Background
Giovanna was the daughter of Enrico d'Aragona, half-brother of King Frederick of Naples. Five months later, in March 1499, his son, also called Alfonso, was born and inmediately invested with the Duchy of Amalfi as his father's only heir.
Giovanna was the daughter of Enrico d'Aragona, half-brother of King Frederick of Naples. Five months later, in March 1499, his son, also called Alfonso, was born and inmediately invested with the Duchy of Amalfi as his father's only heir.
She had two brothers, Luigi d'Aragona and Carlo, Marquis of Gerace. In 1490, at the age of twelve, Giovanna was married to Alfonso Piccolomini, who became Duke of Amalfi in 1493. He was killed in 1498, stabbed in a fight with the Count of Celano.
She continued to rule Amalfi as regent for twelve years. Giovanna employed Antonio Beccadelli as her household steward, to manage her estate. Pregnant again, and perhaps aware that her secret could no longer be kept, she suddenly left Amalfi with a large retinue in November 1510, claiming to be going on a pilgrimage to Loreto.
After stopping at the shrine in Loretto, she proceeded on to Ancona, at which she expected to be safe as it was beyond the bounds of the Kingdom of Naples. There she explained the situation to her retinue, most of whom then returned to Amalfi. In Ancona she gave birth to the couple's third child.
Antonio managed to escape to Milan. Her husband survived in Milan, unaware of his wife's fate, apparently believing that his family were alive but held in confinement. He was himself killed by an assassin in 1513.
While in Milan he met Matteo Bandello, who later published the story of these events. The story was picked up by many other writers. Local legend says that they died in the fortress known as "Torre dello Ziro" in Atrani.
The tragic story has inspired many literary works, taking their account of events from Matteo Bandello's version. These include:
The Palace of Pleasure, 1566, by William Painter
The Duchess of Malfi, by John Webster
El mayordomo de la Duquesa Amalfi by Lope de Vega.
