Amadeo, Prince of Achaea
Encyclopedia
Amadeus or Amedeo of Savoy (1363 – 7 May 1402) was the son of James of Piedmont
and his third wife Marguerite de Beaujeu. By James' will of 16 May 1366, he was declared his firstborn (his elder half-brother was considered a traitor by their father) and heir. In 1367, he succeeded his father in his titles of Lord of Piedmont
and Prince of Achaea. He was also the lord of Pinerolo
.
Amadeo was taken from his mother's guardianship at a young age to live with Amadeo VI of Savoy at Chambéry
. He returned to Piedmont in 1378 when he came of age. In 1380, he received papal dispensaton to marry within the third or fourth degree, though prohibited otherwise by the Church. Amadeo married Catherina, daughter of Amadeo III of Geneva, on 7 September that year.
Nerio I Acciaioli
, Duke of Athens, had been a one-time employer of the Navarrese Company
, but having been imprisoned at Listrina for a year from September 1389 by the Navarrese master Pedro Bordo de San Superano
, he abandoned his erstwhile allies and began talks with Amadeo, who had written letters of condolence to Nerio's relatives. On 29 December 1391, Amadeo's representatives met with Nerio in the palace chapel on the Acropolis
and signed a pact against the Navarrese then controlling the Morea
. Nerio agreed to recognise Amadeo as Prince of Achaea and his legal suzerain for the lordship of Corinth
and the duchy of Athens and Neopatria. Meanwhile, Amadeo had also been negotiating with Pedro Bordo and he had secured Navarrese recognition of his title in return for the confirmation of their vast holdings. Venice had also made an accord with Amadeo and were ready to transport himself and his army by sea to Greece in return for his aid in reconquering Argos
from the Despotate of Morea
. Amadeo was in contact with the Despot Thomas Palaeologus. Finally, a roll of all the Frankish vassals of the prince of Achaea was made and sent to Amadeo, but all for naught. Amadeo did go to Genoa
to embark for the east, but never did set foot in Greece, for Amadeo VI died suddenly at that time.
With his wife, Amadeo had four daughters:
He was succeeded by his brother Louis
.
James of Piedmont
James was the Lord of Piedmont from 1334 to his death. He was the eldest son of Philip I and Catherine de la Tour du Pin. While his father had abandoned his claim to the Principality of Achaea in 1307, James continued to use the princely title and even passed it on to his successors.James opposed...
and his third wife Marguerite de Beaujeu. By James' will of 16 May 1366, he was declared his firstborn (his elder half-brother was considered a traitor by their father) and heir. In 1367, he succeeded his father in his titles of Lord of Piedmont
Lord of Piedmont
The lordship, later principality of Piedmont was originally an appanage of the Savoyard county and as such its lords were members of the Savoy-Achaea branch of that illustrious house. The title was inherited by the elder branch of the dynasty in 1418, at about which time Savoy was elevated to...
and Prince of Achaea. He was also the lord of Pinerolo
Pinerolo
Pinerolo is a town and comune in north-western Italy, 40 kilometres southwest of Turin on the river Chisone.-History:In the Middle Ages, the town of Pinerolo was one of the main crossroads in Italy, and was therefore one of the principal fortresses of the dukes of Savoy. Its military importance...
.
Amadeo was taken from his mother's guardianship at a young age to live with Amadeo VI of Savoy at Chambéry
Chambéry
Chambéry is a city in the department of Savoie, located in the Rhône-Alpes region in southeastern France.It is the capital of the department and has been the historical capital of the Savoy region since the 13th century, when Amadeus V of Savoy made the city his seat of power.-Geography:Chambéry...
. He returned to Piedmont in 1378 when he came of age. In 1380, he received papal dispensaton to marry within the third or fourth degree, though prohibited otherwise by the Church. Amadeo married Catherina, daughter of Amadeo III of Geneva, on 7 September that year.
Nerio I Acciaioli
Nerio I Acciaioli
Nerio I Acciaioli was as Italian aristocrat from Florence who rose to power in Frankish Greece during the last decades of the fourteenth century, eventually becoming Duke of Athens....
