Joan of Naples

Joan I, Joan also spelled Joanna (born 1326-died May 22, 1382 , Lucania, Kingdom of Naples[Italy]), countess of Provence and queen of Naples (1343-82) who defended her claim as well as that of the house of Anjou to the throne of Naples, only to lose it to Charles of Durazzo (Charles III of Naples). Beautiful and intelligent, she was also a patron of the poets and scholars of her time. Joan I succeeded her grandfather, King Robert, in 1343, after her marriage to her cousin Andrew, brother of Louis I of Hungary (1342-82); her accession was intended to reconcile the Hungarian and Angevin claims on Naples. The swarm of Hungarians who followed Andrew to Naples, however, antagonized many of the Angevins at court, including Joan herself. Consequently, when Andrew was assassinated (Sept. 18, 1345), Joan was accused of having been privy to the crime.