Ludovico II of Saluzzo facts for kids
Ludovico II del Vasto was an important ruler, known as the marquess of Saluzzo. He was born on March 23, 1438, in Saluzzo, Italy. He ruled Saluzzo from 1475 until he passed away on January 27, 1504. Before becoming marquess, he was known as the Count of Carmagnola.
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Ludovico's Early Life and Rule
Ludovico was the son of Ludovico I of Saluzzo and Isabella of Montferrat. He took over his father's ongoing war against Charles I of Savoy. This war had cost Saluzzo a lot of money and resources. Sadly, Ludovico's efforts in this war did not bring much success.
After his father died in April 1475, Ludovico officially became the marquess of Saluzzo. He wanted to help his region's economy grow. To do this, he supported building a special tunnel through the Monviso mountain. This tunnel was finished in 1480 and helped people trade goods more easily.
Family and Alliances
In 1481, Ludovico married his cousin, Giovanna Palaiologo of Montferrat. She was the daughter of William VIII, Marquess of Montferrat. Later, in 1492, he married Margaret of Foix-Candale.
His relationship with Duke Charles of Savoy became worse over time. This led Ludovico to seek help from the French king, Charles VIII. In 1487, Ludovico asked King Charles for an army. He needed help to stop the city of Saluzzo from being taken over.
However, the city of Saluzzo fell to Louis Tailland on April 3, 1487. Ludovico had to leave Saluzzo and went to Provence. He stayed away from his home until 1490.
Military Campaigns and Later Years
In 1499, Ludovico joined the French army led by Louis XII of France. They were part of the Italian Wars and invaded the Duchy of Milan. Later, when the French lost control of Naples, Ludovico was sent to the city of Gaeta. He helped make the city stronger for defense.
Francesco II Gonzaga, Marquess of Mantua, who was leading a French army to Gaeta, gave his command to Ludovico. Ludovico set up his army across from the Spanish forces. The Garigliano river separated the two armies. In 1503, the Spanish built a special bridge. They launched a surprise attack on Ludovico's army. This led to the Battle of Garigliano, where Ludovico's army was defeated.
Ludovico passed away in Genoa in January 1504. After his death, his oldest child with Margaret, Michele Antonio I of Saluzzo, became the next ruler.
A special monument was built to honor Ludovico. You can find it in the church of San Giovanni in Saluzzo. His wife, Margaret, asked Benedetto Briosco to create it in 1508. Ludovico II also started the building of the Neo-Gothic Cathedral of Saluzzo. He was also behind the first Alpine tunnel, called the Buco di Viso, which is 2,880 meters above sea level.
Ludovico's Children
Ludovico and Margaret had four children:
- Michele Antonio (1495–1528)
- Gian Ludovico (1496–1529, died 1563), who was later removed from power
- Francesco Ludovico I (1498–1537)
- Gian Gabriele (1501–1548)
