# Joan of Kent

22 July 2003 · Ray Slakinski

![](/static/images/ddll.sdf1.net/images/0812562720_b.jpg "")I am currently reading "[The Dragon and the Fair Maid of Kent](http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/item.asp?N=35&R=797599&act=A03&Item=978081256272&Section=books&Catalog=Books&Lang=en&mscssid=TTQ8NSVRJVP98PFTK4JPLU7WFF3V6HS6&WSID=12079367B2850E8141C0BA18320ADD6B8B5D0423)" by Gordon R. Dickson, I soon found out that the Fair Maid of Kent is\[was\] a real person! I found this great [website](http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joan_of_Kent) that has a good description of her and her life. Here is an excerpt:

*At the age of twelve, she entered into a clandestine marriage with Thomas Holland of Broughton. The following year, while Holland was overseas, her family forced her into a marriage with William de Montacute, Earl of Salisbury. As Countess of Salisbury, Joan moved in the highest society. Some historians identify her as the mystery woman who appeared at a banquet in Calais and attracted the attention of every man present. .*

I highly recomend if you have a few moments to go to the site and read up on her and follow some of the links, it makes for some very interesting reading.

Beyond being a main character in a light fantasy book, is there another relationship to to Joan and the Dragon Knight series? why yes!

According to this [site](http://www.britainexpress.com/History/medieval/garter.htm), Joan was rumored to help start "[The Order of the Garter](http://www.royal.gov.uk/output/Page490.asp)", please read the website readarding the order, and how it got started. The interesting aspect and the connection to the Dragon Knight series is this excerpt:

***Insignia of the Order.** Thus, at roughly the same time that the Order of the Garter was founded, Edward proclaimed Saint George as the patron saint of England and the Order. Aside from a blue garter, worn below the left knee, the first insignia of the Order was "the George", a badge depicting St. George slaying a dragon. St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle was named the spiritual home of the Order.*

For those that don't know this book series at all (shame on you!) In Gordon R. Dickson's world, Dragons call humans Georges! as it was [Saint George](http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/06453a.htm) who had slain the dragon. You learn about all this and more in the first book, appropriately titled "[Dragon and the George](http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/item.asp?N=35&R=606377&act=A03&Item=978034535050&Section=books&Catalog=Books&Lang=en&mscssid=TTQ8NSVRJVP98PFTK4JPLU7WFF3V6HS6&WSID=12079367B2850E8141C0BA18320ADD6B8B5D0423)"

Sometimes truth is stranger than fiction :)