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Otto, Duke of Brunswick-Grubenhagen (1320 – 1 December 1398) was the fourth and last husband ofJoanna I of Naples. He also held the title ofPrince of Taranto. His nickname wasOtto the Tarantine.
Otto was the eldest son ofHenry II, Duke of Brunswick-Grubenhagen (c. 1289 – 1351) andJutta of Brandenburg.
In 1353, he marriedViolante of Vilaragut, a daughter of Berengar de Vilaragut and widow ofJames III of Majorca. There were no children from this marriage. By 1372, Otto was a widower. On 25 September 1376, Otto married his second wife, the three times widowed QueenJoanna I of Naples. The groom was fifty-six years old and the bride about forty-eight. The marriage was childless.
The so-calledWestern Schism started in 1378 with the election of two rivalpopes,Urban VI ofRome andClement VII ofAvignon. Joanna supported Clement VII and allied herself with his main supporterCharles V of France. With no hope of having further children of her own, Joanna chose to strengthen her alliance with France by adoptingLouis of Anjou, younger brother of Charles V, as her heir.
Urban VI proclaimed Joanna deposed in 1381. He named her second cousinCharles of Durazzo as his candidate for the supposedly vacant throne. Charles spent the following months gathering his army within theKingdom of Hungary and then marched against theKingdom of Naples. Otto led the Neapolitan army in battle but was defeated. Otto was exiled from Naples by the new king and never returned. On the 27th of July, 1382 at age 56, Joanna was strangled in prison in the Castle of Muro Lucano held by Palamede Bozzuto.
Otto survived Joanna by at least sixteen years but never remarried. He died childless atFoggia and was succeeded by his first cousin, once removedEric I, Duke of Brunswick-Grubenhagen, previously Duke ofEinbeck.
Otto, Duke of Brunswick-Grubenhagen Cadet branch of theHouse of Este Born: 1320 Died: 1 December 1398 | ||
| Regnal titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Prince of Taranto 1383–1393 | Succeeded by |
| Royal titles | ||
| Vacant Title last held by James IV of Majorca | King consort of Naples 1376–1381 | Vacant Title next held by Margaret of Durazzoas queen consort |
