TheHouseofSavoyItalianCasaSavoiawasformedintheearlyeleventhcenturyinthehistoricalSavoyregionThroughgradualexpansionitgrewfromrulingasmallcountyinthatregiontoeventuallyruletheKingdomofItalyuntiltheendoftheSecondWorldWarAtthetimethatitendedin1946theHouseofSavoywasthelongestsurvivingroyalhouseinEuropesecondonlyperhapstoJapansintheworld1 ThenameHouseofSavoyderivesfromthehistoricalregionSavoyinthenFrancethatemergedalongwiththefreecommunesofSwitzerlandinwhatisnowcalledSwitzerlandOvertimethehousegrewfromthatregiontorulealmostalloftheItalianPeninsulaYettheirgrowthandsurvivaloverthecenturieswasnotbasedonspectacularconquestsbutongradualterritorialexpansionthroughmarriageandmethodicalandhighlymanipulativepoliticalacquisitions ThehousedescendedfromHumbertICountofSabaudiaUmbertoIBiancamano10031047or1048ThoughoriginallyapoorcountylaterheirstothethronewerediplomaticallyskilledandgainedcontroloverstrategicmountainpassesintheAlpsTwoofHumbertssonswerebishopsattheAbbeyofSaintMauriceontheRiverRhoneeastofGenevaandSaintMauriceisstillthepatronoftheHouseofSavoy HumbertssonOttoofSavoyascendedthethronein1051afterthedeathofhiselderbrotherAmedeoandmarriedtheMarchionessAdelaideofTurinpassingtheMarquessateofSusawiththetownsofTurinandPinerolointotheHouseofSavoyspossession2ThisdiplomaticskillcausedthegreatpowerssuchasFranceEnglandandSpaintotakethedukesopinionsintoaccount TheyoncehadclaimsonthemoderncantonofVaudinSwitzerlandbuttheiraccesstoitwascutbyGenevaduringtheProtestantReformationafterwhichitwasconqueredbyBernPiedmontwaslaterjoinedwithSabaudiaandthenameevolvedintoSavoyItalianSavoiaThepeopleofSavoyweredescendedfromtheCeltsandRomansTherearemanyItaliansintheareaalongwithFrenchneartheFrenchborder BythetimeAmadeusVIIIofSavoycametopowerinthelatefourteenthcenturytheHouseofSavoyhadgonethroughaseriesofgradualterritorialexpansionsandhewaselevatedbytheHolyRomanEmperorSigismundtotheDukeofSavoyin1416 HowevertheyearsoftheRenaissanceinEuropewitnessedtheinvasionandoccupationofPiedmointbytheFrenchWhenCharlesVIIIofFranceinvadedSavoyPiedmontandItalyin1494andconqueredNaplestheHouseofSavoyretreatedandestablisheditsresidenceinTurinwheretheyremaineduntiltheunificationofItaly WhenEmmanuelPhilibertDukeofSavoycametopowerin1553mostSavoylandswereinFrenchhandsSoheofferedtoservetheHabsburgsinhopesofrecoveringhislandsandservedPhilipIIasGovernoroftheNetherlandsfrom15551559InthiscapacityheledtheSpanishinvasionofnorthernFranceandwonavictoryatSaintQuentinin1557HetookadvantageofvarioussquabblesinEuropetoslowlyregainterritoryfromboththeFrenchandtheSpanishincludingthecityofTurinHemovedthecapitaloftheduchyfromChambrytoTurinandreplacedLatinastheduchysofficiallanguagewithItalian TheseventeenthcenturybroughtabouteconomicdevelopmenttotheTurinareaandtheHouseofSavoytookpartinandbenefitedfromthatCharlesEmmanuelIIDukeofSavoydevelopedtheportofNiceandbuiltaroadthroughtheAlpstowardsFranceAndthroughskillfulpoliticalmaneuversterritorialexpansioncontinuedInearlyeighteenthcenturyintheWaroftheSpanishSuccessionVictorAmadeusIIofSardiniaswitchedsidestoassisttheHapsburgsandviatheTreatyofUtrechttheyrewardedhimwithlargepiecesoflandinnortheasternItalyandaCrowninSicily ThecrownofSicilytheprestigeofbeingkingsatlastandthewealthofPalermohelpedstrengthentheHouseofSavoyfurtherandtheyestablishedthemselvesintheKingdomofSardiniaIn1792PiedmontSardiniajoinedtheFirstCoalitionagainsttheFrenchFirstRepublicbutwasbeatenin1796byNapoleonandforcedtoconcludethedisadvantageousTreatyofParis1796givingtheFrencharmyfreepassagethroughPiedmontIn1798JoubertoccupiedTurinandforcedCharlesEmmanuelIVtoabdicateandleavefortheislandofSardiniaEventuallyin1814thekingdomwasrestoredandenlargedwiththeadditionoftheformerRepublicofGenoabytheCongressofVienna InthemeantimenationalistfiguressuchasGiuseppeMazziniwereinfluencingpopularopinionMazzinibelievedthatItalianunificationcouldonlybeachievedthroughapopularuprisingbutafterthefailureofthe1848revolutionstheItaliannationalistsbegantolooktotheKingdomofSardiniaanditsprimeministerCountCavourastheleadersoftheunificationmovementIn1848undertheStatutoAlbertinoconstitutionCharlesAlbertIofSardiniaconcededtotheKingdomofSardiniaincludingalsomostpartsofnorthwesternItalysuchasPiedmontTheStatutoAlbertinoremainedatthebasisoftheKingdomslegalsystemevenafterItalianunificationwasachievedandtheKingdomofSardiniabecametheKingdomofItalyin1861 TheKingdomofItalywasthefirstItalianstatetoincludetheItalianPeninsulasincethefalloftheRomanEmpireButwhenVictorEmmanuelIIofSavoywascrownedKingofItalyin1861hisreigndidnotcontrolVenetiaandLazioYettheHouseofSavoycontinuedtoruleItalyforseveraldecadesthroughtheItalianIndependencewarsastheItalianunificationcontinuedandevenastheFirstWorldWarragedonintheearly20thcentury OverthecenturiestheHouseofSavoyhaditsshareofcontroversiesincludingmassacresofunarmedciviliansincludingchildrenandoldpeopleonmorethanoneoccasion IntheseventeenthcenturybasedonperhapsfalsereportsofresistancebyWaldensiansinApril1655CharlesEmmanuelIIDukeofSavoyorderedtheirgeneralmassacreThemassacrewassobrutalitarousedindignationthroughoutEuropeOliverCromwellthenrulerinEnglandbeganpetitioningonbehalfoftheWaldensianswritinglettersraisingcontributionscallingageneralfastinEnglandandthreateningtosendmilitaryforcestotherescueThemassacrepromptedJohnMiltonsfamoussonnetOntheLateMassacreinPiedmont InthenineteenthcenturytheBavaBeccarismassacreinMilaninvolvedtheuseofcannonsagainstunarmedprotestersincludingwomenandoldpeopleduringriotsinMilanovertherisingpriceofbreadKingUmbertoIoftheHouseofSavoycongratulatedGeneralFiorenzoBavaBeccarisforthemassacreanddecoratedhimwiththemedalofGreatOfficialofSavoyMilitaryOrdergreatlyoutragingalargepartofthepublicopinionAsaresultUmbertoIwasassassinatedinJuly1900inMonzabyGaetanoBrescithebrotherofoneofthewomenmassacredinthecrowdwhotraveledbacktoItalyfromtheUnitedStatesfortheassassination WhentheFirstWorldWarendedtheTreatyofVersaillesfellshortofwhathadbeenpromisedintheLondonPacttoItalyAstheeconomicconditionsinItalyworsenedafterthewarpopularresentmentandalongwithittheseedsofItalianfascismbegantogrowandresultedintheMarchonRomebyBenitoMussolini GeneralPietroBadoglioadvisedKingVictorEmmanuelIIIoftheHouseofSavoythathecouldeasilysweepMussoliniandhisragtagBlackshirtarmytoonesidebutVictorEmmanueldecidedtotolerateMussoliniLatertheKingsfailureinthefaceofmountingevidencetomoveagainsttheMussoliniregimesabusesofpowerledtomuchcriticismThoughtheKingclaimedinhismemoirsthatitwasthefearofacivilwarthatmotivatedhisactionsitwouldseemthathereceivedsomealternativeadvicepossiblyfromAntonioSalandraandpossiblysomeproFascistelementsinhisimmediatefamilyincludingMargheritaofSavoyhismotherInretrospectmembersoftheHouseofSavoyandthemoneyedclassinItalyfeltthatMussoliniandhisregimeofferedamorestableandappealingoptiontotheotheralternativetheyperceivedsocialism EventuallytheKingsdecisionhaddirefutureconsequencesforItalyandforthemonarchyitselfOnOctober281922VictorEmmanuelIIIselectedMussolinitobecomeItalianPrimeMinisterallowingMussoliniandtheFascistPartytopursuetheirpoliticalambitionsaslongastheysupportedthemonarchyAsMussoliniandtheaxispowersfailedintheSecondWorldWarin1943VictorEmmanuelremovedMussolinifromofficeandnamedPietroBadoglioashisreplacementHoweverhemadeablunderwhenhenegotiatedasurrendertotheAllieswithoutorderingthearmytodefendRomeLeftwithoutordersthearmyvirtuallydisintegratedVictorEmmanuelandhisgovernmentfledsouthtoBrindisiVictorEmmanueltransferredmostofhispowerstohissonCrownPrinceUmbertoinApril1944WithinayearpublicopinionforcedaplebiscitetodecidebetweenretainingthemonarchyorbecomingarepublicInhopesofinfluencingthevoteVictorEmmanuelformallyabdicatedonMay91946Itdidnotwork54ofthevotersfavoreddeclaringarepublicinthereferendumheldlessthanamonthlaterTheSavoyfamilywasrequiredtoleavethecountryTakingrefugeinEgyptVictorEmmanueldiedinAlexandriain1947andwasburiedthere TheruleoftheHouseofSavoythusendedwiththe1946referendumbywhichItalianschosetherepublicastheformofstateseealsobirthoftheItalianRepublicUndertheConstitutionoftheItalianRepublicmaledescendantsoftheHouseofSavoywereforbiddenfromenteringItalyThisprovisionwasremovedin2002butaspartofthedealtobeallowedbackintoItalyVittorioEmanuelethelastclaimanttotheHouseofSavoyrenouncedallclaimstothethrone3 TheResidencesoftheRoyalHouseofSavoyinTurinandtheneighbourhoodareprotectedasaWorldHeritageSiteAlthoughthetitlesanddistinctionsoftheItalianroyalfamilyhavebeenlegallyabolishedtheremainingmembersoftheHouseofSavoystillinsistonusingvarioustitlesincludingtheCountsofSavoytheDukesofSavoytheKingsofSardiniaandtheKingsofItaly CurrentlytheleadershipoftheHouseofSavoyiscontestedbytwocousinsVictorEmmanuelPrinceofNapleswhousedtoclaimthetitleofKingofItalyandDukeAmadeoofSavoywhostillclaimsthetitleoftheDukeofSavoyTheirrivalryhasnotalwaysbeenpeacefulonMay212004followingadinnerheldbyKingJuanCarlosIofSpainontheeveoftheweddingofhissonFelipePrinceofAsturiasVittorioEmanuelepunchedAmadeoofSavoyDukeofAostatwiceintheface4 TheremainingmembersoftheHouseofSavoyhavebeenengulfedincontroversyinthetwentyfirstcenturyOnJune162006VittorioEmanuelewasarrestedinVarennaandimprisonedinPotenzaonchargesofcorruptionandrecruitmentofprostitutesforclientsoftheCasindiCampionecasinoofCampionedItalia567AfterseveraldaysVittorioEmanuelewasreleasedandplacedunderhousearrestinstead8HewasreleasedfromhousearrestonJuly20buthehadtostayinsidetheItalianborders VittorioEmanuelessonEmanueleFilibertoofSavoyworksinGenevaasahedgefundmanagerIn2007lawyersrepresentingthefatherandsonwrotetoItalianPresidentGiorgioNapolitanoseekingdamagesfortheiryearsinexile9DuringatelevisioninterviewEmanueleFilibertoalsorequestedthatRomanlandmarkssuchastheQuirinalepalaceandVillaAdashouldreturntotheSavoyfamilyTheItalianprimeministersofficehasreleasedastatementstatingthattheSavoysarenotowedanydamagesandsuggestingthattheItalymaydemanddamagesfromtheSavoysfortheircollusionwithBenitoMussoliniTheItalianconstitutioncontainsaclausestrippingtheSavoysoftheirwealthonexile1011 MainBranch SavoyCarignanoBranch AsofJuly72006theleadershipoftheHouseofSavoyisnowcontestedbytwocousins SeealsoListsofincumbentsListofPresidentsoftheItalianRepublic NameofthedynastyRealeCasadiSavoia MottoFERT VITTORIOAMEDEOIIIperlagraziadiDioRediSardegnaCiproGerusalemmeeArmeniaDucadiSavoiaMonferratoChablaisAostaeGenevesePrincipediPiemonteedOnegliaMarchesedItaliaSaluzzoSusaIvreaCevaMaroOristanoSezanaContediMorianaGenevaNizzaTendaAstiAlessandriaGoceanoBaronediVaudediFaucignySignorediVercelliPineroloTarantasiaLumellinoValdiSesiaPrincipeeVicarioperpetuodelSacroRomanoImperioinItalia TheEnglishtranslationisVictorAmadeusIIIbytheGraceofGodKingofSardiniaCyprusJerusalemandArmeniaDukeofSavoyMontferratChablaisAostaandGenoaPrinceofPiedmontandOnegliaMarquessinItalyofSaluzzoSusaIvreaCevaMaroOristanoSezanaCountofMaurienneGenevaNiceTendeAstiAlessandriaGoceanoBaronofVaudandFaucignyLordofVercelliPineroloTarantasiaLumellinoValdiSesiaPrinceandperpetualVicaroftheHolyRomanEmpireinItaly VictorEmmanuelIIbytheGraceofGodandtheWilloftheNationKingofItalyKingofSardiniaCyprusJerusalemArmeniaDukeofSavoycountofMaurienneMarquisoftheHolyRomanEmpireinItalyprinceofPiedmontCarignanoOnegliaPoirinoTrinoPrinceandPerpetualvicaroftheHolyRomanEmpireprinceofCarmagnolaMontmellianwithArbinandFrancinprincebailliffoftheDuchyofAostaPrinceofChieriDroneroCrescentinoRivadiChierieBannaBuscaBeneBrDukeofGenoaMonferratAostaDukeofChablaisGenevoisDukeofPiacenzaMarquisofSaluzzoSalucesIvreaSusadelMaroOristanoCesanaSavonaTarantasiaBorgomaneroeCureggioCaselleRivoliPianezzaGovoneSalussolaRacconigiconTegeroneMigliabrunaeMotturoneCavallermaggioreMareneModaneeLanslebourgLivornoFerrarisSanthiAgliCentalloeDemonteDesanaGhemmeVigoneCountofBargeVillafrancaGinevraNizzaTendaRomontAstiAlessandriadelGoceanoNovaraTortonaBobbioSoissonsSantAntiocoPollenzoRoccabrunaTricerroBairoOzegnadelleApertoleBaronofVaudedelFaucigniLordofVercelliPinerolodellaLomellinadellaValleSesiadelmarchesatodiCevaOverlordofMonacoRoccabrunaand1112thofMentonNoblepatricianofVenicepatricianofFerrara ThesetitleswereusedduringtheunifiedKingdomofItalywhichlastedfrom186019461 TheHouseofSavoyhasheldtwodynasticorderssince1434whichwerebroughtintotheKingdomofItalyasnationalordersAlthoughtheKingdomofItalyceasedtoexistin1946KingUmbertoIIdidnotabdicatehisroleasfonshonorumoverthetwodynasticordersoverwhichthefamilyhaslongheldsovereigntyandgrandmastershipThefollowingarethedynasticordersoftheRoyalHouseofSavoyTodayHRHVictorEmmanuelPrinceofNaplesishereditarySovereignandGrandMasteroftheseorders RecentlyallthreeofVictorEmmanuelssistersHRHPrincessMariaPiaofBourbonParmaHRHPrincessMariaGabriellaofSavoyandHRHPrincessMariaBeatriceofSavoyresignedfrombothofthesedynasticordersallegingthatmembershipsintheordershadbeensoldtounworthycandidatesanewfoundpracticetheycouldnotabide13 InadditiontothesetheHouseofSavoyclaimssovereigntyovertheCivilOrderofSavoyandtheOrderofMeritofSavoywhicharemeritordersoftheRoyalHouse