Antonio Malizia Carafa

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Antonio Malizia Carafa (died 10 October 1437/1438) was a Neapolitan nobleman and diplomat who played a central role in the politics of the Kingdom of Naples in the early 15th century. Known as Malizia, meaning “the crafty,” he supported the Durazzo faction in the struggle for the throne and later became a key ally of Alfonso V of Aragon, helping to secure the Aragonese claim to Naples.

Life and family
Carafa was born in the mid-14th century. His father was Giovannello Carafa and his mother Mariella Mariscalchi. He had three brothers: Niccolò, Tommaso, and Gurrello. He married Caterina Farafalla, and together they had seven sons and two daughters: Carlo, Francesco, Tommaso, Antonio, Gurrello, Giovanni Battista, Diomede, Caterina, and Diana. The Carafa family would become closely connected to other important Naples figures, including Oliviero Carafa and Alessandro Carafa, who were sons of another branch of the family.

Career and landholdings
In 1384, with his brother Gurrello, Carafa fought for King Charles III of Naples against Louis I of Anjou. He served on several key councils: in 1392 helping to declare Ladislaus of Naples of age, and in 1394 supporting Pope Boniface IX during the Western Schism. In 1400 he was named justiciar of the province of Bari and received a pension from Bari’s port customs. Over the years he bought and received various lands and offices, including Mercurion, Pescolanciano, Boccalino, Vignali, and the fief of Vico di Pantano. He was appointed captain of the Terra Sancti Benedicti (Montecassino) in 1415 and, in 1417, justiciar of Calabria Citeriore and Terra Giordana. By 1420 he was castellan of Torre del Greco, and he held other revenues and offices in Calabria and surrounding areas. He also became seneschal and a household knight, playing a prominent role in royal administration and local governance.

Aragonese alliance and the Naples question
In April 1420 Carafa was part of a Neapolitan embassy to Pope Martin V, who supported Louis III of Anjou. During negotiations in Florence with the Aragonese, Carafa opened talks with their envoy and later traveled to Sardinia to meet Alfonso V of Aragon. He arrived in time for the siege of Bonifacio and impressed Alfonso, who agreed to become Joan II of Naples’s adopted heir in exchange for protection of Naples. On August 6, 1420, Alfonso granted Carafa an annual pension for his services, and Carafa helped ensure the adoption program was formalized.

In the following years Carafa continued to benefit from royal favor: in 1422 he received the fief of Vico di Pantano, and in 1423 he gained additional tax revenues. When Joan II’s position weakened and she renounced the adoption, Carafa sided with Alfonso. After Alfonso’s return to Spain, Carafa sent his son Diomede and a nephew to accompany him. In 1424, as Aragonese support arrived in Naples, Carafa helped direct riots in favor of the Aragonese. After Joan’s victory, he fled to Sessa Aurunca.

Retirement, death, and legacy
Carafa never abandoned the Aragonese cause. Joan II died in 1435, and Alfonso contended the succession with René of Anjou. Carafa himself died on 10 October 1437 or 1438 and was buried in San Domenico Maggiore in Naples. In his will he urged his relatives to remain faithful to the Aragonese cause. A monumental tomb was later built for him (between the 1440s and 1480s), likely commissioned by his son Diomede, and attributed to the workshop of Jacopo della Pila. An inscription on the tomb celebrates Carafa as the man who brought Alfonso to Italy to restore peace.