Charles, Duke of Durazzo | |
Duke of Durazzo, Count of Gravina | |
Reign: | 1336-1348 |
Predecessor: | John, Duke of Durazzo |
Successor: | Joanna, Duchess of Durazzo |
Spouse: | Maria of Calabria |
Issue: | Louis of Durazzo Joanna, Duchess of Durazzo Agnes of Durazzo Clementia of Durazzo Margaret of Durazzo |
Royal House: | House of Anjou-Sicily House of Anjou-Durazzo |
Father: | John, Duke of Durazzo |
Mother: | Agnes of Périgord |
Birth Date: | 1323 |
Death Date: | 23 January 1348 |
Charles of Durazzo (Italian: Carlo di Durazzo 1323 - 23 January 1348) was a Neapolitan nobleman, the eldest son of John, Duke of Durazzo and Agnes of Périgord.
Charles succeeded his father as Duke of Durazzo and Count of Gravina in 1336.
On 21 April 1343, he married Maria of Calabria, Countess of Alba, in Naples. She was the younger daughter of Charles, Duke of Calabria and sister of Joanna I of Naples, and had been intended as a bride for Louis I of Hungary or John II of France, but was abducted by Charles and his mother to make a marriage that would place Charles closer to the throne of Naples.
Keeping carefully aloof from the conspiracy that murdered Joanna's husband Andrew, Duke of Calabria, he led a faction opposing Joanna and Louis of Taranto. He contacted the Hungarian court, seeking their support. He hoped to turn the invasion of Louis of Hungary and the flight of Joan to his own ends: but he was seized and beheaded by the Hungarians at Aversa.
Charles and Maria had: