Louis, Duke of Durazzo

Arms of Louis

Louis of Évreux (also called "of Navarre"; 1341 – 1376) was the youngest son of Philip III of Navarre and Joan II of Navarre. He inherited the county of Beaumont-le-Roger from his father (1343) and became Duke of Durazzo in right of his second wife, Joanna, in 1366.

Louis's first marriage was to Maria de Lizarazu in 1358. He took part on behalf of his brother Charles II of Navarre in the war against Charles V of France.

His second marriage to Joanna, Duchess of Durazzo brought him the rights to Durazzo and the Kingdom of Albania, which he strove to recover. He received assistance from both his brother and the king of France in this undertaking, for Durazzo (the remnant of the kingdom) was in the hands of Charles Thopia. In 1372, he brought over the Navarrese Company of mercenaries, who had fought with him during the war in France, to assist him in taking Durazzo. Their ranks swelled considerably in 1375 with new recruits directly from Navarre. Many documents survive telling us of the complex nature of the military planning and engineering which was undertaken to ensure success. This they attained, taking the city in midsummer 1376. Louis died shortly after.

Sources

• Setton, Kenneth M. (general editor) A History of the Crusades: Volume III — The Fourteenth and Fifteenth Centuries. Harry W. Hazard, editor. University of Wisconsin Press: Madison, 1975.

Family of Louis, Duke of Durazzo

16. Louis IX of France               8. Philip III of France                       17. Marguerite of Provence               4. Louis d'Évreux                             18. Henry III, Duke of Brabant               9. Marie of Brabant                       19. Adelaide of Burgundy               2. Philip of Évreux                                   20. Robert II of Artois               10. Philip of Artois                       21. Amicie de Courtenay               5. Margaret of Artois                             22. John II, Duke of Brittany               11. Blanche of Brittany                       23. Beatrice of England               1. Louis, Duke of Durazzo                                         24. Philip III of France               12. Philip IV of France                       25. Isabella of Aragon               6. Louis X of France                             26. Henry I of Navarre               13. Joan I of Navarre                       27. Blanche of Artois               3. Joan II of Navarre                                   28. Hugh IV, Duke of Burgundy               14. Robert II, Duke of Burgundy                       29. Yolande of Dreux               7. Margaret of Burgundy                             30. Louis IX of France               15. Agnes of France                       31. Marguerite of Provence