Amadeus I, Count of Savoy facts for kids

Amadeus I (born around 975, died around 1052) was an important early count from the House of Savoy. He was probably the oldest son of Humbert I. People called him of the Tail or la Coda (which means "tailed" in Latin). This nickname came from a story. In 1046, when he met Emperor Henry III in Verona, Amadeus refused to enter the emperor's room without his large group of knights, his "tail."

Amadeus I: The Count with a "Tail"

Early Life and Family

Amadeus is first mentioned in a document from April 8, 1022. In this document, he and his younger brother, Burchard, who was the bishop of Belley, witnessed a gift from Lambert, the bishop of Langres, to their father.

Sometime after this, and before 1030, Amadeus, Burchard, and another brother, Otto, joined their father. They witnessed a gift made by Aymon de Pierrefort to the Abbey of Cluny. Amadeus, along with his brothers Otto and Aymon, and their father, also made gifts to the Abbey of Cluny and the church of Saint-Maurice at Matassine. Amadeus and his father also witnessed another gift made by several noblemen to the Abbey of Savigny.

Becoming a Count

The first time we see Amadeus mentioned as a "count" (Latin comes) was in a document from October 22, 1030. On that day, in Grenoble, Amadeus and his wife, Adelaide (whose family is unknown), gave the church of Matassine to Cluny. This act was witnessed by Humbert and his wife Ausilia, who might have been Amadeus's parents. His brother Otto also witnessed it, as did the king and queen of Burgundy, Rudolf III and Ermengarda.

Even though the 1030 document doesn't clearly show that both Amadeus and his father were counts at the same time, a later document from 1040 confirms it. In 1040, Amadeus, as the eldest son and a count, confirmed a document from his father for the Diocese of Aosta. On January 21, 1042, Amadeus, Otto, and Aymon confirmed another document from their father that helped the church of Saint-Chaffre. On June 10, Count Amadeus, Count Humbert, and Otto gave the church of Echelles to the church of Saint-Laurence in Grenoble.

Later Life and Succession

For the next ten years, there isn't much information about what Amadeus did. His last known action was recorded on December 10, 1051. In this document, he is called "Count of Belley" (comes Bellicensium). It is almost certain that this is the same Count Amadeus, son of Humbert I.

Amadeus died shortly after 1051. According to records from the 1300s, he was buried in Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne. His son, Humbert, had died before him. However, Amadeus left behind another son, Aymon, who later became the Bishop of Belley. He might also have had a daughter who married into the family of the Counts of Geneva. After Amadeus died, his brother Otto became the next count.

See also

In Spanish: Amadeo I de Saboya para niños