Flag 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
States of the Duke of Savoy around 1700; Savoy proper is in the northwest.
Capital		Chambéry (1416–1562) Turin (1562–1847)
Languages		French, Italian, Latin, Piedmontese, Arpitan, Occitan
Religion		Roman Catholicism
Government		Duchy
Duke
•	1416–1440	Amadeus VIII
•	1831–1847	Charles Albert
Historical era		Modern Era
•	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 Duchy of Savoy (French: Duché de Savoie, Italian: Ducato di Savoia) was a state in Western Europe. It was created by Sigismund, King of the Romans, raised the County of Savoy into a duchy for Duke Amadeus VIII. The duchy was a subject of the Holy Roman Empire with a vote in the Imperial Diet. From the 16th century, it belonged to the Upper Rhenish Circle. During all its history, it was ruled by the House of Savoy. The Duchy is considered to be a part of the Savoyard state.

The Duchy was created in 1416 following Sigismund, Holy Roman Emperor, awarding the title Duke to Count Amadeus VIII.

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.