Background
He was born in Turin, Piedmont to Charles Emmanuel I, Duke of Savoy and Catherine Micaela of Spain, daughter of King Philip II of Spain. Victor Amadeus became Duke of Savoy after his father"s death in 1630.
He was born in Turin, Piedmont to Charles Emmanuel I, Duke of Savoy and Catherine Micaela of Spain, daughter of King Philip II of Spain. Victor Amadeus became Duke of Savoy after his father"s death in 1630.
He was titular King of Cyprus and Jerusalem. He was also known as the Lion of Susa. He stayed there until the king"s death in 1598, when Victor Amadeus was 11.
As money was lacking to recruit mercenaries or train indigenous soldiers, Victor Amadeus signed a peace treaty with Spain.
With the Treaty of Cherasco, Savoy was forced to give Pinerolo to France. This gave France a strategic route into the heart of Savoy territory and on into the rest of Italy.
The rulers of Savoy from that point resented this loss, and worked for decades with the goal of regaining that loss. Subsequently, under the direction of Cardinal Richelieu, Victor Amadeus attempted to create an anti-Spanish league in Italy.
On 25 September of that year, Victor Amadeus fell ill after a dinner offered by the Duke of Créqui.
He was carried to Vercelli, where he died on 7 October, aged 50. Titles and styles 8 May 1587 – 21 January 1607 His Highness Prince Victor Amadeus of Savoy 21 January 1607 – 26 July 1630 His Highness the Prince of Piedmont 26 July 1630 – 7 October 1637 His Highness the Duke of Savoy.
Charles Emmanuel"s policies had brought a great instability in the relationships with both France and Spain, and troops were needed to defend the Duchy.