A different husband for Joanna I of Naples

While thinking about how to achieve a Roman Catholic Romania per my other thread, it occurred to me that there were various Latin princes within the vicinity of Eastern Europe in the early and middle parts of the fourteenth century. This led me to consider Angevin options. So, one possibility which occurred to me might be to have Philip II of Taranto, the claimant Latin Emperor, marry Anna of Wallachia, the daughter of Nicholas Alexander of Wallachia. I liked this match because, if I have my geneology right, Philip is a descendant of the former Cuman rulers of the Danubian Plain. Achieving this match seems hard to do though, given the relative remoteness of Wallachia and Moldavia from the rest of Europe.

As a result, I decided to consider different Angevins: those of Hungary. Given that Wallachia and Moldavia were variously tributary to Hungary prior ro Ottoman domination of the Balkans, I wondered if there was a Hungarian prince who could be a match for Anna. This led me to Andrew, Duke of Calabria who in our timeline married Joanna I of Naples.

If I married Andrew to Anna, Joanna's marriages would be different, and potentially happier. However, I'm wondering just how plausible it was for Joanna to have a different husband, and who that person might be.
 
While thinking about how to achieve a Roman Catholic Romania per my other thread, it occurred to me that there were various Latin princes within the vicinity of Eastern Europe in the early and middle parts of the fourteenth century. This led me to consider Angevin options. So, one possibility which occurred to me might be to have Philip II of Taranto, the claimant Latin Emperor, marry Anna of Wallachia, the daughter of Nicholas Alexander of Wallachia. I liked this match because, if I have my geneology right, Philip is a descendant of the former Cuman rulers of the Danubian Plain. Achieving this match seems hard to do though, given the relative remoteness of Wallachia and Moldavia from the rest of Europe.

As a result, I decided to consider different Angevins: those of Hungary. Given that Wallachia and Moldavia were variously tributary to Hungary prior ro Ottoman domination of the Balkans, I wondered if there was a Hungarian prince who could be a match for Anna. This led me to Andrew, Duke of Calabria who in our timeline married Joanna I of Naples.

If I married Andrew to Anna, Joanna's marriages would be different, and potentially happier. However, I'm wondering just how plausible it was for Joanna to have a different husband, and who that person might be.

It appears that both Joanna and Andrew were promised when they were very young (she was eight and he six) because it would unite the Anjou claims to Naples (as Andrew's line was actually senior to the Neapolitan that the one of Joanna's father). So, in order to have Andrew free to marry a Wallachian princess, you need either to have Joanna die young, or make her or her sister Mary being born male, or to have her brother Charles survive.
 
It appears that both Joanna and Andrew were promised when they were very young (she was eight and he six) because it would unite the Anjou claims to Naples (as Andrew's line was actually senior to the Neapolitan that the one of Joanna's father). So, in order to have Andrew free to marry a Wallachian princess, you need either to have Joanna die young, or make her or her sister Mary being born male, or to have her brother Charles survive.

Then what about Philip II of Taranto as a match for Anna? Alternatively, perhaps Nicholas I Garay would be a possibility?

Given that he was in pretention to the Latin Empire, and therefore (nominal) suzerain over the Crusader states in Greece, could Robert, Prince of Taranto be seen as a more suitable match for Joanna I of Naples than any of the Hungarian princes? Emperors, even nominal ones, outrank kings, and suzerainty over the states in Greece is a plausible Neapolitan foreign policy goal, and could provide additional support in a confrontation with Hungary.
 
Then what about Philip II of Taranto as a match for Anna? Alternatively, perhaps Nicholas I Garay would be a possibility?

Given that he was in pretention to the Latin Empire, and therefore (nominal) suzerain over the Crusader states in Greece, could Robert, Prince of Taranto be seen as a more suitable match for Joanna I of Naples than any of the Hungarian princes? Emperors, even nominal ones, outrank kings, and suzerainty over the states in Greece is a plausible Neapolitan foreign policy goal, and could provide additional support in a confrontation with Hungary.

Bump. Does anyone know about this?
 
Yes, it true that Robert of Taranto had a claim to Constantinople thus some kind of higher match. But I think there was an agreement between the branches of the Anjou-Sicily (of Hungary, which was excluded from the Neapolitan throne by Charles II and Robert's descendents ) . In order to reconcile them Robert I, the Wise betrothed his granddaughter Joan to Andrew.The marriage was thus really essential to heal family divisions. If you really want a Catholic Romania, you could perhaps use another son of Charles Robert of Hungary marrying Anna of Wallachia. But a different husband for Joan during Robert I of Naples reign is in my opinion very improbable. Just look on Hungary's reaction when Andrew was assassinated and Joan married another Louis of Taranto (a brother of Robert and Philippe), it triggered a full family feud.
 
Yes, it true that Robert of Taranto had a claim to Constantinople thus some kind of higher match. But I think there was an agreement between the branches of the Anjou-Sicily (of Hungary, which was excluded from the Neapolitan throne by Charles II and Robert's descendents ) . In order to reconcile them Robert I, the Wise betrothed his granddaughter Joan to Andrew.The marriage was thus really essential to heal family divisions. If you really want a Catholic Romania, you could perhaps use another son of Charles Robert of Hungary marrying Anna of Wallachia. But a different husband for Joan during Robert I of Naples reign is in my opinion very improbable. Just look on Hungary's reaction when Andrew was assassinated and Joan married another Louis of Taranto (a brother of Robert and Philippe), it triggered a full family feud.

