Alphonso II of Naples

From Freepedia

Alphonso II of Naples (November 4, 1448 – December 18, 1495), also called Alfonso II d'Aragon, was King of Naples from January 25, 1494 to 1495.

He was the oldest child of Ferdinand I of Naples and his first wife, Isabel de Claremont. (Isabel was the daughter of Tristan, Count of Capertino and Caterina Orsini.) He was the cousin of Ferdinand II of Aragon, king of Aragon and the first (co-)ruler of an unified Spain.

When his mother Isabella of Clermont died 1465, he succeeded her in her feudal claims, and including in the Brienne claim to the Kingdom of Jerusalem.

His father became in 1458, when Alfonso was 10 years old, by testament of the grandfather, King Alfonso V of Aragon, king in his conquered territories of Naples.

When he was 15 years old, his great-uncle Giovanni Antonio del Balzo Orsini, Prince of Taranto, died 1463 and he obtained some lands from the inheritance.

Used the title King of Naples and Jerusalem when reigned 1494-95.

His reign was destined to be short. When his father died, the invasion of King Charles VIII of France was imminent; Charles (instigated by Lodovico Sforza, who wished to stir up trouble to allow him to seize power in Milan) had decided to reassert the Angevin claim to Naples and the accompanying title of King of Jerusalem.

Charles invaded Italy in September, 1494, and by early 1495 was approaching Naples. Alphonso, terrified by a series of portents, as well as unusual dreams (perhaps attributable to memories of his victims), abdicated in favour of his son, Ferdinand, and fled, entering a Sicilian monastery. He died in Messina later that year.

Marriages and children

Like his father, he married twice. His first wife was Hippolyta Sforza, whom he married on October 10, 1465, in Milan. His second wife was Trogia Gazzela.

He had three children with Hippolyta: