Pope Joan is a legendary figure from the Middle Ages. The story tells of a very educated and intelligent woman who, to be able to study and advance in knowledge (which was forbidden to women at the time), disguised herself as a man. Under the name Johannes, she rose through the ranks of the Catholic Church until she became pope, reigning for about two years. The legend says her secret was revealed when, during a procession, she gave birth to a child in public. This event is said to have caused her death and the subsequent deletion of her name from the papal records.