Greater coat of arms of the King of Italy (1890–1946)
The titles of the count of Savoy, and then duke of Savoy, are titles of nobility attached to the historical territory of Savoy. Since its creation, in the 11th century, the House of Savoy held the county, the ruler of which was originally styled "count," then later as "duke"; several of these rulers were called "king" at one point in history or another.
Known by this nickname after appearing before Henry III, Holy Roman Emperor at Verona with a large "tail" of knights and vassals. Left no surviving descendants, beside his son, Aymon [fr], and a daughter who became Countess of Geneva. He was succeeded by his brother.
Initially as regent for her children, she quickly took over the control of the County of Savoy, which ruled alongside her descendants until her death. She was also ruling, since 1034, the March of Turin. In 1078, Adelaide's co-rulers divided her possessions: her granddaughter Agnes and her husband co-ruled with her in Turin, while her second son Amadeus followed (also with her) in Savoy proper. After her death, Turin merged in Savoy.
Children of Thomas I, divided their inheritance. Amadeus was the first in the family to call himself Count of Savoy. In 1239, Amadeus gave the lordships of Saint-Maurice and Monthey to his sister Margaret, which may have returned to Savoy after her death. The same may have happened to the properties of Aymon, who died with no descendants. Through marriage, Thomas II became also Count of Flanders. As with Peter, after his nephew's death with no descendants, he inherited the county of Savoy as a separate possession of his original barony, as both were inherited by different individuals after his own death.
Heirs of Peter II, redivided the inheritance. Beatrice abdicated of her father's barony to her uncle Philip, which determined the (brief) re-absortion of Vaud into her uncle's county of Savoy. She kept, however, her mother's lordship of Faucigny until her death, after which it passed to her descendants. Philip was the last count of the main line of Savoyard counts; afte his own death also with no children, the county was inherited by the Piedmont branch.
During his reign, he had his rule contested by his niece:
Joan of Savoy, daughter of Edward and Blanche of Burgundy. She had the support of her husband, John III, Duke of Brittany. By agreement, settled by John II of France, on 22 November 1339, she renounced her rights of succession in return for an annual income of 6,000 livres.[5]
In the beginning of his rule, his mother's regency was contested by a pretender:
Philip (II) of Piedmont (1367-1368), son of James and Sibylle de Baux, was the original heir, but was disinherited by his father, after warring with his cousin, Amadeus VI, Count of Savoy. He fought Margaret, who sought for help from the Count of Savoy. Amadeus VI captured the rebel in Fossano in 1368.
Amadeus of Piedmont left no male heirs, and was succeeded by his brother Louis.
Brothers and sisters of Philibert II, expanded the Savoyard domain. Philiberta, as widow of the Duke of Nemours, inherited this duchy and passed it to her sister Louise, who adicated to her brother Philip. Charles gave to his brother Philip the County of Geneva, to which he annexed also the Duchy of Nemours. In contrast, Savoy itself lost some important lands. Vaud, for example, was sold to Switzerland in 1536.
Left the ecclesiastical career (and his post as Archbishop of Reims) to succeed his brother. Henry left no children. After his death, Geneva was inherited by his niece, succession not recognized in Nemours, which led to its annexation to France.
Heir of Geneva, Aumale and other teritoies but not of Nemours, annexed to France. In 1686, she sold Aumale to Louis Auguste de Bourbon. The county of Geneva passed to her son, the Duke of Savoy.
After the death of Umberto II in 1983, Prince Vittorio Emanuele succeeded him. On 7 July 2006, Amadeo claimed that Vittorio Emanuel had lost his royal rights when he married without Umberto II's permission in 1971, in which Amadeo declared himself the Head of the Royal House on the same day.
Guichenon, Samuel (1660). "Noblesse romain". Histoire généalogique de la royale maison de Savoie ou Histoire généalogique de la royale maison de Savoie justifiée par titres, fondations de monastères, manuscrits, anciens monumens, histoires, et autres preuves authentiques (in French). Vol. I. Jean-Michel Briolo.