Joanna of Austria (1573-1630)

Joanna of Austria or Giovanna de Austria (Naples, 1573-1630) was the illegitimate daughter of John of Austria, the Spanish viceroy of Naples.

Life
She was born in 1573 to John of Austria, winner of Lepanto, and Sorrentine lady Diana Falangola.

She was named after her aunt Joan of Austria, widowed princess of Portugal, who died a few weeks before her birth.

She was raised in Parma with her aunt Margaret of Austria, but when she left to take over the government of the Netherlands in 1580, Philip II returned her to Naples. In Naples she remained for 10 years at the Royal Abbey of Santa Clara. During these ten years, her education, initiated by Margaret of Austria, continued. In 1590 he wrote to his cousin Alexander Farnese to intercede with the king and grant him a change of residence. Consequently, the monarch points him to the village of Pizzofalcone, hunting village of the viceroy on the outskirts of Naples.

After the death of Philip II in 1598, her fate did not change and the Duke of Lerma ordered the viceroy of Naples, Fernando Ruiz de Castro Andrade and Portugal to continue the regime established until then. Finally in 1602 Joan wrote a letter to Philip III in which she begged him for economic independence that would allow him to not depend on the viceroy of Naples. The monarch acceded to the request and indicated an income of 3,000 ducats and a dowry of 60,000. With this dowry, the young lady married Sicilian nobleman Francis Branciforte on 14 June 1603, to whom, on the occasion of such a high bond, her parents gave the titles of Prince of Pietraperzia and Marquis of Militello. The marriage took place in the Royal Palace of Naples and included various feasts among which a carousel was held.

She founded the Church of Santa Marry Victory in Naples and donated it, together with the convent, to the Theatine Fathers.

Joanna was widowed in 1622 and finally died in 1630.