Joan, Pope (Legendary character) (Personal Name)

Oxford dictionary of the Middle ages, viewed online, April 21, 2014 under Pope Joan (r. 855-8; "legendary female pope who supposedly reigned for almost three years following Pope Leo IV. The most popular version of the story depicts Joan assuming a male identity and refashioning herself as 'Brother John Anglicus' in order to become a monk's lover.")

Britannica online, viewed April 21, 2014 (Pope Joan; "legendary female pontiff who supposedly reigned, under the title of John VIII, for slightly more than 25 months, from 855 to 858, between the pontificates of Leo IV (847-855) and Benedict III (855-858). It has subsequently been proved that a gap of only a few weeks fell between Leo and Benedict and that the story is entirely apocryphal.")

Catholic encyclopedia online, viewed April 21, 2014 (Popess Joan; Johanna (Joan); different versions of the story appear in the Middle Ages; Martin of Troppeau's account says the Englishman John of Mainz (Johannes Anglicus, natione Moguntinus) occupied the papacy after Leo IV, but he was a woman in disguise)

LC database, searched April 21, 2014 (hdg.: Joan (Legendary Pope); usage in titles: Pope Joan, Papesse Jeanne, Papessa Giovanna, Päpstin Johanna, Papissa Iōanna, Papissa Joanna)