Costanza d'Avalos , Duchess of Francavilla, was a noblewoman of Spanish origin from the d'Avalos family.
Background
She was the daughter of Innico I d'Avalos, count of Monteodorisio, and Antonella d'Aquino, heiress to the marquisate of Pescara. Her father had come to Italy with Alfonso V of Aragon in 1442. She was given in marriage to Federico del Balzo, Prince of Altamura and Duke of Venosa, son of Pietro Del Balzo and brother of the Queen of Naples, Isabella.
Career
After she was widowed without children, in 1483, King Frederick of Naples granted her the Duchy of Francavilla in 1501. Her services were rewarded by the settlement of the civil and military government of the island on the d'Avalos family, which power it retained until 1734, when its military command was transferred to Naples. She established her court at Ischia, which was frequented by many Neapolitan intellectuals of the period.
The marriage took place on Ischia in December 1509. In 1523 Charles V granted to Costanza the land which nowadays forms Pescara. She died in 1541 after Charles V had given her the title of Princess of Francavilla.
Scholarly as well as amateur speculation has assigned the Mona Lisa's name to Costanza (among other women) - she was referred to as La Gioconda.
Views
Later that year, she defended Ischia against the French for four consecutive months, with great skill and bravery.