Louis II of Vaud
Encyclopedia
Louis II of the House of Savoy
, was the Baron of Vaud from 1302 until his death. A military man, he fought widely in Italy and, during the first phase of the Hundred Years' War
, in France. As a diplomat he visited England and the papal court in Rome and Avignon, and he served as regent of the County of Savoy
between 1343 and his death, during which period he was the leading representative of his dynasty.
in Westminster Abbey
. In 1310 he joined the expedition of Henry VII
into Italy to be crowned Emperor, and was himself made a Senator of Rome. He continued to serve Henry's cause in Italy until 1313. His grandiloquent title at this time was "Louis of Savoy, a magnificent man, by the grace of God
a most illustrious senator of the city of Rome".
Between 1314 and 1322, Louis led several campaigns against the Dauphiné
, a traditional rival of Savoy. In 1322 his uncle and suzerain, Amadeus V, Count of Savoy
, appointed him lieutenant-general of the Canavese
, south of the Alps
, and in 1330 he made him a member of the Council of Savoy, the highest organ of state in Savoy. In 1331 Louis was campaigning in Lombardy
in an effort to carve out a new kingdom for John the Blind, King of Bohemia. The king installed his son, the future Emperor Charles IV, as his vicar in Lombardy, and appointed Louis to be Charles's chief counsellor. The baron of Vaud had to decline the office on account of a conflict of interests, since his eldest daughter Catherine had just married Azzo Visconti, Lord of Milan.
, future Count of Savoy, was baptised by the Bishop of Maurienne in the unfinished Sainte-Chapelle of the castle at Chambéry
. On 26 June 1343, the same day as his father's funeral, Amadeus was proclaimed count, and his godfather Count Amadeus III of Geneva
and Louis of Vaud were proclaimed his regents, as designated in the will of his father, Count Aymon. The count of Geneva and the baron of Vaud were the first to do homage
to the new count of Savoy, swearing an oath to be loyal "against all who may live or die". At this time in his career—he was in his mid-fifties—Louis was "the grand old man of the dynasty in wisdom and experience."
with his troops during the war with the England, the Edwardian War. In 1339 Louis's only son was killed at the Battle of Laupen
, and his son-in-law Azzo also died, leaving his daughter Catherine as a widow and a potential heiress. Louis's requested and received from Count Aymon permission to name her his heir in the barony, an exceptional privilege given the customs of Savoy.
In 1345 Louis was fighting with John
, Duke of Normandy
, in the Limousin
and Auvergne
against the English. In 1346 Louis, responding to a springtime summons of the French king for an army from Savoy, which owed him service for a small fief the count held in Normandy, returned to France in August, but his forces did not reach the field of the Battle of Crécy
(26 August) until evening, when the carnage was over. Finding the French in retreat, and without awaiting order, Louis immediately set out in the direction of the main English army and succeeded in getting to the town of Montreuil
first, where he was able to deny entrance to the marshals of the king of England and garrison the walls and towers with his own men.
, a younger son of the French king, to the chancellor of France. Nothing seems to have come of Louis's diplomacy, but he and fellow regent Amadeus III had been reconciled to the plan by January 1344, when they agreed to a marriage between their youthful charge and Joan, a daughter of Peter I, Duke of Bourbon
, and thus a grand-niece of the French king.
In 1347 Louis again tried to block the French acquisition of the Dauphiné. When the reigning dauphin, Humbert II
, returned from his Smyrniote crusade a widower in the spring, Pope Clement VI
, who formerly favoured the French, encouraged him to remarry and sire an heir. The papal change of mind was probably induced by the several embassies which Louis can be shown to have sent to the papal court at Avignon
during the year, from surviving treasury accounts. In May Louis was preparing to once again lead an army to the aid of France, in obedience to a summons, when he received word that his cousin James, Lord of Piedmont
, was threatened by an alliance of the Visconti
of Milan, former relatives by marriage of Louis's, and Marquis John II of Montferrat. The lord of Piedmont held extensive lands in the Canavese, of which Louis was lieutenant-general. Before leaving for France, Louis sent the marshal of Savoy, Antelme de Miolans, to the Piedmont with an army. After his return Louis took the cases of the Dauphiné and the Piedmont to the papal court, where he stayed through the winter of 1347–48.
