Thomas Franz (Savoy-Carignan)

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Thomas of Savoy-Carignan, portrayed by Anthony van Dyck (ca.1634)

Thomas Franz von Savoyen (born December 21, 1596 in Turin ; † January 22, 1656 ibid) was Prince of Carignan from 1620 and Count of Soissons and Dreux from 1641 . He was the son of Charles Emanuel I , Duke of Savoy and Prince of Piedmont , and Catherine Michaela of Spain . He is the progenitor of the Savoy-Carignan line.

As the fourth son of the ruling duke, he was prepared for a military career at an early age. However, he was allowed to marry (which involved providing an apanage ) and start a branch line. According to the alliance between Savoy and France at the time, his bride was a French princess.

After the Peace of Cherasco , which was unsatisfactory for Savoy , he entered the service of Spain as a general and broke with his brother Viktor Amadeus , who had become heavily dependent on France. In 1635 he commanded the Spanish troops against France and lost with them the battle of Avein against Marshals Gaspard III. de Coligny and Urbain de Maillé-Brézé (1597–1650). In 1638, however, he forced Marshal Jacques Nompar de Caumont (1558-1652) to lift the siege of Saint-Omer .

When his brother Viktor Amadeus I died in 1637, he and his older brother, Moritz von Savoyen , fought with the widow Christina of France about the reign. The civil war broke out in which Christina used French help, the brothers Spanish. Due to superior resources, Christina triumphed and retained her rule. In order not to let the French influence in the weakened duchy become excessive, the family reconciled, which led to Thomas Franz transferring to French services. In 1642 he was entrusted with command of an Italian army, with Turenne among his officers for a time. He was appointed Generalissimo of the Army of France and Savoy in Italy, fought successfully, and received the title of Grand Master of France from Jules Mazarin as a reward when Condé fell from grace. He died in 1656 on a campaign in support of the Duke of Modena , Francesco I d'Este , who was attacked by the Spanish.

Thomas of Savoy married on April 14, 1625 in Paris Marie de Bourbon-Condé (1606-1692), Countess of Soissons, daughter of Charles de Bourbon , Count of Soissons and Dreux, and Anna de Montafié. Your children were:

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Commons : Thomas Franz von Savoyen-Carignan  - Collection of images, videos and audio files
predecessor Office successor
New title created Prince of Carignan
1620–1656
Emmanuel Philibert
Louis de Bourbon-Condé Count of Soissons
Count of Dreux
(de iure uxoris)
1641–1656
Eugen-Moritz
Louis II de Bourbon-Condé Grand Master of France
1654–1656
Armand de Bourbon-Conti