Quick Facts
Biography
John II of Anjou (Nancy, August 2, 1424 – December 16, 1470, Barcelona) was Duke of Lorraine from 1453 to his death. He inherited the duchy from his mother, Duchess Isabelle, during the life of his father, Duke René of Anjou, also Duke of Lorraine and titular king of Naples. As heir-apparent of Naples, he was styled the Duke of Calabria, and spent most of his time engaging in plots for Angevin recovery of Naples. In 1460, he decisively defeated the king of Naples Ferdinand at Nola, but was unable to prevent others from coming to his aid. He was defeated on land at Troia in 1462 and defeated at sea off Ischia in 1465. In 1466, the Catalonians chose his father as King of Aragon, and he was created Prince of Girona, as heir-apparent. He went into Catalonia to press the family's claims, but died, supposedly by poison, in Barcelona.
He married in 1444 Marie de Bourbon (1428–1448), daughter of Charles I, Duke of Bourbon. They had:
- Isabelle (b. 1445), d. young
- René (b. 1446), d. young
- Marie (b. 1447), d. young
- Jean (d. 1471),
- Nicholas (1448–1473).
He also had several illegitimate children:
- John (d. 1504), Count of Briey, married Nancy St. Georges
- Albert, seigneur d'Essey
- Jeanne d'Abancourt, married Achille, Bastard of Beauveu
- a daughter named Marguerite
- another daughter, married Jean d'Ecosse