history of Savoy      

 

 

 

       HISTORY of an ALPINE STATE

   

                  

 

We are app. in the year 1000 ac. where
truly began the history of Savoy.
In 1032, a lord of Maurienne,
Humbert "with the white hands", is made
Count of the Savoie which was attached to the
Germanic empire. It is the origin of the present
House of Savoy.

The feudal hierarchy is put in
place during the XIth till XIVth century. Lords
are most powerful in these days.  Others, become
their vassal and owes them
help and council.

IN 1232, Chambery became
the Capital of the Savoy.

 

 

 

 Humbert and its successors founded
their power on the control of the passroads
of the Western Alps, Cenis mountain,
Great and Small Saint Bernard mountains and
their access. The restructuring of the alpine roads
was paid by ways of profitable tolls
and also allowed him to play an important role in
the politics of those days.

                                       
    Click here to see a map of the Savoie region >>      

 

IN 1526, after years of wars, the duke losed
Geneva. That city, now in hands of Calvin, joined
the Swiss Confederation. In 1536, under
pretext of carrying help to the city of
Geneva threatened by the duke Charles of Savoy,
Bernois (city of Bern)  invaded the country of Vaud and
Chablais. The same year, François 1 (France) under the same
pretext invaded Savoy
and Piedmont.

The ambitions of Charles-Emmanuel (1580-1632) and his successors
 turned then on Italy which was totally
split up in those times, and by several small wars they
reached Tessin and the Lake Maggiore.
In this way the dukes of Savoy could play in Italy, while avoiding
to face France, Spain and Austria.

The Savoy was occupied on several occasions,
In September 1792, without combat,
revolutionary troops of
French women occupy Savoy.

The fall of Napoleon brought back the dynasty
Sarde in its hereditary states. 
Several Italian states rejoined the Savoie
and their population rejoined the house of Savoy.
Victor-Emmanuel is crowned
May 17, 1861 king of Italy.

Although all these events took place, the emperor
Napoleon III kept trying to
intervene. That situation led to the treaty of
Turin of March 24, 1860 for Nice and the Savoy.
The population had a vote and decided
that they wanted to intergrate in France.