Amadeus

Name of nine Counts (later Dukes) of Savoy

Amadeus I was the son of Count Umberto I of Maurienne (Saxony) And Adelaide, Marchioness of Susa. Following his father's death he co-jointy ruled, with his mother, both states which controlled the Great Alpine Pass of Mont Cenis into Italy. He died in 1078.

Amadeus II, 1103-1148 suceeded his father, Umberto II, Count of Maurienne. As a reward for his loyalty the Emperor Henry V gave him the title of Count of Savoy and vicar perpetual of the empire. Amadeus later received the title of Marquess of Turin.

He accompanied Louis VIII of France on crusade to the Holy Lands, where he distinguished himself at the siege of Damascus, and shortly after relieved Acre, which was being beseiged by the Turks.

Amadeus III (reigned 1285-1323) succeeded his father, Thomas, as Count of Savoy, while his brother inherited Piedmont. He conquered the Chablais and the lower Valais, and sent troops over the Little St. Bernard to subjugate the valley of Aosta.

Amadeus IV 'The Great' (reigned 1285-1323) suceeded his uncle as Count of Savoy. Through his marriage to Sybilla, Countess of Bugey and Bresse he was able to incorporate these Burgundian districts into his states. Later expansion saw his dominions further increased.

In 1315 Amadeus assisted in the defense of Rhodes against the Turks.

Amadeus V, Count of Savoy (reigned 1329-1342). Amadeus succeeded his brother Edward and continued the war against the Dauphin of Vienne.

Amadeus VI 'The Green Count'(reigned 1343-1383) suceeded his father Amadeus V. In 1349 Humbert, the last Dauphin of Vienne surrendered his title and principality to Charles, the Grandson of Philip of Valois,and retired into a Dominican monastery. Amadeus, angered by this cessation, which had created a formidable neighbour to Savoy, went to war with France, whom he defeated in 1354.

In a treaty concluded in Paris in the following year Amadeus agreed to exchange territory in Daulphiny beyond the Rivers Rhone and Guiers, in exchange for recognition as the undisputed sovereign of Faucigny and the county of Gex, as well as becoming the suzerain lord over the Counts of Genevois, all of whose titles had been the subject of earlier contention between the Counts of Savoy and the Dauphins of Vienne. Amadeus also forced the Marquess of Saluzzo to pay him homage, this extending his rule to the Italian side of the Alps.

This made him an important player in northern Italian politics. Genoa and Venice had for long argued over the ownership of the Isle of Tenedos in the Aegean Sea. Eventually it was agreed that the Island should be entrusted to the Count of Savoy. Later Amadeus would be persuaded by Pope Clement VII to accompany Louis, Duke of Anjou on an expedition to Naples. Here in 1382 the Count would share with Louis in the successful conquests of Abruzzi and Apulia.

Amadeus VII (reigned 1383-1391), Count of Savoy, succeeeded his father Amadeus VI. In 1388 he acquired the important county of Nice.

Amadeus VIII (reigned 1391-1439) suceeded his father Amadeus VII and was created first Duke of Savoy by the Emperor Sigismund in 1416, who declared that the court of the Duchy should be indepenmdant of the Imperial chamber.

Amadeus VIII raged war against Filippa Maria Visconti of Milan, taking Vercelli and annexing the county of Genevois. He was also Prince of Piedmont, BVaron of Vaud, Lord of Nizza, Mondovi and Valemza.

In 1434 he retited to the hermitage of Ripaille on Lake Geneva, entrusting the administration of his estates to his son, Louis.

After five years in the hermitage, he was called upon to mediate at the Peace of Arras between the Kingdoms of England and France.

In 1439 the Council of Basle, having deposed Pope Eugenius IV, and elercted Amadeus as the antipope Felix V. Amadeus then formally abdicated in favour of his son, Louis. Whilst France, England, Spain, Germany and Lombardy recognized Amadeus (Felix V) as their pope, the rest of Italy and the Venetians continued to support Eugenius who continued to reside in Rome.

When Eugenius died, the Cardinals in Rome elected Nicholas V. Felix resigned in favour of the new Pope. He died in Geneva in 1431.

Amadeus IX 'The Pious' (reigned 1465-1472) Duke of Savoy, suceeded his father, Louis. He was called 'The Pious' as a result of his charity to the poor.

Article added: 2006-06-16 @ 12:47 am | Last Modified: 2006-06-27 @ 12:58 pm

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