Charles, Duke of Calabria (1298 – 9 November 1328), was the Duke of Calabria from 1309 until his death. Upon his father's elevation as King of Naples, he was made vicar-general of Naples and duke of Calabria He was elected as ''signore'' by the city of Florence in 1326. Charles died on 9 November 1328 in Naples.

Life

Charles was born in

Naples Naples ( ; ; ) is the Regions of Italy, regional capital of Campania and the third-largest city of Italy, after Rome and Milan, with a population of 908,082 within the city's administrative limits as of 2025, while its Metropolitan City of N ...

, the son of King

Robert of Naples Robert of Anjou (), known as Robert the Wise (; 1276 – 20 January 1343), was King of Naples, titular King of Jerusalem and Count of Provence and Forcalquier from 1309 to 1343, the central figure of Italian politics of his time. He was the thir ...

and Yolanda of Aragon, in 1298. Little is known of his early life, so one can assume that he spent his early years at the court of his grandfather. In 1309, Charles' grandfather died and his father became King Robert the Wise. It was then that he became

Duke of Calabria Duke of Calabria was the traditional title of the heir apparent of the Kingdom of Naples after the accession of Robert of Naples. It was also adopted by the heads of certain Houses that had once claimed the Kingdom of Naples in lieu of the royal ...

and was created Vicar-General of the Kingdom of Sicily (Naples). His father intended him to lead the force sent to aid

Florence Florence ( ; ) is the capital city of the Italy, Italian region of Tuscany. It is also the most populated city in Tuscany, with 362,353 inhabitants, and 989,460 in Metropolitan City of Florence, its metropolitan province as of 2025. Florence ...

in 1315, but was constrained by time to send his uncle, Philip I of Taranto, instead. The Florentine-Neapolitan coalition was badly beaten at the ensuing Battle of Montecatini. The victory of Castruccio Castracani at Altopascio in 1325 led the Florentines to elect Charles ''signore'' (lord) of the city for ten years in 1326. At the time, he was unsuccessfully attempting to seize

Sicily Sicily (Italian language, Italian and ), officially the Sicilian Region (), is an island in the central Mediterranean Sea, south of the Italian Peninsula in continental Europe and is one of the 20 regions of Italy, regions of Italy. With 4. ...

from his first cousin Frederick III, and sent Walter VI of Brienne as his deputy until he could arrive, where Walter made a favorable impression. While Charles' arrival checked Castruccio, he exacted onerous taxes from the Florentines, until he was recalled to Naples in December 1327 due to the advance of

Emperor Louis IV Louis IV (; 1 April 1282 – 11 October 1347), called the Bavarian (, ), was King of the Romans from 1314, King of Italy from 1327, and Holy Roman Emperor from 1328 until his death in 1347. 20 October 1314 imperial election, Louis' election a ...

into Italy. There he died on 9 November 1328. He left as heir his eldest surviving daughter, Joanna Ι; a posthumous daughter, Marie, was born in 1329. Charles was buried in the church of Santa Chiara in Naples.

Marriages and issue

In 1316, Charles married Catherine of Austria (1295–1323), daughter of

Albert I of Germany Albert I of Habsburg () (July 12551 May 1308) was a List of rulers of Austria, Duke of Austria and Duchy of Styria, Styria from 1282 and List of German monarchs, King of Germany from 1298 until his assassination. He was the eldest son of King Ru ...

. Catherine died in 1323, and Charles married Marie of Valois (1309–1332), daughter of

Charles of Valois Charles, Count of Valois (12 March 1270 – 16 December 1325), was a member of the House of Capet and founder of the House of Valois, which ruled over France from 1328. He was the fourth son of King Philip III of France and Isabella o ...

, later that same year. They had: * Eloisa (b. January or February 1325 – d. 27 December 1325). * Joanna Ι (b. Naples, March 1326 – d. castello di San Fele, 22 May 1382), Queen of Naples, succeeded her grandfather,

Robert the Wise Robert of Anjou (), known as Robert the Wise (; 1276 – 20 January 1343), was King of Naples, titular King of Jerusalem and Count of Provence and Forcalquier from 1309 to 1343, the central figure of Italian politics of his time. He was the thir ...

Charles Martel Charles Martel (; – 22 October 741), ''Martel'' being a sobriquet in Old French for "The Hammer", was a Franks, Frankish political and military leader who, as Duke and Prince of the Franks and Mayor of the Palace, was the de facto ruler of ...

(b. Florence, 13 April 1327 – d. Florence, 21 April 1327) * Maria (b. posthumously, Naples, May 1329 – d. Naples, 20 May 1366), Countess of Alba, married firstly Charles, Duke of Durazzo; married secondly, Philip II of Taranto

Ancestry

Notes

References

Sources

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External links

History of Florence

Niccolò Machiavelli Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli (3 May 1469 – 21 June 1527) was a Florentine diplomat, author, philosopher, and historian who lived during the Italian Renaissance. He is best known for his political treatise '' The Prince'' (), writte ...

{{Authority control 1298 births 1328 deaths Nobility from Naples House of Anjou-Naples Dukes of Calabria Sons of kings Joanna I of Naples Burials at the Basilica of Santa Chiara Heirs apparent who never acceded Sons of counts