His father, Alfonso of Aragon, received his crown from Giovanna of Naples, who had adopted him as her successor.

But since, in the fear of having no heir, the queen on her deathbed had named two instead of one, Alfonso had to sustain his rights against Rene.

The two aspirants for some time disputed the crown.

At last the house of Aragon carried the day over the house of Anjou, and in the course of the year 1442, Alfonso definitely secured his seat on the throne.

Of this sort were the claims of the defeated rival which we shall see Charles VIII maintaining later on.