WI: Francesa of Naples survives?

Francesca of Naples was the first (or second, depending on where you read) daughter of Joanna I of Naples and her second husband, Louis of Taranto. She was born in 1351 and apparently betrothed to the heir to the Aragonese throne (in this case, the future John I of Aragon), but died in 1352 aged just 8 months. Following her death, Joanna would adopt Charles of Durazzo, who would ultimately betray, overthrow and execute her.

What if Princess Francesca had lived long enough to marry John of Aragon, or someone else? Would her mother's OTL have been avoided? I think such a marriage could have led to an earlier reunion of Naples and Sicily, since John of Aragon's mother was the daughter of King Peter II of Sicily and sister to Kings Louis I and Frederick III of Sicily.

Any thoughts?
 
It is an interesting possibility, leading to an union between Naples and Aragon which might eventually (if Francesca predeceases) lead to a reunification with Sicily if John marries Mary of Sicily.

However it won't go smoothily I am afraid. The Anjous (both mainline and Durazzo) will contest it harshly and it might well come to war. Would the Crown of Aragon want to go through with it, rather than accept some big dowry for Francesca and let the two Anjou branches slug it out for Naples as in otl?
 
Francesca of Naples was the first (or second, depending on where you read) daughter of Joanna I of Naples and her second husband, Louis of Taranto. She was born in 1351 and apparently betrothed to the heir to the Aragonese throne (in this case, the future John I of Aragon), but died in 1352 aged just 8 months. Following her death, Joanna would adopt Charles of Durazzo, who would ultimately betray, overthrow and execute her.

What if Princess Francesca had lived long enough to marry John of Aragon, or someone else? Would her mother's OTL have been avoided? I think such a marriage could have led to an earlier reunion of Naples and Sicily, since John of Aragon's mother was the daughter of King Peter II of Sicily and sister to Kings Louis I and Frederick III of Sicily.

Any thoughts?

Sorry for my tardiness, only just saw this thread. A marriage between Francesca and Joan I could be interesting. Maybe he could actually have a son with her. Which could change a lot in Aragonese/Barcelonid history. But I do feel that there's the possibility of the Hungarian or the Durazzo Angevins disputing the title. However, Naples has already had one queen, so the precedent for female succession is there.
 
I'm sure a way could be found around THAT in the marriage contract. Maybe mollify the Hungarian/Durazzo branch by ceding Anjou/Provence to them, while Francesca gets Naples.
Anjou at that point went to the Valois due to the marriage with Margaret of Anjou, so Provence might go there.
 
Last edited:
Anjou at that point went to the Valois due to the marriage with Margaret of Anjou, so Provence goes to the Valois if that happens.

How, or rather, why? Giovanna's brother-in-law of the Taranto branch is next in the Angevin succession, after Giovanna and Francesca, and assuming he still has no surviving kids - as OTL - next batter up is the Durazzo branch followed by the Hungarians. And only then could the Valois even think of claiming it through Marguerite d'Anjou. Or am I misunderstanding the French succession? It would be a boon to the Valois to get Provence, but I don't think they're gonna get it without a fight - from Francesca, and her Aragonese husband (Corbeil or no), from the Prince of Taranto (if he has sons - although IIRC he disliked Giovanna, so most likely that hasn't changed, so he'll probably fight for it, even if he doesn't) or the duke of Durazzo. This isn't like when Carlo III died and the Angevins were down to two girls in Hungary (Maria and Hedwig) and a girl and a boy in Naples (Giovanna II and Ladislao), there's still more than enough warm bodies that can dispute the Valois' claiming of it.
 
How, or rather, why? Giovanna's brother-in-law of the Taranto branch is next in the Angevin succession, after Giovanna and Francesca, and assuming he still has no surviving kids - as OTL - next batter up is the Durazzo branch followed by the Hungarians. And only then could the Valois even think of claiming it through Marguerite d'Anjou. Or am I misunderstanding the French succession? It would be a boon to the Valois to get Provence, but I don't think they're gonna get it without a fight - from Francesca, and her Aragonese husband (Corbeil or no), from the Prince of Taranto (if he has sons - although IIRC he disliked Giovanna, so most likely that hasn't changed, so he'll probably fight for it, even if he doesn't) or the duke of Durazzo. This isn't like when Carlo III died and the Angevins were down to two girls in Hungary (Maria and Hedwig) and a girl and a boy in Naples (Giovanna II and Ladislao), there's still more than enough warm bodies that can dispute the Valois' claiming of it.

