Isabella of Aragon, Duchess of Milan

Isabella of Aragon
Lunette of Isabella of Aragon in the house of the Atellani, Milan.
Duchess regnant of Bari
Reign10 April 1500 – 1524
PredecessorLudovico il Moro
SuccessorBona
Duchess consort of Milan
Tenure2 February 1489 - 21 October 1494
Born2 October 1470
Naples, Kingdom of Naples
Died11 February 1524(1524-02-11) (aged 53)
Bari, Kingdom of Naples
Burial
Spouse
(m. 1489; died 1494)
IssueFrancesco Maria, Count of Pavia
Ippolita Maria
Bona Maria, Queen of Poland and Grand Duchess of Lithuania
Bianca Maria
HouseTrastámara
FatherAlfonso II of Naples
MotherIppolita Maria Sforza

Isabella of Aragon (2 October 1470 – 11 February 1524),[1] also known as Isabella of Naples, was by marriage Duchess of Milan and suo jure Duchess of Bari.

A member of the Neapolitan branch of the House of Trastamara, her life was characterised by the political crises surrounding the Italian Wars. Isabella often found herself torn between her native Kingdom of Naples and her marital home of the Duchy of Milan, causing her to suffer personal and political difficulties. After a disastrous marriage and lack of support in Milan, she received the Duchy of Bari as her personal property. This change in circumstances gave Isabella the opportunity to form her own court as well as build up political support and security against the ongoing wars. These reforms along with her interest in arts and literature, resulted in Bari undergoing revival and refurbishment. During this period, she also concentrated on the education of her daughter Bona, who became Queen of Poland.

  1. ^ Vaglienti, Francesca M. (2004). "ISABELLA d'Aragona, duchessa di Milano". Dizionario Biografico degli Italiani (in Italian). Vol. 62.