Pope Joan Book Review

Pope Joan Book Review

Historical accuracy, a term that can be interpreted in a myriad of ways. In order to simplify an otherwise complex idea this paper shall see historical accuracy as a complete picture as possible of conditions and situations in history where facts flow not only chronologically but logically to each other. In order to build a proper picture of Pope Joan a summary is definitely in order to more easily break down Cross's assertions to their barebones.

Cross begins Pope Joan with her birth in 814 during the winter. Joan was born to a Deacon and a converted saxon woman and treated poorly due to her sex. Matthew, Joan's older brother teaches her how to read and a few months later he would pass from a fever. After this loss the Deacon had only one remaining son alive, John, and he lacked the same intelligence of matthew. At the same time though the Deacon finds out that joan can read and instead of being ecstatic he is revolted by the idea of an intelligent woman.

A Greek Philosopher named Aesculapius comes to Saxony and teaches both Joan and John but does not feel that John has the aptitude for higher learning. When Aesculapius has to leave he entrusts Joan with a book in Greek and Latin. Joan is caught with the book and her father tries to force her to destroy it. When she refuses she is beaten to within an inch of her life.

Aesculapius later sends a man from Dorstadt to get Joan but the Deacon assures the man that John is the one he wants. When the messenger finally takes John that night Joan flees and both of them go to Dorstadt together. Since Joan is a girl she is not permitted to stay at the Schola even though he is impressed by her ability, so she then stays with Malgrave Gerold who is a local knight. Over time both Joan and Gerold become close and grow to love each other. Gerold's wife becomes aware of this and tries to marry Joan off while Gerold is away. During the ceremony the city is attacked by vikings, with almost everyone killed including Joan's brother, John. Joan then disguises herself as her brother and takes his place at the monastery in Fulda while Gerold thinks that Joan is dead.

Joan spends years at Fulda honing her skills and becoming a proficient physician. With the knowledge she has obtained, Joan is ordained as a priest. Her father comes to visit her thinking that Joan is actually her dead brother John informing her that her mother had died. The Deacon then finds out that it is actually Joan and the shock gives him a catastrophic stroke. Later on a plague sweeps over Fulda, Joan is stricken with the plague. She flees fearing that she will be found out and takes refuge with a family she had previously helped. Once Joan recuperates from the plague she decides to head to Rome.

In Rome Joan continues tending to the sick and due to her skill she eventually becomes the personal physician of Pope Sergius. Sergius was being led around by his evil brother Benedict but when Joan starts to try and influence Sergius to do good works Benedict resents her. Benedict frames her for breaking her vows of chastity bringing her position into question. When the Frankish Emperor begins marching on Rome Benedict takes the money meant for Lothar and runs. Gerold, who was now serving Lothar, captured Benedict who was then executed.

Sergius racked with guilt over the death of his brother soon passed. The Papacy then went to Leo who was much younger this angered Anastasius, who was an ally of Lothar's. Anastasius tries to sabotage a project, in order to undermine Leo's authority, to protect Rome from future Saracen attacks. This produces a fire in Rome itself and drives Anastasius to flee to Lothars court.

Pope Leo is then poisoned by Anasatsius's family. Joan and Gerold flee Rome fearing repercussions only to find out that Joan had been elected Pope due to her popularity.

After being Pope for a while a flood strikes Rome. Joan and Gerold get trapped in a building during the rescue and consummate their relationship. Shortly after Joan finds herself with child and tries and fails to terminate it due to her age.

Lothar and Anastasius return to Rome trying to charge Gerold with being corrupt and only Joans quick thinking saves him. Anastasius wants the throne but knew that Gerold would have to be eliminated first. Gerold was lured into a trap during a Papal procession and stabbed. Gerold dies in Joan's arms and she miscarries dying from the blood loss.

Anastasius did end up taking the Papacy but didn't hold it long. He was successful in destroying Joan's legacy for the most part. However an Archbishop tries to fix this by adding Joan back in and is actually a women, she was the daughter of a