The original heiress to Provence was the Queen of France - Margaret of Provence, she was just disinherited to prevent France from gaining Provence with Charles(her brother in law) marrying Beatrice as a compromise..breaching the treaty of Corbeil might mean the French invading Provence, that would only happen if an Angevin heiress marry some one else but there might be other compromises like another cadet inheriting the county.
 
Last edited:
OK I'm not at all understanding why Françoise would marry Juan of Aragon? We're talking about a marriage treaty signed when she's eight months old. Best candidate for a restored Sicily would be to marry her to Frederick the Simple of Sicily. The two then inherit Naples and Sicily. Or perhaps Charles of Durazzo as the last male heir to the Anjou. As for the Treaty of Corbeil, entirely unimportant. This would be a century old treaty and document from the Medieval era would forbid a personal union. As to the Durazzos (assuming they don't provide the bridegroom). Also a 1354 POD could mean that the Durazzos aren't the male heirs later down the line.
 
I'll admit, I toyed with a similar idea - Giovanna I having surviving issue:

OTL, Naples’ queen married four times (first two times to cousins, Prince András of Hungary, Duke of Calabria; and thence to Ludovico of Naples, Prince of Taranto, by both of whom she had issue; and then to an Aragonese infante who was also king of Majorca, and finally to a German Welf prince). Her kids (Carlo Martello, Duke of Calabria (b.1345); Caterina (b.1347) and Francesca (b.1349)) all died without issue. Carlo apparently died at under three years old, in far off Hungary (so I would imagine letting him survive would avoid carrying him off to start with, wouldn’t it?). While Caterina was apparently still alive as late as 1362 (I’m sure she’d make an interesting catch for any prince in Europe, what with being heiress presumptive to Naples and all), although Francesca seems to have died in 1352.

The tentative bridegrooms for Francesca (looking at marriages undertaken by her relatives OTL) might be:

No double first cousins from the Taranto branch (they're too young - born in the mid-1350s to Francesca's 1347 birthdate); Carlo (III), Count of Gravina, later king of Naples and Hungary - wasn't there a treaty that forbade a personal union between the two crowns as well? (Francesca's born the same year as his OTL wife), but Giovanna and the Durazzo branch were at odds, so I'm not optimistic. Then we have the sisters of Carlo III's wife - who married a prince of Navarre (Louis, Cte de Beaumont), then the Count of Eu; the Signore de Verona (Cangrande della Scala) and then Jacob de Baux.

If John of Slavonia were to survive, he'd suffer the same problem as the Taranto boys - plus the bad blood between Giovanna and the Hungarian branch of the family. Which brings us to why Giovanna needed to look outside of immediate relatives for a match for her daughter. As to Sicily, there was a whole thing against the Angevins there (Sicilian Vespers and all) IIRC, so an Aragonese infante would be the next best thing, I guess. Would a match with the duc d'Anjou be out? I mean, Giovanna supposedly preferred him as heir to any of her immediate family.
 
OK I'm not at all understanding why Françoise would marry Juan of Aragon? We're talking about a marriage treaty signed when she's eight months old. Best candidate for a restored Sicily would be to marry her to Frederick the Simple of Sicily. The two then inherit Naples and Sicily. Or perhaps Charles of Durazzo as the last male heir to the Anjou. As for the Treaty of Corbeil, entirely unimportant. This would be a century old treaty and document from the Medieval era would forbid a personal union. As to the Durazzos (assuming they don't provide the bridegroom). Also a 1354 POD could mean that the Durazzos aren't the male heirs later down the line.

Corbeil is concerned about Provence, the French king might sieze Provence in that event.

What about Lionel of Antwerp?
 
I've just been thinking, would her daughter's prospective marriage to an Aragonese infante have influenced Giovanna's decision to marry Jaime of Majorca? The guy was unfortunately (slightly) touched in the head, but I could see the king of Aragon making this a precondition for the marirage - either Giovanna hands over Jaime (if she's already married him); or doesn't marry him (if she hasn't yet). What do you guys think?
 
Top