Robert of Naples
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King Robert I of Naples a.k.a. Robert the Wise, third but eldest surviving son of King Charles II of Naples the Lame, was Duke of Calabria (1296–1309), King of Naples and titular King of Jerusalem, and Count of Provence and Forcalquier (1309–1343).
He was made King of Naples and Sicily in 1309, after the death of his father Charles II, his reign being blessed by Pope Clement V. While Robert's nephew Charles Robert of Anjou could as rightfully have succeeded, as the son of his elder brother, Charles Martel, i.e based on primogeniture, he was preoccupied with the capture of the Hungarian crown (which he accomplished in 1310) and did not press his claim on the crown. Robert was the heir in proximity of blood.
King Robert I was nicknamed "the peace-maker of Italy" due to the years of significant changes he made to Naples. Tradesmen from Italy and abroad erected superb buildings, monuments and statues that drastically changed King Robert's capital from a dirty seaport to a city of elegance and medieval splendor.
Head of the Guelph army at Genoa, King Robert reigned until his death in 1343. He was succeeded, his son Charles having predeceased him, by his 16-year-old granddaughter Joan I of Naples, who was already betrothed to 15-year-old Andrew of Hungary, son of Charles Robert. However, in his will, he recognized the rights of Andrew to Naples as son of Charles Robert and ordained that he be crowned king in his own right. This provision was to result in fatal strife between Joan and Andrew.
King Robert's marriages and descendants
- First wife, Yolanta or Yolanda of Aragon, daughter of King Peter III of Aragon
- Second wife, Sancha, daughter of King James II of Majorca
- Unknown mistress
- Fiametta -> married Andrea Thopia, Lord of Matija
Preceded by: Charles II | King of Naples 1309–1343 | Succeeded by: Joan I |
Preceded by: Matilda | Prince of Achaea 1318–1322 | Succeeded by: John of Gravina |