"After sixty years of active and adventurous life", Louis died late in 1348 or early the next year, certainly before 29 January 1349, possibly of the Black Death
then sweeping Europe.
House of Savoy
The House of Savoy was formed in the early 11th century in the historical Savoy region. Through gradual expansion, it grew from ruling a small county in that region to eventually rule the Kingdom of Italy from 1861 until the end of World War II, king of Croatia and King of Armenia...
, was the Baron of Vaud from 1302 until his death. A military man, he fought widely in Italy and, during the first phase of the Hundred Years' War
Hundred Years' War
The Hundred Years' War was a series of separate wars waged from 1337 to 1453 by the House of Valois and the House of Plantagenet, also known as the House of Anjou, for the French throne, which had become vacant upon the extinction of the senior Capetian line of French kings...
, in France. As a diplomat he visited England and the papal court in Rome and Avignon, and he served as regent of the County of Savoy
County of Savoy
The Counts of Savoy emerged, along with the free communes of Switzerland, from the collapse of the Burgundian Kingdom of Arles in the 11th century....
between 1343 and his death, during which period he was the leading representative of his dynasty.
International career (1302–1343)
In 1308 Louis was one of those representing the Savoyards at the coronation of Edward II of EnglandEdward II of England
Edward II , called Edward of Caernarfon, was King of England from 1307 until he was deposed by his wife Isabella in January 1327. He was the sixth Plantagenet king, in a line that began with the reign of Henry II...
in Westminster Abbey
Westminster Abbey
The Collegiate Church of St Peter at Westminster, popularly known as Westminster Abbey, is a large, mainly Gothic church, in the City of Westminster, London, United Kingdom, located just to the west of the Palace of Westminster. It is the traditional place of coronation and burial site for English,...
. In 1310 he joined the expedition of Henry VII
Henry VII, Holy Roman Emperor
Henry VII was the King of Germany from 1308 and Holy Roman Emperor from 1312. He was the first emperor of the House of Luxembourg...
into Italy to be crowned Emperor, and was himself made a Senator of Rome. He continued to serve Henry's cause in Italy until 1313. His grandiloquent title at this time was "Louis of Savoy, a magnificent man, by the grace of God
By the Grace of God
By the Grace of God is an introductory part of the full styles of a monarch taken to be ruling by divine right, not a title in its own right....
a most illustrious senator of the city of Rome".
Between 1314 and 1322, Louis led several campaigns against the Dauphiné
Dauphiné
The Dauphiné or Dauphiné Viennois is a former province in southeastern France, whose area roughly corresponded to that of the present departments of :Isère, :Drôme, and :Hautes-Alpes....
, a traditional rival of Savoy. In 1322 his uncle and suzerain, Amadeus V, Count of Savoy
Amadeus V, Count of Savoy
Amadeus V , surnamed the Great for his wisdom and success as a ruler, was the Count of Savoy from 1285 to 1323. He established Chambéry as his seat...
, appointed him lieutenant-general of the Canavese
Canavese
thumb|250px|Church of Santa Croce at [[Sparone]].Canavese is a subalpine geographical and historical area of north-west Italy which lies today within the Province of Turin in Piedmont. Its main town is Ivrea and it is famous for its castles.-Location:...
, south of the Alps
Alps
The Alps is one of the great mountain range systems of Europe, stretching from Austria and Slovenia in the east through Italy, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Germany to France in the west....
