Charles Martel of Anjou

Charles Martel of Anjou, born on September fifteenth, one thousand two hundred seventy-one, was a prominent politician of the Capetian dynasty. He was the eldest son of King Charles II of Naples and Mary of Hungary, the daughter of King Stephen V of Hungary. His lineage placed him in a significant position within the European aristocracy.

At the young age of eighteen, Charles Martel was appointed by Pope Nicholas IV and the ecclesiastical faction as the titular King of Hungary from one thousand two hundred ninety to one thousand two hundred ninety-five. This appointment was made in an effort to position him as the successor to his childless maternal uncle, Ladislaus IV of Hungary, against whom the Pope had previously declared a crusade.

Despite his title, Charles Martel was unable to govern the Kingdom of Hungary, which was under the rule of his cousin Andrew III of Hungary, a member of the Árpád dynasty. However, he found success in asserting his claim over the Kingdom of Croatia, which was then in personal union with Hungary.

Charles Martel's life came to an untimely end when he succumbed to the plague in Naples. His legacy continued through his son, Charles, also known as Charles Robert, who later succeeded in claiming the throne of Hungary. Notably, Charles Martel was recognized by the poet Dante, who warmly referenced him in the Divine Comedy, particularly in the Heaven of Venus.