John II (Lorraine)

John II of Lorraine

John II of Lorraine (* 1425 in Nancy ; † December 6, 1470 in Barcelona ), also known as John II of Anjou or John of Calabria , was Duke of Calabria (1435), Duke of Lorraine (1452) and Girona (1466 ), Margrave of Pont-à-Mousson . He was the eldest son of René I , titular king of Naples , Duke of Anjou , Bar and Upper Lorraine , Count of Provence , and Duchess Isabella of Lorraine .

When his father was awarded the throne of Naples in 1435 , Johann was also given the title of Duke of Calabria , which was reserved for the heirs of the Neapolitan crown. From 1444 René entrusted him with the administration of Lorraine. At this time he inherited the title of Margrave of Pont-à-Mousson from his brother Ludwig, who is attributed to the heir of the Duchy of Bar. In 1449 he fought on the French side against England in Normandy, he took part in the sieges of Rouen , Harfleur , Caen (1450), Falaise and Cherbourg . In 1453 his mother died, whom he followed as Duke in Lorraine, although he did not give up his father's support in his claims in southern Italy. In the same year he fought in Lombardy , where René I had hurried to stand by his ally Francesco Sforza against the Venetians and Alfonso V of Aragón . In 1458 the King of France made him governor of Genoa , which had gone under the French protectorate , where he was busy from his arrival to suppress rebellions. In 1461 he was expelled by the Genoese.

Alfonso V of Aragón, who had ousted René of Anjou from the Kingdom of Naples, died a little later, whereupon part of the Neapolitan nobility called John of Calabria into the country. Despite some successes against Ferdinand I , Alfons' son and successor, Johann finally had to leave Italy for good.

When Catalonia rose against the new King of Aragon , John II , in 1466 , its inhabitants offered the crown to René of Anjou, who was descended from the kings of Aragon through his mother Jolanthe. Once again Johann received the title intended for the heir to the throne, here that of Prince of Girona, and then led the Catalan campaign on behalf of his father. This campaign ended with the death of John in Barcelona on December 6, 1470.

progeny

In 1444 Johann married Marie de Bourbon, (* 1428 † 1448), daughter of Charles I , Duke of Bourbon , and his second wife Agnes of Burgundy . Your children were:

• René, * 1446, † young
• Nicholas I (* 1448, † 1473), Duke of Lorraine
• Isabella, * 1445, † young
• Maria, * 1447, † young

In addition, he had illegitimate children:

• Johann, Bastard of Calabria, Count of Briey , † 1504
• Albert, bastard of Calabria, lord of Essey
• one daughter, ∞ John of Scotland
• Joan of Abancourt, bastard of Calabria, ∞ Achilles, bastard of Beauvau
• Margaret, bastardess of Calabria

literature

• Jacques Bénet: Jean d'Anjou. Duc de Calabre et de Lorraine (1426-1470). Société Thierry Alix, Nancy 1997 (recte: 1998), ISBN 2-86054-016-4 (also: Paris, École Nationale des Chartes, dissertation, 1939).

predecessor	Office	successor
Isabella and René I.	Duke of Lorraine 1453–1470	Nicholas I.