, and in 1330 he made him a member of the Council of Savoy, the highest organ of state in Savoy. In 1331 Louis was campaigning in Lombardy
Lombardy
Lombardy is one of the 20 regions of Italy. The capital is Milan. One-sixth of Italy's population lives in Lombardy and about one fifth of Italy's GDP is produced in this region, making it the most populous and richest region in the country and one of the richest in the whole of Europe...
in an effort to carve out a new kingdom for John the Blind, King of Bohemia. The king installed his son, the future Emperor Charles IV, as his vicar in Lombardy, and appointed Louis to be Charles's chief counsellor. The baron of Vaud had to decline the office on account of a conflict of interests, since his eldest daughter Catherine had just married Azzo Visconti, Lord of Milan.
Regent of Savoy (1343–1349)
Louis and his immediate family were present on 12 January 1334 when AmadeusAmadeus VI, Count of Savoy
Amadeus VI , nicknamed the Green Count was Count of Savoy from 1343 to 1383. He was the eldest son of Aimone, Count of Savoy and Yolande of Montferrat....
, future Count of Savoy, was baptised by the Bishop of Maurienne in the unfinished Sainte-Chapelle of the castle 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...
. On 26 June 1343, the same day as his father's funeral, Amadeus was proclaimed count, and his godfather Count Amadeus III of Geneva
Amadeus III of Geneva
Amadeus III was the Count of Geneva from 1320 until his death. He ruled the Genevois, but not the city of Geneva proper, and it was during his time that the term "Genevois" came to be used as it is today. He was the eldest son and successor of William III and Agnes, daughter of Amadeus V of Savoy...
and Louis of Vaud were proclaimed his regents, as designated in the will of his father, Count Aymon. The count of Geneva and the baron of Vaud were the first to do homage
Homage
Homage is a show or demonstration of respect or dedication to someone or something, sometimes by simple declaration but often by some more oblique reference, artistic or poetic....
to the new count of Savoy, swearing an oath to be loyal "against all who may live or die". At this time in his career—he was in his mid-fifties—Louis was "the grand old man of the dynasty in wisdom and experience."
Hundred Years' War
After 1337 Louis was frequently in France serving Philip VIPhilip VI of France
Philip VI , known as the Fortunate and of Valois, was the King of France from 1328 to his death. He was also Count of Anjou, Maine, and Valois from 1325 to 1328...
with his troops during the war with the England, the Edwardian War. In 1339 Louis's only son was killed at the Battle of Laupen
Battle of Laupen
The Battle of Laupen in 1339 was fought between the Bern and its allies on one side, and Freiburg together with feudal landholders from the County of Burgundy and Habsburg territories on the other. Bern was victorious, consolidating its position in the region...
, and his son-in-law Azzo also died, leaving his daughter Catherine as a widow and a potential heiress. Louis's requested and received from Count Aymon permission to name her his heir in the barony, an exceptional privilege given the customs of Savoy.
In 1345 Louis was fighting with John
John II of France
John II , called John the Good , was the King of France from 1350 until his death. He was the second sovereign of the House of Valois and is perhaps best remembered as the king who was vanquished at the Battle of Poitiers and taken as a captive to England.The son of Philip VI and Joan the Lame,...
, Duke of Normandy
Duke of Normandy
The Duke of Normandy is the title of the reigning monarch of the British Crown Dependancies of the Bailiwick of Guernsey and the Bailiwick of Jersey. The title traces its roots to the Duchy of Normandy . Whether the reigning sovereign is a male or female, they are always titled as the "Duke of...
, in the Limousin
Limousin (province)
Limousin is one of the traditional provinces of France around the city of Limoges. Limousin lies in the foothills of the western edge of the Massif Central, with cold weather in the winter...
and Auvergne
Auvergne (province)
Auvergne was a historic province in south central France. It was originally the feudal domain of the Counts of Auvergne. It is now the geographical and cultural area that corresponds to the former province....
against the English. In 1346 Louis, responding to a springtime summons of the French king for an army from Savoy, which owed him service for a small fief the count held in Normandy, returned to France in August, but his forces did not reach the field of the Battle of Crécy
Battle of Crécy
The Battle of Crécy took place on 26 August 1346 near Crécy in northern France, and was one of the most important battles of the Hundred Years' War...
