Louis II of Naples
| Louis II of Anjou | |
|---|---|
| Duke of Anjou; King of Naples | |
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| Louis II of Naples. | |
| Spouse | Yolande of Aragon |
| Issue | |
| Louis III of Anjou René of Anjou Charles of Le Maine Marie, Queen of France Yolande |
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| House | House of Valois-Anjou |
| Father | Louis I of Anjou |
| Mother | Marie of Blois |
| Born | c.1377 |
| Died | 29 April 1417 (aged 39-40) |
Louis II of Anjou (1377 – 29 April 1417) was the rival of Ladislaus as King of Naples. He was a member of the House of Valois-Anjou.
Contents |
Biography [edit]
Born in Toulouse, Louis II was the son of Louis I of Anjou, King of Naples, and Marie of Blois. He came into his Angevin inheritance, which included Provence, in 1384, with his rival Charles of Durazzo (father of Ladislaus), of the senior Angevin line, in possession of Naples.
Most towns in Provence revolted after the death of his father. His mother then raised an army and they traveled from town to town, to gain support. Louis was recognized as Count of Provence in 1387.[1]
In 1386, the underage Ladislaus was expelled from Naples soon after his father died. Louis II was crowned King of Naples by the Avignonese antipope Clement VII on 1 November 1389 and took possession of Naples the following year. He was ousted in turn by his rival in 1399.
In 1409, Louis liberated Rome from Ladislaus' occupation; in 1410, as an ally of the antipope John XXIII he attacked Ladislaus and defeated him at Roccasecca (1411). Eventually Louis lost his Neapolitan support and had to retire. His claim to Naples passed to his son, Louis III.
He married his first cousin once removed Yolande of Aragon (1384–1443) in Arles in 1400, giving him a possibility of inheriting the throne of Aragon through her right. Her father, King John I of Aragon had died in 1396, and her uncle king Martin I of Aragon died in 1410.
His son Louis was bethrothed to Catherine of Burgundy, a daughter of John the Fearless, Duke of Burgundy. However, after John instigated a mob attack on the Dauphin of France, he and his wife joined the Armagnac Faction.[2] The engament with Catherine was repudiated, which caused the enmity of the Duke of Burgundy.
He was not present at the Battle of Agincourt, because he had a bladder infection.[3] After the battle, he fled from Paris to join his wife and children at Angers.[4]
Louis II died at his chateau of Angers, the heart of Anjou; he is buried there.
Family [edit]
Louis and Yolande had five surviving children:
- Louis III of Anjou, titular King of Naples, Duke of Anjou, etc.
- René of Anjou, King of Naples, Duke of Anjou, etc.
- Charles of Le Maine (1414–1472), Count of Maine
- Marie of Anjou (1404 – 1463), married 1422, Bourges Charles VII of France
- Yolande (1412, Arles – 1440), married firstly Philip I, Duke of Brabant and secondly in 1431, Nantes Francis I, Duke of Brittany
Notes [edit]
Bibliography [edit]
- Goldstone, Nancy (2013). The Maid and the Queen: The Secret History of Joan of Arc. Phoenix Paperbacks, London.
See also [edit]
| Preceded by: Louis I |
Duke of Anjou 1384–1417 |
Succeeded by: Louis III |
| Count of Maine 1384–1417 |
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| Count of Provence and Forcalquier 1384–1417 |
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| Count of Piedmont 1384–1417 |
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| King of Naples in contest with Ladislaus of Naples 1384–1417 factual rule 1389–1399 |
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