Principality of Taranto

Principality of Taranto
Principato di Taranto
Vassal of Kingdom of Sicily

1088–1465
Capital Taranto
Government Principality
Prince
 -  1088–1111 Bohemond I (first)
 - 1463–1465 Isabella of Clermont (last)
History
 -  Established 1088
 -  Death of Isabella of Clermont 30 March 1465

The Principality of Taranto was a state in southern Italy created in 1088 for Bohemond I, eldest son of Robert Guiscard, as part of the peace between him and his younger brother Roger Borsa after a dispute over the succession to the Duchy of Apulia.

Taranto became the capital of the principality, which covered almost all of the heel of Apulia. During its subsequent 377 years of history, it was sometimes a powerful and almost independent feudal fief of the Kingdom of Sicily (and later of Naples), sometimes only a title, often given to the heir to the crown or to the husband of a reigning queen. When the House of Anjou was divided, Taranto fell to the house of Durazzo (13941463).

Ferdinand I of Naples united the Principality of Taranto to the Kingdom of Naples at the death of his wife, Isabella of Clermont. The principality came to an end, but the kings of Naples continued giving the title of Prince of Taranto to their sons, firstly to the future Alfonso II of Naples, eldest son of Isabella.

Counts

Princes

Hauteville (Altavilla) dynasty

Hohenstaufen (Svevia) dynasty

Angevin (Angiò) dynasty

Baux (Del Balzo) dynasty

Welf or Brunswick (Este del Guelfo) dynasty

Orsini dynasty

See also