Louis II of Anjou

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 Anjou inheritance, which included Provence, in 1384, with his rival Ladislas, king of Naples in the elder Anjou line, in possession of Naples.

In 1386, Ladislas was expelled. Louis II was crowned King of Naples by the Avignon 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. (by right of whom Naples was seized by King Alfonso V of Aragon and eventually remained in Spanish hands).

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

1. Louis III of Anjou, (reigned 1417 – 1434), titular King of Naples, adopted by Queen Joan II of Naples in 1403 and married (1432) Margaret of Savoy
2. René of Anjou (reigned 1434-1480), titular King of Naples, Duke of Lorraine (1431–1453) married in 1420 duchess Isabella of Lorraine (died 1453) and secondly Jeanne, daughter of count Guy de Laval
3. Charles IV of Maine, Duke of Anjou
4. Marie married Charles VII of France
5. Yolande married Francis I, Duke of Brittany

See also

• Monarchs of Naples and Sicily