Louis II of Naples

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The Angevin French prince, Louis II of Anjou (1377–1417) was the rival of Ladislas as King of Naples.

Louis II was the son of Louis I of Anjou, King of Naples, and came into his Angevin inheritance, which included Provence, in 1384, with his rival Charles of Durazzo (father of Ladislas), of the senior Angevin line, in possession of Naples.

In 1386, the underage Ladislas was expelled soon after his father died. Louis II was crowned King of Naples by the Avignonese antipope Clement VII on November 1, 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 Ladislas' occupation; in 1410, as an ally of the antipope John XXIII he attacked Ladislas 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 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.

Louis II died at his chateau of Angers, the heart of Anjou; he is buried there. Louis and Yolande had five surviving children:

1. Louis III of Anjou, titular King of Naples, Duke of Anjou, etc.
2. René of Anjou, King of Naples, Duke of Anjou, etc.
3. Charles of Le Maine (1414–1472), Count of Maine
4. Marie of Anjou (1404 – 1463), married 1422, Bourges Charles VII of France
5. Yolande (1412, Arles – 1440), married 1431, Nantes Francis I, Duke of Brittany

[edit] See also

• Monarchs of Naples and Sicily

Preceded by: Louis I	Duke of Anjou 1384–1417	Succeeded by: Louis III
	Count of Maine 1384–1417
	Count of Provence and Forcalquier 1384–1417
	Count of Piedmont 1384–1417
	Titular King of Naples 1384–1389, 1399–1417
Preceded by: Ladislas	King of Naples 1389–1399	Succeeded by: Ladislas