Louis III of Anjou facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Louis III of Anjou |
|
|---|---|
Miniature of Louis III, c. 1450
|
|
| Duke of Anjou | |
| Reign | 1417–1434 |
| Predecessor | Louis II of Anjou |
| Successor | René of Anjou |
| Born | 25 September 1403 |
| Died | 12 November 1434 Cosenza |
| Spouse | Margaret of Savoy |
| House | Valois-Anjou |
| Father | Louis II of Anjou |
| Mother | Yolande of Aragon |
Louis III (born September 25, 1403 – died November 12, 1434) was a powerful European noble. He was the Duke of Anjou from 1417 to 1434. He also held titles like Count of Provence, Forcalquier, Piedmont, and Maine. For many years, he claimed to be the King of Naples. From 1426 until his death, he was known as the Duke of Calabria, a title for the person expected to become king of Naples.
Contents
Claiming the Throne of Aragon
Louis was the oldest son of Louis II of Anjou and Yolande of Aragon. His mother, Yolande, was a very smart and influential woman.
A Vacant Throne
In 1410, the throne of the Crown of Aragon became empty. This happened when Yolande's uncle, King Martin, passed away without any children. Yolande believed that her son, young Louis, should become the next king of Aragon. She was the daughter of King John I of Aragon, who was King Martin's brother.
Succession Rules and a New King
However, the rules for who could inherit the throne in Aragon were a bit unclear. But generally, male relatives were chosen before female relatives. After King Martin died, Aragon was without a king for two years. In 1412, a group of important people from Aragon met. They decided to choose Ferdinand of Castile as the new King of Aragon. This decision was known as the Compromise of Caspe.
Family Claims and Titles
Even though Louis didn't become King of Aragon, his family did get some lands in Montpellier and Roussillon. Yolande and her sons continued to call themselves kings and queens of many places. These included Sicily (which included Naples), Jerusalem, Aragon, and Majorca. Louis only briefly controlled the mainland part of Sicily. He also had a claim to the title of Latin Emperor, which his grandfather had bought. However, Louis never seemed to use this title.
Claiming the Throne of Naples
Louis III also had a strong claim to the throne of Naples, a kingdom in southern Italy.
Support from the Pope
In 1419, Pope Martin V officially recognized Louis III as the King of Sicily (Naples). This was a big deal because the current queen of Naples, Joanna II, was old and had no children. She had chosen Alfonso V of Aragon as her heir, not Louis.
Fighting for the Crown
In 1420, Louis landed in Italy and tried to capture Naples. But an Aragonese fleet arrived, and Louis had to escape. Alfonso then entered the city in 1421. At this point, Louis lost the Pope's support because the war was costing too much money.
A Change of Heirs
However, things changed when Queen Joanna's relationship with Alfonso got worse. Alfonso even arrested Joanna's close advisor. So, Queen Joanna moved to another city, Aversa, where Louis joined her. She then changed her mind about her heir. She adopted Louis and named him her new successor instead of Alfonso. She also gave Louis the title of Duke of Calabria.
Peace and a New Home
When Alfonso had to return to Aragon, the kingdom of Naples became peaceful. Louis moved to his lands in Calabria, a region in southern Italy. He lived there with his wife, Margaret of Savoy. They did not have any children.
Louis III never actually became the ruling king of Naples. He sadly died from malaria in Cosenza in 1434. His younger brother, René, became the next Duke of Anjou. René then succeeded Queen Joanna as King of Naples when she died the following year.
See also
In Spanish: Luis III de Nápoles para niños
