Charles Emmanuel I, Duke of Savoy

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Charles Emmanuel I, Duke of Savoy.

Charles Emmanuel I (Italian: Carlo Emanuele I di Savoia, January 12, 1562 – July 26, 1630), surnamed the Great, was the Duke of Savoy from 1580 to 1630. He was also nicknamed Testa d' feu ("Head of Fire") for his marked military attitudes.

[edit] Biography

He was born in the family castle at Rivoli, Piedmont, the only child of Emmanuel Philibert, Duke of Savoy and Margaret of France, Duchess of Berry. He became duke on August 30, 1580.

An ambitious and self-esteeming person, he followed a policy of expansion for his duchy. In the autumn of 1588, taking advantage of the civil war tearing France during the reign of Henry III, he occupied the Marquisate of Saluzzo, which were under the French protection. The new king, Henry IV, demanded the restitution of that land, but Charles Emmanuel refused, and a war ensued. The conflict ended with the peace of Vervins (May 2, 1598) which left unsolved the question of Saluzzo. After the duke started talks with Spain, Henry menaced to reopen the war, until, with the peace of Lyon (January 17, 1601) Saluzzo went to Savoy in exchange of Bresse and other territories over the Alps, and also persecution of Protestants were to be carried on in the Duchy.

Coat of Arms of the Dukes of Savoy after Emmanuel Philibert.

With the Treaty of Bruzolo (April 25, 1610) Charles Emmanuel allied with France against Spain, but the assassination of Henry IV changed the situation as the treaty was not recognized by Marie de' Medici, mother of Henry's successor. In the events leading to the War of Mantuan Succession Charles Emmanuel obtained the help of French troops to free Alba from the Spaniards (January 1617), as the new King Louis XIII restarted his father's alliance with Savoy. His daughter Marie Christine was married with Charles Emmanuel's son, Victor Amadeus in 1619.

However, when the French occupied Casale Monferrato, Charles Emmanuel allied with Spain. When Richelieu invaded Piedmont and conquered Susa, the duke changed again side and returned to an alliance with France. However, when Philip IV of Spain sent two invasion forces from Genoa and Como, Charles Emmanuel declared neutral, and in 1630 Richelieu ordered a French army in march to force him to obey the pacts. The French troops, soon backed by another army, occupied Pinerolo and Avigliana. The Savoy army under Victor Amadeus was defeated in Lower Valsusa.

The duke, caught by a violent fever, died suddenly at Savigliano in late July 1630. He was succeeded by his son Victor Amadeus.

[edit] Marriage and issue

He married Catherina Michaella, daughter of Philip II of Spain and Elizabeth of Valois and had ten children:

Filippo Emanuele (1586-1605)
Victor Amadeus (1587-1637)
Emanuele Filiberto (1588-1624), Spanish Viceroy of Sicily (1622-24)
Maurizio, a cardinal (1593-1657)
Margaret (1589-1655), married Francesco IV Gonzaga of Mantua
Isabella (1591-1626), married Alfonso II d'Este, duke of Modena
Maria Apollonia, a nun in Rome (1594-1656)
Francesca Catherina, a nun in Biella (1595-1640)
Tommaso Francesco (1596-1656)
Giovanna (born 1597)

After the death of his wife, he never remarried but was father to another eleven illegitimate children from 1600 onwards by the following mistresses, Luisa de Duing, Argentina Provana, Marguerite de Roussilon, Virginia Pallavicino, Anna Caterina Meraviglia and Anna Felizita Cusa.