebinande's dream of becoming a duke would be dashed. On 7 March 1007, Joana gave birth to a son Diagar, later Diagar II of Mohal. Four months later, on 20 July, Diagar I died. Joana had no time to grieve for her deceased husband, because she knew that although her son would be new Duke of Mohal, he was so young that needed a regent, and she must not let the regency owned by Lebinande. If so, not only did she have no place in Mohal, but her son will also be controlled by his ambitious great-granduncle.

After all, Mohal was Lebinande's stronghold. Although Joana was the Duke's mother, as a newcomer, it was difficult for her to get recognition and obtain the regency. In order to get the support of Mohal nobles, she personally visited nobles one by one and promised that after she became the regent, she would issue laws in favor of the nobles. For those opponents who could not be persuaded, she used the Empire to suppress them. In this way, some nobles were moved by the sincerity of her personal visit, some saw her promise, and some were afraid of her father. Most of the Mohal nobles turned to support her, and the local churches were very fond of her who was a devout Mahaist, and she benefited from her father's reputation of Mahaism defender. At the great court meeting held on 14 September 1007, most nobles and priests supported her to become the regent. She succeeded in mastering power and expelling Lebinande and his family.

For the safety of Diagar II, Joana sent him to the Eadien imperial court, where the little Duke received proper care and good education. Joana stayed in Mohal to govern. After she came to power, she first fulfilled her promise to the local churches, ordered to expel Buddhists, demolish Buddhist temples and burn Buddhist scriptures, and also carried out a series of crackdowns on other religions. She also asked for more funds from the Pharaja for churches to help build local religious activities. Under her order, Some Mahaism scriptures spread in Mohal were incorporated into Eadien Maha Sutra. She learned some of her father's ruling experience and promoted them in Mohal. Dhammapavara Semafa, Priest of Phkasanda, was promoted by her to be the High Priest of Mohal. After she left in 1008, Semafa ruled Mohal to ensure a smooth transition of power in the future.

Joana maintained the relationship between Mohal and her motherland, the Eadien Empire. She tried to open the border between the two countries and reduce the tariffs of businessmen of the two countries, but the nobles of Mohal had expressed fierce opposition to it. Minyaung de Lelima was her main political enemy. In a few years, Lelima will have an important impact on Diagar II, while Joana exchanged the inheritance of the Saungson Island for Lelima's resignation and exile.

Joana carried out government reform in Kalla Sanda, the capital of Mohal. She abolished the position of mayor of Kalla Sanda and stipulated that the ten-member committee appointed by the Duke should exercise administrative power, while the judicial power should be directly controlled by the Supreme Court of Mohal. Her reform further strengthened Kalla Sanda's status as the political capital, made the capital in the hand of the Duke, and prevented riots and threats to power in the capital. Meanwhile, some economic forces originally in the capital were dispersed. Joana let all localities formulate policies to accept these economic organizations. On the surface, it was to make the national development balanced. In fact, it was intended to provoke struggles among all localities to weaken the power of local nobles.