Charles I of Anjou
Part of The Encyclopedia of Southern Italy.
Charles I of Anjou: (b. March 21, 1226 or 1227, in Paris, Ile De France; d. Jan. 7, 1285, Foggia). King of Naples (1262-1285) and Sicily (1262-1282); King of Albania (1272-1285); King of Jerusalem (1277-1285); Prince of Achaea (1278-1285); Count of Provence and Forcalquier (1246-1285); Count of Anjou and Maine (1247-1285). He was the posthumous son of Louis VIII, King of France, and of Blanche of Castile.
He married (1) Beatrice of Provence (daughter of Count Raymond Berenger IV of Provence) on January 31, 1246, by whom he became the father of 7 children:
Louis: b. 1248, in Nicosia, Cyprus.
Blanche: b. c1250; d. July 14, 1269.
Beatrice: b. c1252; d. 1275.
Charles II: b. 1254; d. May 5, 1309. King of Naples/Sicily.
Philip: b. 1256; d. Jan. 1, 1277. Titular King of Thessalonika.
Robert: b. c1258; d. bef. May 9, 1265.
Elisabeth (Isabella) or Maria: b. c1261; d. Dec. 20, 1290, in Naples. Queen of Hungary.
Following the death of Beatrice, Charles married Margaret of Burgundy in 1268. Their only child, Margaret, died in infancy.