"The Conquest of Naples by Charles of Durazzo c.1400" Topic

The 1381 Conquest of Naples by Charles of Durazzo was painted in Florence in c.1400.

At the right, the croation army of Charles defeats the forces of Otto of Brunswick; in the centre, Otto's troops surrender to Charles; at the left, the victors enter the conquered city.
More details can be seen in a larger image of The 1381 Conquest of Naples by Charles of Durazzo.
Are there any features that are distinctly croation or german rather than italian?

MIRROR SITE
The 1381 Conquest of Naples by Charles of Durazzo

Druzhina
14th Century Illustrations of Costume & Soldiers

Of the standards in the painting, the red and white stripes were the symbol of the Árpáds, the dynasty of the first Hungarian kings. Charles was King of Hungary at the time of the painting, but not at the time of the battle. Another banner includes the arms of the King of Jerusalem, a title that Charles gained only after the battle.

The arms of Touraine

The Papal crossed keys would indicate the backing of one of the popes (there were at least 2 at the time).

What about the 2 Leopards?

Druzhina
14th Century Illustrations of Costume & Soldiers

The leopards are the arms of Brunswick.

I think the fleur de lys arms are his own carried by the Dukes of Durrazzo since the creation of the title. They are the Angevin arms with a border for difference, the first duke being one of the sons of Charles II of Naples. If you look carefully at the roundels, especially bottom left, you can see the red label.

The Arpad arms could be there for his position at the time of painting or perhaps to show support from the Hungarian king. You can see that they are impaled with the Angevin arms. The streamer at the top of each banner shows the red label which Louis of Hungary doesn't seem to have used.

Pope Urban did lend support. This may have been moral at the time of the events of the painting, or it may have been financial and military. Soon after, Hawkwood was sent by the Pope to aid Charles. I think the crosses of St George are those of Alberico da Barbiano's company. I think the black keys on the Papal flags are probably the result of using silver on the original.

The red over black pennons are interesting. I guess these are Charles' men but I don't know their significance.

I suppose it is possible that he was using Jerusalem at this point as a symbol that Joanna had been deposed, but I think it is probably anachronistic. Strange, though, that they use Jerusalem paired with his ducal arms.

As for the distinctive haircuts, I think it is just what the well respected man about time was wearing – Charles' golden locks have the same coiffure.

link is handy for background (in Italian)

Confusingly, the arms of Lower Normandy are also Gules two Leopards Or, but it would be Brunswick.

I do see a label on the fleur de lys now you have pointed it out.

Using the banner of Barbiano's Compagnia di San Giorgio could indicate that the artist had, at least, some knowledge of the campaign.

Druzhina
Illustrations of Costume & Soldiers

And of course figures from this painting – notably the guy in the whiteish aketon and bright blue hose near the city gate – look to be the source of Ian Heath's "Italian Light Infantryman", AMA volume 1 figure 74.

Yes. I forgot that was the reason I searched for this.
Italian Light Infantryman, 14th Century, by Ian Heath – based on 'The Conquest of Naples by Charles of Durazzo'

MIRROR SITE
Italian Light Infantryman, 14th Century, by Ian Heath – based on 'The Conquest of Naples by Charles of Durazzo'

He may be a Neapolitan of 1381, or he may be a Florentine of c.1400.

Druzhina
Illustrations of Costume & Soldiers