Louis III of Anjou

AI-assisted Knowledge Update: This article was automatically consolidated to provide you with the most up-to-date data instantly.

Louis III d'Anjou (September 25, 1403 – November 12, 1434) was a claimant to the Kingdom of Naples from 1417 until 1426 and Count of Provence, Forcalquier, Piedmont, Main, Duke of Anjou from 1417 until his death in 1434. He also held the title of Duke of Calabria from 1426 until his death.

Louis III was the eldest son and successor of Louis II of Anjou and Yolanda of Aragon, a contender for the four kingdoms: Sicily, Cyprus, Jerusalem, and Aragon. His family's claim to these territories began with his grandfather Louis I, who had purchased the title of Latin Emperor in 1383.

The throne of Aragon fell vacant in 1410 when King Martin died without surviving issue. The Estates of Aragon by Compromise of Caspe in 1412 elected Ferdinand of Castile as the next king of Aragón. However, Louis III's family retained possessions belonging to the Crown of Aragon in Montpellier and Roussillon.

Louis III was only eight years old when he lost one of his four kingdoms, Sicily, Cyprus, and Jerusalem, which were awarded to Yolanda and her son. The other kingdom, Naples, remained with Louis III as a claimant until 1426. His family continued to consider themselves the legitimate heirs and began to use the title of King of Aragon in addition to their other royal titles.

The succession in Aragon was governed by the male royal line, which favored Ferdinand's election over Louis III's claim. Despite this, Louis III's family maintained possessions in all four kingdoms listed as part of the Four Kingdoms: Sicily, Cyprus, Jerusalem, and Aragon.