Duchy of Savoy

Duchy of Savoy
Ducatus Sabaudiae (lat) Duché de Savoie (fr) Ducato di Savouè (frp) Ducato di Savoia (it) Ducà 'd Savòja (pms)
State of the Holy Roman Empire (until 1806)
1416–1792 1814–1847
Flag of Savoy Coat of arms of Savoy
Motto FERT
Duchy of Savoy (green) in 1600.
Capital		Chambéry (1416–1562) Turin (1562–1847)
Languages		Piedmontese, Latin, French, Italian, Arpitan
Religion		Roman Catholicism
Government		Duchy
Duke
•	1416–1440	Amadeus VIII
•	1831–1847	Charles Albert
Historical era		Middle Ages
•	County of Savoy raised     to a duchy	1416 1416
•	Occupied by France	1536–59, 1630, 1690–96, 1703–13
•	Acquired Sicily and parts     of the Duchy of Milan	April 11, 1713
•	Acquired the kingdom     of Sardinia in exchange     for Sicily	1720
•	Occupied by     Revolutionary France	1792–1814
•	Perfect Fusion with the Kingdom of Sardinia	November 29, 1847 1847
Preceded by Succeeded by County of Savoy First French Republic Kingdom of Sardinia

From 1416 to 1860, the House of Savoy ruled the Duchy of Savoy (French: Savoie, Italian: Savoia, German: Savoyen). The Duchy was a state in the northern part of the Italian Peninsula, with some territories that are now in France. It was a continuation of the County of Savoy. The duchy was a subject to the Holy Roman Empire, specifically its Upper Rhenish Circle.

The Duchy was created in 1416 following Sigismund, Holy Roman Emperor, awarding the title Duke to Count Amadeus VIII. The territory of the Duchy then included Moriana, the Valle d'Aosta, and Piedmont.

Being landlocked at its conception in 1388, the then-County of Savoy acquired a few kilometres of coastline around Nice. Other than this expansion, the 14th century was generally a time of stagnation. Pressure from neighboring powers, particularly France, prevented development, which characterizes the rest of the Renaissance era for Savoy.

The reign of Amadeus VIII was a turning point for the economy and the policy of the state, which deeply marked the history of the nation. His long reign was highlighted by wars (the country expanded its territory by defeating the Duchy of Monferrato and Lordship of Saluzzo), as well as reforms and edicts, and also some controversial actions. The first was in 1434, when he chose to withdraw to the Château de Ripaille, where, living the life of a hermit, he founded the Order of St. Maurice. In 1439 he received an appointment as antipope which he accepted (under the name of Felix V), although he subsequently resigned a decade later out of a fear of undermining the religious unity of Christians.