Thomas III of Saluzzo was Marquess of Saluzzo from 1396 until his death.
Background
He was born in Saluzzo in north-western Italy to Frederick II del Vasto and Beatrice of Geneva. He tried to continue the philo-French politics of his father, mainly to face the menace of Duke Amadeus VIII of Savoy, who aimed to conquer the whole Piedmont. In fact, the treaty stating the nominal submission to France was signed by Thomas well before his father"s death.
Career
The vassallage to French was also a consequence of the education received by Thomas, who lived in Provence for much of his youth, and travelled there in 1375, 1389, 1401, 1403 and 1405. In 1394 he was captured by Savoyard troops while he was leading a ravage in Monasterolo. Imprisoned first in Savigliano and then in Turin, he was freed only two years later after a ransom of 20,000 golden florins had been paid.
A man of great culture, Thomas was the author of one of the most important chivalry texts of the Middle Ages, Le Chevalier Errant, written probably during his imprisonment in Piedmont.
The text, written in French, is an allegory of the chevalleresque ideals. lieutenant inspired the famous frescoes in the Castello della Manta.