Principality of Taranto

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Principality of Taranto
Principatum Tarentinum (Latin)
1088–1465
Arms of Philippe de Tarente.svg
Coat of arms of Philippe of Anjou, prince of Tarente, before 1313
Principato di Taranto nel Regno di Sicilia, 1154.svg
Approximate area of the Principality of Taranto within the Kingdom of Sicily, c. 1154
StatusPrincipality within the:
Kingdom of Sicily
(1130-1282)
Kingdom of Naples
(1282-1465)
Capital Taranto
Common languages Medieval Latin
Religion
Roman Catholicism
GovernmentPrincipality
Prince 
 1088–1111
Bohemond I (first)
 1463–1465
Isabella (last)
History 
 Established
1088
 Death of Isabella of Clermont
30 March 1465
Preceded by
Succeeded by
Coat of Arms of Robert Guiscard.svg County of Apulia and Calabria
Kingdom of Naples Arms of Ferdinand I of Naples.svg

The Principality of Taranto (Latin : Principatum Tarentinum) was a state in southern Italy created in 1088 for Bohemond I, eldest son of Robert Guiscard, as part of the peace between him and his younger brother Roger Borsa after a dispute over the succession to the Duchy of Apulia.

Contents

Taranto became the capital of the principality, which covered almost all of the heel of Apulia. During its subsequent 377 years of history, it was sometimes a powerful and almost independent feudal fief of the Kingdom of Sicily (and later of Naples), sometimes only a title, often given to the heir to the crown or to the husband of a reigning queen. When the House of Anjou was divided, Taranto fell to the house of Durazzo (13941463).

Ferdinand I of Naples united the Principality of Taranto, to the Kingdom of Naples, at the death of his wife, Isabella of Clermont. The principality came to an end, but the kings of Naples continued giving the title of Prince of Taranto to their sons, firstly to the future Alfonso II of Naples, eldest son of Isabella.

Counts

Princes

Hauteville (Altavilla) dynasty

Hohenstaufen (Svevia) dynasty

Angevin (Angiò) dynasty

Baux (Del Balzo) dynasty

Welf or Brunswick (Este del Guelfo) dynasty

Orsini dynasty

Princesses

See also

40°28′N17°14′E / 40.467°N 17.233°E / 40.467; 17.233

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