Individual Details
Count Amadeo III de Savoia
(Abt 1092 - Mar 1148)
Amadeo was born about 1092, the son of Umberto II, comte de Savoie, and Gisela de Bourgogne, daughter of Guillaume I, comte de Bourgogne, and Stephanie de Longwy. Amadeo succeeded as count on the death of his father in 1103. He had a tendency to exaggerate his titles, and also claimed to be duke of Lombardy, duke of Burgundy, duke of Chablais, and vicar of the Holy Roman Empire, the latter title given to his father by Emperor Heinrich IV.
He helped restore the Abbey of St. Maurice of Augane, in which the former kings of Burgundy had been crowned, and of which he himself was abbot for a number of years. He also founded the Abbey of St. Sulpicius in Bugey, Tamié Abbey in Bauges, and Hautecombe Abbey on the Luc du Bourget.
In 1123 Amadeo married Mathilde d'Albon, daughter of Guigues III, comte d'Albon and sister of Guigues IV, dauphin, comte d'Albon. Amadeo and Mathilde had 10 children, of whom four would have progeny, including his heir Umberto III.
In 1128, Amadeo extended his realm, known as the 'Old Chablais', by adding to it the region extending from the Arve to the Dranse d'Abondance, which came to be called the 'New Chablais' with its capital at St. Moritz. Despite his marriage to Mathilde, he still fought against his brother-in-law Guigues, who was killed at the Battle of Montmeillan (La Buissiere). Following this, King Louis VI 'the Fat' of France, married to Amadeo's sister Adčle, attempted to confiscate Savoy. Amadeo was saved by the intercession of Peter the Hermit (d.1131, a priest of Amiens, who was a leading figure during the First Crusade), and by his promise to participate in Louis' planned crusade.
In 1147 Amadeo accompanied his nephew Louis VII of France Louis' wife Eleanor of Aquitaine on the Second Crusade. He financed his expedition with help from a loan from the Abbey of St. Maurice. In his retinue were many barons from Savoy, including the lords of Faucigny, Seyssel, La Chambre, Miolans, Montbel, Thoire, Montmayeur, Vienne, Viry, La Palude, Blonay, Chevron-Villette, Chignin, and Châtillon. Amadeo travelled south through Italy to Brindisi, where he crossed over to Durazzo, and marched east along the Via Egnatia to meet Louis at Constantinople in late 1147. After crossing into Anatolia, Amadeo, who was leading the vanguard, became separated from Louis near Laodicea, and Louis' forces were almost entirely destroyed.
Marching on to Adalia, Louis, Amadeo and other barons decided to continue to Antioch by ship. On the journey, Amadeo fell ill on Cyprus and died at Nicosia in March or April 1148. He was buried in the Church of St. Croix in Nicosia. His son Umberto III succeeded him in Savoy, under the regency of Bishop Amadeus of Lausanne.
Source: Leo van de Pas
He helped restore the Abbey of St. Maurice of Augane, in which the former kings of Burgundy had been crowned, and of which he himself was abbot for a number of years. He also founded the Abbey of St. Sulpicius in Bugey, Tamié Abbey in Bauges, and Hautecombe Abbey on the Luc du Bourget.
In 1123 Amadeo married Mathilde d'Albon, daughter of Guigues III, comte d'Albon and sister of Guigues IV, dauphin, comte d'Albon. Amadeo and Mathilde had 10 children, of whom four would have progeny, including his heir Umberto III.
In 1128, Amadeo extended his realm, known as the 'Old Chablais', by adding to it the region extending from the Arve to the Dranse d'Abondance, which came to be called the 'New Chablais' with its capital at St. Moritz. Despite his marriage to Mathilde, he still fought against his brother-in-law Guigues, who was killed at the Battle of Montmeillan (La Buissiere). Following this, King Louis VI 'the Fat' of France, married to Amadeo's sister Adčle, attempted to confiscate Savoy. Amadeo was saved by the intercession of Peter the Hermit (d.1131, a priest of Amiens, who was a leading figure during the First Crusade), and by his promise to participate in Louis' planned crusade.
In 1147 Amadeo accompanied his nephew Louis VII of France Louis' wife Eleanor of Aquitaine on the Second Crusade. He financed his expedition with help from a loan from the Abbey of St. Maurice. In his retinue were many barons from Savoy, including the lords of Faucigny, Seyssel, La Chambre, Miolans, Montbel, Thoire, Montmayeur, Vienne, Viry, La Palude, Blonay, Chevron-Villette, Chignin, and Châtillon. Amadeo travelled south through Italy to Brindisi, where he crossed over to Durazzo, and marched east along the Via Egnatia to meet Louis at Constantinople in late 1147. After crossing into Anatolia, Amadeo, who was leading the vanguard, became separated from Louis near Laodicea, and Louis' forces were almost entirely destroyed.
Marching on to Adalia, Louis, Amadeo and other barons decided to continue to Antioch by ship. On the journey, Amadeo fell ill on Cyprus and died at Nicosia in March or April 1148. He was buried in the Church of St. Croix in Nicosia. His son Umberto III succeeded him in Savoy, under the regency of Bishop Amadeus of Lausanne.
Source: Leo van de Pas
Events
| Birth | Abt 1092 | ||||
| Marriage | 1123 | Mathilde d'Albon | |||
| Death | Mar 1148 | Nicosia, Cyprus | |||
| Burial | Abbey Mont-Sainte-Croix, Nicosia |
Families
| Spouse | Mathilde d'Albon ( - 1145) |
| Child | Mahaut (Matilde) de Savoia (1125 - 1157) |
| Father | Count Umberto II of Savoia (1070 - 1103) |
| Mother | Gisella de Bourgogne ( - 1133) |
| Sibling | Adele de Savoia (1092 - 1154) |