Background
He was the granduncle of the previous duke Charles II, and the youngest surviving son of Duke Louis of Savoy and Anne of Cyprus.
He was the granduncle of the previous duke Charles II, and the youngest surviving son of Duke Louis of Savoy and Anne of Cyprus.
However, he was not the heir general of the previous duke, there being several females before him in the line of succession. However, the plan did not succeed: the girl died at age twelve. (Philip had already died in the meantime) The children of the daughters of Philip"s eldest brother Duke Amedeo IX of Savoy were next in line, and were entitled to the inheritance of the line of heirs-general, including Cyprus and Jerusalem.
Despite the fact that Cyprus and Jerusalem did not bar succession in female line, Philip however took those claims and used those titles as well.
His male successors in Savoy also continued to do so, thus giving their ducal title a higher, royal titulary. His original apanage was the district of Bresse, close to the French and Burgundian border, but it was lost and therefore Philip received his sobriquet "the Landless", or "Lackland".
First marriage Second marriage Illegitimate issue He also had eight illegitimate children by two mistresses. With Libera Portoneri: Antonia of Savoy, married Jean II, Lord of Monaco Peter of Savoy, Bishop of Geneva With Bona di Romagnano: Claudina (Claudia) of Savoy (d 2 May 1528), married to Jacob III, Count of Horne (d 15 August 1531).
Philippina (Philippa) of Savoy, married Lorenzo de" Medici Margherita (Margaret) of Savoy Giovanna (Johanna) of Savoy Michele (Michael) of Savoy, a priest Philip is an ancestor, through an illegitimate daughter of Honorat II of Savoy, of Joséphine de Beauharnais, first wife of Napoleon.
He spent most of his life as a junior member of the ducal family.