BIOGRAPHY
Francesco del Balzo, 1.duca d'Andria, was born in 1329 or 1330, the son of Bertrand III del Balzo, conte d'Andria et Squillace, and his second wife Margherita d'Alneto.

Francesco married three times. In 1350 he married Luisa de San Severino, degli Conti di Marsico, but there was no progeny from this marriage. In 1352 he married Marguerite d'Anjou, the divorced wife of Edward Baliol, king of Scots, and daughter of Philippe of Sicily-Anjou, prince of Tarente, and Thamar Komnene Doukaina. Their two children both reached their majority and married, but neither had progeny. Marguerite died in prison in Naples in 1380. In the following year Francesco married Sueva Orsini, daughter of Niccolo Orsini, conte di Nola, and Giovanna de Sabran. Their children Guglielmo, Margherita and Bianchino would have progeny.

Francesco was governor of Naples, and was created Duca di Andria between 30 June 1350 and 20 May 1351. He rebelled against Giovanna I d'Anjou, queen of Naples and Sicily, who confiscated his possessions on 8 April 1374. He exiled himself to Rome, and later to Avignon. In 1382 Francesco's new father-in-law Niccolo Orsini was instrumental in replacing Giovanna I d'Anjou by Charles III d'Anjou as king of Naples, and Francesco's position in Naples was restored to him by Charles III.

Francesco died after 23 April 1422 (the date of his will), and was buried in the Church of Andria, Apulia.