(26 August) until evening, when the carnage was over. Finding the French in retreat, and without awaiting order, Louis immediately set out in the direction of the main English army and succeeded in getting to the town of Montreuil
Montreuil-sur-Mer
Montreuil or Montreuil-sur-Mer is a sub-prefecture in the Pas-de-Calais department in northern France. It is located on the Canche river, not far from Étaples...
first, where he was able to deny entrance to the marshals of the king of England and garrison the walls and towers with his own men.
Question of the Dauphiné and the Piedmont
In 1343 Louis was tasked with presenting Savoyard fears about the agreed upon sale of the Dauphiné to Philip, Duke of OrléansPhilip of Valois, Duke of Orléans
Philip of Valois , Duke of Orléans, of Touraine and Count of Valois, the fifth son of Philip VI of France of Valois, King of France, and Joan the Lame....
, a younger son of the French king, to the chancellor of France. Nothing seems to have come of Louis's diplomacy, but he and fellow regent Amadeus III had been reconciled to the plan by January 1344, when they agreed to a marriage between their youthful charge and Joan, a daughter of Peter I, Duke of Bourbon
Peter I, Duke of Bourbon
Peter I of Bourbon was the second Duke of Bourbon, from 1342 to his death.Peter was son of Louis I of Bourbon, whom he also succeeded as Grand Chamberlain of France, and Mary of Avesnes....
, and thus a grand-niece of the French king.
In 1347 Louis again tried to block the French acquisition of the Dauphiné. When the reigning dauphin, Humbert II
Humbert II of Viennois
Humbert II de la Tour-du-Pin was the Dauphin of the Viennois from 1333 to 16 July 1349. He was a son of the Dauphin John II and Beatrice of Hungary...
, returned from his Smyrniote crusade a widower in the spring, Pope Clement VI
Pope Clement VI
Pope Clement VI , bornPierre Roger, the fourth of the Avignon Popes, was pope from May 1342 until his death in December of 1352...
, who formerly favoured the French, encouraged him to remarry and sire an heir. The papal change of mind was probably induced by the several embassies which Louis can be shown to have sent to the papal court at Avignon
Avignon Papacy
The Avignon Papacy was the period from 1309 to 1376 during which seven Popes resided in Avignon, in modern-day France. This arose from the conflict between the Papacy and the French crown....
during the year, from surviving treasury accounts. In May Louis was preparing to once again lead an army to the aid of France, in obedience to a summons, when he received word that his cousin James, 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...
, was threatened by an alliance of the Visconti
House of Visconti
Visconti is the family name of two important Italian noble dynasties of the Middle Ages. There are two distinct Visconti families: The first one in the Republic of Pisa in the mid twelfth century who achieved prominence first in Pisa, then in Sardinia where they became rulers of Gallura...
of Milan, former relatives by marriage of Louis's, and Marquis John II of Montferrat. The lord of Piedmont held extensive lands in the Canavese, of which Louis was lieutenant-general. Before leaving for France, Louis sent the marshal of Savoy, Antelme de Miolans, to the Piedmont with an army. After his return Louis took the cases of the Dauphiné and the Piedmont to the papal court, where he stayed through the winter of 1347–48.
"After sixty years of active and adventurous life", Louis died late in 1348 or early the next year, certainly before 29 January 1349, possibly of the Black Death
Black Death
The Black Death was one of the most devastating pandemics in human history, peaking in Europe between 1348 and 1350. Of several competing theories, the dominant explanation for the Black Death is the plague theory, which attributes the outbreak to the bacterium Yersinia pestis. Thought to have...
then sweeping Europe.