Amadeus IV, Count of Savoy facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Amadeus IV
Count of Savoy
Reign	1233–1253
Predecessor	Thomas I
Successor	Boniface
Born	1197 Montmélian, Savoie
Died	(1253-06-11)11 June 1253
Spouse	Marguerite of Burgundy Cecilia of Baux
Issue	Beatrice of Savoy Margaret of Savoy Boniface, Count of Savoy Beatrice of Savoy
House	Savoy
Father	Thomas I of Savoy
Mother	Margaret of Geneva

Amadeus IV (born 1197, died June 11, 1253) was an important ruler. He was the Count of Savoy from 1233 until his death in 1253.

Amadeus was born in Montmélian, a place in Savoy. He was the rightful heir of Thomas I of Savoy and Margaret of Geneva. After his father died, Amadeus had to work hard to keep control of his family's lands. His brothers, Pietro and Aimone, even started a rebellion against him. But Amadeus managed to stop them. He got help from his sons-in-law, Manfred III of Saluzzo and Boniface II of Montferrat. Amadeus also fought against the cities of Turin and Pinerolo with his brother Thomas. The results of these fights were not always clear.

When Amadeus died, his young son Boniface became the next Count.

Amadeus IV: Count of Savoy

Leading the Family

As the oldest son of Thomas I of Savoy, Amadeus took over the county and its lands when his father died in 1233. However, his brothers, Peter and Aymon, wanted him to divide the lands. They wanted their own share.

In July 1234, Amadeus and his brother William held a family meeting. It took place at Château de Chillon. Both sides brought armed soldiers, but William was able to help them agree on a treaty. This agreement kept the lands together as one county. But it also gave some power to the younger brothers in certain areas. These areas were on the edges of Savoy's lands. This was meant to encourage the brothers to expand the county, not shrink it. When his brother Thomas left his church career in 1235, Amadeus gave him similar territories.

Before Amadeus had a son, he changed his will many times. At first, he named his sons-in-law as his heirs. But in 1235, he changed his will to favor his brother Thomas. Later that year, he changed it back to his sons-in-law. Then, when he was getting ready for a siege, he changed it back to Thomas. In March 1239, his daughters convinced him to change it back to them. On November 4, 1240, Thomas returned and persuaded him to change the will to favor his brother again. When Thomas left, the will was changed back once more.

His final will was written in 1252. In this will, he left his title and almost everything to his son, Boniface. He also named his brother Thomas as the regent, meaning Thomas would rule until Boniface was old enough. Thomas was also named as the next in line for the title if something happened to Boniface.

Savoy's Place in Europe

Amadeus had to deal with many powerful leaders in Europe. Henry III of England wrote to Amadeus in 1235. He wanted Amadeus's permission for Henry to marry Amadeus's niece, Eleanor of Provence.

In 1238, Amadeus visited the court of Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor, in Turin. There, the Emperor made him a knight. Amadeus and his brothers then led troops to help in the siege of Brescia. In July 1243, Amadeus and his brother Thomas were ordered to join a siege of Vercelli. This city had recently changed sides from the Emperor to the Pope. The attack on Vercelli failed. Amadeus and his brother were also "excommunicated" for it. This meant they were kicked out of the church. They wrote to the new Pope Innocent IV to ask for this punishment to be removed, and the Pope agreed.

In late 1244, Pope Innocent IV ran away from Rome. Amadeus met him in Susa and helped him travel through the mountain passes to Chambéry. Then, Amadeus sent his brother Philip to escort the Pope downriver to Lyon. However, Amadeus was also willing to let the Emperor's army use the same passes. He also signed a treaty with Henry III of England on January 16, 1246. This treaty gave the English the right to use the passes. In return, they would pay Amadeus 200 marks each year. That same month, Amadeus joined a group that went to Provence. Their mission was to rescue his niece, Beatrice of Provence. She was being held by Frederick's forces. They escorted her to her marriage to Charles of Anjou.

By May 1247, Frederick was ready to attack the Pope. He had gathered his army in Turin. He ordered his loyal followers in Arles and France to meet at Chambéry, the capital of Savoy. But a rebellion in Parma made Frederick change his plans. That same summer, Amadeus stopped the Pope from sending 1500 soldiers to the Lombard League. On November 8, 1248, Frederick asked Amadeus and his brother Thomas to go to Lyon. They were to start talks for peace. However, their efforts did not work, and the war continued until Frederick died.

Amadeus's Family

Amadeus married two times, and he had children from both marriages.

• Around 1217, he married Marguerite of Burgundy. She was the daughter of Hugh III, Duke of Burgundy.
  • Beatrice of Savoy (died 1258). She first married Manfred III of Saluzzo in 1233. Then she married Manfred of Sicily on April 21, 1247.
  • Margaret of Savoy (d. 1254). She first married Boniface II of Montferrat on December 9, 1235. Then she married Aymar III, Count of Valentinois.
• On December 18, 1244, he married Cecilia of Baux, also known as "Passerose." She was the daughter of Barral of Baux.
  • Boniface, Count of Savoy
  • Beatrice of Savoy (born 1250, died February 23, 1292). She married Peter of Chalon and later Manuel of Castile.
  • Eleonor of Savoy. She married Guichard de Beaujeu in 1269.
  • Constance of Savoy. She died after 1263.

Sources

See also

In Spanish: Amadeo IV de Saboya para niños