, Duke of Athens, had been a one-time employer of the Navarrese Company
Navarrese Company
The Navarrese Company was a company of mercenaries, mostly from Navarre and Gascony, which fought in Greece during the late 14th century and early 15th century, in the twilight of Frankish power in the dwindling remnant of the Latin Empire...
, but having been imprisoned at Listrina for a year from September 1389 by the Navarrese master Pedro Bordo de San Superano
Pedro Bordo de San Superano
Pedro Bordo de San Superano was one of the captains of the Navarrese Company in the Morea from 1379 until he was made Prince of Achaea in 1396, a post he held to his death.After the remnants of the first Navarrese company moved from Durazzo to the Morea,...
, he abandoned his erstwhile allies and began talks with Amadeo, who had written letters of condolence to Nerio's relatives. On 29 December 1391, Amadeo's representatives met with Nerio in the palace chapel on the Acropolis
Acropolis of Athens
The Acropolis of Athens or Citadel of Athens is the best known acropolis in the world. Although there are many other acropoleis in Greece, the significance of the Acropolis of Athens is such that it is commonly known as The Acropolis without qualification...
and signed a pact against the Navarrese then controlling the Morea
Morea
The Morea was the name of the Peloponnese peninsula in southern Greece during the Middle Ages and the early modern period. It also referred to a Byzantine province in the region, known as the Despotate of Morea.-Origins of the name:...
. Nerio agreed to recognise Amadeo as Prince of Achaea and his legal suzerain for the lordship of Corinth
Corinth
Corinth is a city and former municipality in Corinthia, Peloponnese, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Corinth, of which it is the seat and a municipal unit...
and the duchy of Athens and Neopatria. Meanwhile, Amadeo had also been negotiating with Pedro Bordo and he had secured Navarrese recognition of his title in return for the confirmation of their vast holdings. Venice had also made an accord with Amadeo and were ready to transport himself and his army by sea to Greece in return for his aid in reconquering Argos
Argos
Argos is a city and a former municipality in Argolis, Peloponnese, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Argos-Mykines, of which it is a municipal unit. It is 11 kilometres from Nafplion, which was its historic harbour...
from the Despotate of Morea
Despotate of Morea
The Despotate of the Morea or Despotate of Mystras was a province of the Byzantine Empire which existed between the mid-14th and mid-15th centuries. Its territory varied in size during its 100 years of existence but eventually grew to take in almost all the southern Greek peninsula, the...
. Amadeo was in contact with the Despot Thomas Palaeologus. Finally, a roll of all the Frankish vassals of the prince of Achaea was made and sent to Amadeo, but all for naught. Amadeo did go to Genoa
Genoa
Genoa |Ligurian]] Zena ; Latin and, archaically, English Genua) is a city and an important seaport in northern Italy, the capital of the Province of Genoa and of the region of Liguria....
to embark for the east, but never did set foot in Greece, for Amadeo VI died suddenly at that time.
With his wife, Amadeo had four daughters:
- MargaretBlessed Margaret of SavoyThe Blessed Margaret of Savoy was Marchioness of Montferrat.-Family:Margaret was the eldest of the four children—all daughters—born to Amadeo of Savoy, and his wife Catherine of Geneva.Her paternal grandparents were Giacomo of Savoy, titular Prince of Achaea and his second wife...
(died 23 November 1464), married Theodore II of Montferrat, beatified by Pope Clement IXPope Clement IXPope Clement IX , born Giulio Rospigliosi, was Pope from 1667 to 1669.-Early life:Born Giulio Rospigliosi to a noble family of Pistoia, Grand Duchy of Tuscany, he was a pupil of the Jesuits. After receiving his doctorate in philosophy at the University of Pisa, he taught theology there...
in 1669 - Bona (21 June 1390 – after 1392), probably died young
- Matilda (died 14 May 1438), married Louis III of the Rhine
- Catherine (born 1400)
He was succeeded by his brother Louis
Louis of Piedmont
Louis was the Lord of Piedmont and titular Prince of Achaea from 1402. He was a son of James of Piedmont and Marguerite de Beaujeu ....
.