But was Hungary ever in a position to enforce a descendant of Charles Robert on Naples to start with, and was there really no other way to buy HUngarian acquiescence?
 
Well first of all , Charles Robert of Hungary was pretty much occupied fighting pretenders and powerful magnates from (1308-1323). His successor Louis I could have enforce his claim, but at this time Joan was married to Andrew and it was when Andrew was killed that he invaded Naples. So at first sight Hungary couldn't press her claims but past 1323 they are quite powerful. And personally with a girl as heir I couldn't see another way to reconcile the two branches, but if you can butterfly Joan being sole heir ( like having a brother) or being a female, than I am sure simple marriage between the two families will do the trick.
 
Well first of all , Charles Robert of Hungary was pretty much occupied fighting pretenders and powerful magnates from (1308-1323). His successor Louis I could have enforce his claim, but at this time Joan was married to Andrew and it was when Andrew was killed that he invaded Naples. So at first sight Hungary couldn't press her claims but past 1323 they are quite powerful. And personally with a girl as heir I couldn't see another way to reconcile the two branches, but if you can butterfly Joan being sole heir ( like having a brother) or being a female, than I am sure simple marriage between the two families will do the trick.

That's not acceptable for my purposes. I guess maybe she could die before her father though, and her Sister and sister's husband could rule.
 
Well if Joan dies Marie de Calabre is going to inherit the Kingdom with her husband Charles of Durazzo. Hungary and Taranto are going to feel skipped in the succession line. You would have to find a balance between to the four branches with marriages or face plots and wars.
 
Well if Joan dies Marie de Calabre is going to inherit the Kingdom with her husband Charles of Durazzo. Hungary and Taranto are going to feel skipped in the succession line. You would have to find a balance between to the four branches with marriages or face plots and wars.

Could we get Louis to leave Hungary to his brothers (including Andrew) and make his own bid for the throne of Naples?
 
We still have Catherine of Naples, the daughter of Joanna I we could have her married to any noble in France or Italy, a French match is likely for her.
 
Also, I asked this before but don't think I was clear; Is Hungary in a position in 1334 to challenge an Anjou-Taranto marriage pact with Hoanna given the OTL situation with Serbia, Austria, and Wallachia around that time?
 
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Well, you could have Charles (1321) or Ladislaus (1324) survive (the one who survive will inherit Hungary), have Louis (one of my favorite Hungarian monarch) betroth Joan of Naples , have Andrew (1327) becoming an Hungarian duke and Stephen (1332) marry Anna of Wallachia or vice-versa.

Here I had a scenario in my head . Let's Louis marries Joana. But this isn't to the liking of the Durazzo and Taranto branches and the Queen plots with them or not ( although , OTL Joan involvement in Andrew's death remains unproven). Louis barely escape an assassination attempt flees to Hungary , with the help of his brothers invades Naples , triggers a full family vendetta and purges the Kingdom. Maybe Joan will be under house arrest and Louis will ask the Pope to be recognize as co-ruler ( Pope Clement V recognized Joan as sole ruler of Naples in August 1344, oh and since the Anjou conquered Naples, Popes were the Kings of Naples' lieges ) so he would have to deal with him anyway . After I could see, a conquest of Sicily, or some expeditions to Greece or Africa, but yeah that's it , it's up to you.
 
Well, you could have Charles (1321) or Ladislaus (1324) survive (the one who survive will inherit Hungary), have Louis (one of my favorite Hungarian monarch) betroth Joan of Naples , have Andrew (1327) becoming an Hungarian duke and Stephen (1332) marry Anna of Wallachia or vice-versa.

Here I had a scenario in my head . Let's Louis marries Joana. But this isn't to the liking of the Durazzo and Taranto branches and the Queen plots with them or not ( although , OTL Joan involvement in Andrew's death remains unproven). Louis barely escape an assassination attempt flees to Hungary , with the help of his brothers invades Naples , triggers a full family vendetta and purges the Kingdom. Maybe Joan will be under house arrest and Louis will ask the Pope to be recognize as co-ruler ( Pope Clement V recognized Joan as sole ruler of Naples in August 1344, oh and since the Anjou conquered Naples, Popes were the Kings of Naples' lieges ) so he would have to deal with him anyway . After I could see, a conquest of Sicily, or some expeditions to Greece or Africa, but yeah that's it , it's up to you.

I'm wondering if the differences in personality between Lois and Andrew is sufficient for the pope to never forego crowning him co-ruler, or sole ruler upon Robert's death, unless the papacy's concern was in strengthening too much the Hungarian branch of the House of Anjou, which makes me wonder why Rome would not have pushed a Durazzo or other pairing to begin with.
 
Reviving this discussion....

Another thought occurs to me. Suppose Charles I Robert is killed at Posada, as apparently nearly happened in OTL. Is Elizabeth strong enough to maintain control of the kingdom, or might she be forced into exile with her sons? If Louis was deposed as a boy and is raised in Naples, then the senior Angevin claimant would be living in the kingdom when Robert I dies....
 
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