Rene I “the Good” of Anjou
Part of The Encyclopedia of Southern Italy.
Rene I “the Good” of Anjou: (b. 1409; d. Aix, 1480). Duke of Anjou, Count of Provence. King of Naples (r.1435-1442).He was the son of Louis II. In 1434 he succeeded his brother Louis III as Duke of Anjou and Count of Provence. After the death of Queen Joanna II (1435), Rene claimed the Neapolitan throne in opposition to Alfonso V of Aragon. In 1438, Rene was able to take possession of Naples and appeared on his way to ultimate victory. Upon the death of his general, Caldora, however, Rene’s fortunes turned and, in 1442, he lost Naples to Alfonso. Rene escaped capture and sailed back to Provence on a Genoese ship. Although he continued to claim the thrones of Sicily and Jerusalem for the remainder of his life, he was never able to actively attempt to possess them again. He died in 1480 at Aix, in Provence, the last Angevin to possess Naples. Upon his death, Provence was annexed by France.