Kings of Jerusalem: Encyclopedia II - Kings of Jerusalem - Claimants to the throne of Jerusalem

Kings of Jerusalem - Claimants to the throne of Jerusalem

Count Hugh of Brienne claimed the regency of the Kingdom of Jerusalem (and, indirectly, his place in the succession) in 1264 as senior heir of Alice of Jerusalem, second daughter of Queen Isabella I, and Hugh I of Cyprus, being the son of their eldest daughter, but was passed over by the Haute Cour in favor of his cousin Hugh of Antioch, the future Hugh III of Cyprus and I of Jerusalem. The Brienne line continues, but has afterwards taken next to no part in affairs in Outremer.

After the end of the kingdom, Henry II of Cyprus continued to use the title "King of Jerusalem." After his death the title was claimed by his direct heirs, the Kings of Cyprus.

The title was also continuously used by the Angevin Kings of Naples, whose founder, Charles of Anjou, had bought a claim to the throne from Mary of Antioch. Thereafter, this claim to the Kingdom of Jerusalem was treated as a tributary of the crown of Naples, which often changed hands by testament or conquest rather than direct inheritance. As Naples was a papal fief, the Popes often endorsed the title of King of Jerusalem as well as of Naples, and the history of these claims is that of the Neapolitan Kingdom.

In 1806, Emperor Napoleon I of France conceded the title to his brother and the new King of Naples Joseph Bonaparte, who died in 1844.

Over the years, many European rulers claimed to be the rightful heirs to one of these claims. None of these, however, have actually ruled over a part of the Kingdom.

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Claimants to the throne of Jerusalem", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki