Peter II (Savoy)

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Peter of Savoy (* 1203 in Susa ; † 16 or 17 May 1268 ) was Count of Savoy and 1st Earl of Richmond (third award). He was a younger son of Thomas I.

First he was heading for a career as a cleric, was Canon of Valence , 1226 of Lausanne and 1230 of Lyon , was provost of Aosta in 1227 and of Geneva in 1229 . After the death of the Lausanne bishop Wilhelm von Ecublens , the cathedral chapter could not agree on a candidate and appointed Peter on April 6, 1229 administrator of the diocese. Since he could not assert himself in the diocese, in 1231 Bonifatius Clutinc was appointed Bishop of Lausanne by the Pope. After the death of his father, Peter gave up his spiritual offices and in 1234 married Agnes de Faucigny , daughter and heiress of Aymon II, lord of Faucigny . An invitation from Henry III. following, who had married Peter's niece Eleonore de Provence , he traveled to England in 1240 and was appointed Earl of Richmond . In addition, he received large estates and several important offices. Among other things, he was Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports .

During several visits to the continent, Peter had considerably expanded his possessions in Vaud and the surrounding area, and when he returned to England in 1252 he was in contact with Simon V de Montfort and at the same time maintained friendship with the king. After Heinrich with the negotiations with the Pope and with Louis IX. had been entrusted by France , he supported Earl Simon in his endeavors to limit the power of the king. But since he was more moderate than many members of the noble party, he switched to Heinrich's side in 1260.

In his home countries he united the countries of Faucigny and the county of Geneva to form the Genevois . The Vaud (Lausanne, Yverdon, Vevey and Payerne) recognized its suzerainty. In 1260 he invaded the county of Valais and the bishop of Sitten had to cede all areas west of the Morges river to him.

He left England in 1263 and when his nephew Boniface , Count of Savoy died that same year, he assumed the title of Count of Savoy. This was also claimed by another nephew, Thomas, but Peter forced the people of Turin to submit to him and secured the county.

The name of the Savoy Palace in London goes back to him . He was called "Little Charlemagne".

Peter left only one child:

literature

predecessor Office successor
Thomas II Count of Savoy
1263–1268
Philip I.
Peter Mauclerc Earl of Richmond
1241-1268
John I of Brittany