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From Encyclopedia of Superstitions, Folklore, and the Occult Sciences By Mrs. Cora Linn (Morrison) Daniels
Jane is a most ill-starred name for rulers. To give a few examples: Lady Jane Grey, beheaded by Mary for treason; Jane Seymour; Jane or Joan Beaufort, wife of James I. of Scotland, who was infamously and savagely murdered; Jane of Burgundy, wife of Philippe le Long, who imprisoned her for adultery in 1314; Jane of Flanders, who was in ceaseless war with Jane of Penthievre after the captivity of their husbands. This contest is known in history as "the wars of the two Janes" (Fourteenth century). Jane of France (de Valois), wife of Louis XII., who repudiated her for being ugly; Jane d' Albert, mother of Henri IV. of France. Being invited to Paris to attend the espousals of her son with Margaret de Valois, she was poisoned by Catharine de Medicis (1572); Jane, Countess of Hainault, daughter of Baldwin, and wife of Ferdinand of Portugal, who was made prisoner at the battle of Bouvinces in 1214. She refused to ransom him, and is thought to have poisoned her father; Jane Henriquez, wife of John II. of Navarre, stirred up war between her husband and his son Carlos by a former marriage, and ultimately made away with the young prince, a proceeding which caused a revolt of the Catalonians (1462); Jane the Imbecile of Castile, who lost her reason from grief at the neglect of her husband, Phillip the Handsome, Archduke of Austria; Jane I. of Naples married Andrew of Hungary, whom she caused to be murdered, and then married the assassin. Her reign was most disastrous. La Harpe has a tragedy entitled Jeanne de Naples; Jane II. of Naples, a woman of most scandalous character; guilty of every sort of wantonness. She married James, Count of March, who put to death her lovers and imprisoned Jane for two years. At her release James fled to France, when Jane had a liaison with Caraccioli, whom she murdered. Joan, the pope, if indeed such a person ever existed. Jeanne la Pucelle (Joan of Arc) cannot be called a ruler, but her lot was not more happy. (Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable.)
John is a proverbially unhappy name with royalty. When John Stuart ascended the throne of Scotland he changed his name to Robert; but misfortune never deserted him, and after an evil reign he died overwhelmed with calamities and infirmity. John Baliol was the mere tool of Edward I.; John of England, a most disastrous reign. John I. of France reigned only a few days; John H., having lost the battle of Poitiers, died in captivity in London; to France his reign was a tissue of evils. John of Bohemia was slain at Cressy. John I. of Aragon was at ceaseless war with his subjects, by whom he was execrated; John H. was at ceaseless war with his son, Don Carlos. John I. of Constantinople was poisoned by Basil, his eunuch; John IV. had his eyes put out; John V. was emperor in name only, and was most unhappy; John VI., harassed with troubles, abdicated, and died in a monastery.
John I. of Sweden was unhappy in his expeditions, and died childless; John II. had his wife driven out of the kingdom by his angry subjects. Jean sans Peur of Burgundy engaged in the most horrible massacres and was murdered. John of Suabia, called the Parricide, because he murdered his father Albert, after which he was a fugitive and a vagabond on the face of the earth, etc., etc. Ivan IV. of Russia, surnamed the "Terrible" (1529-1584). He murdered with his own hand his eldest son; Ivan V. (1666-1696) was dumb and nearly blind; Ivan VI. (17371762) was dethroned, imprisoned, and put to death.
The following list of Popes, taken from Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, further illustrates the ominous character of the name John.
John I. died wretchedly in jail.
John II. and III. were nonentities.
John IV. was accused of heresy. John V., VI., VII. were nonentities.
John VIII. was imprisoned by Lambert, Duke of Spoleto; at a subsequent period he was dressed in female attire out of mockery, and was at last poisoned.
John IX. had Sergius III. for a rival as Pope.
John X. was overthrown by Gui, Duke of Tuscany, and died in prison.
John XI. was imprisoned with his mother by Alberic, and died there.
John XII. was deposed for sacrilege, and was at last assassinated.
John XIII. was imprisoned by his nobles and deposed.
John XIV. was deposed, and died imprisoned in the Castle of St. Angelo.
John XV. was a nonentity.
John XVI. was driven from Rome by Crescentius.
John XVII. (antipope) was expelled by Otto III., and barbarously treated by Gregory.
John XVIII. abdicated.
John XIX. was deposed and expelled by Konrad.
John XX. was a nonentity.
John XXI. was crushed to death by the falling in of his palace at Viterbo.
John XXII. was charged with heresy.
John XXIII. fled in disguise, was arrested, and cast into prison for three years.
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