Emmanuel Philibert of Savoy, Prince of Carignano, was the son and heir of Thomas Francis, Prince of Carignano.
Background
He was born deaf, at Moûtiers, Savoy, now part of France. In his 20s Emmanuel Philibert followed his father Thomas in the last of his campaigns in Lombardy, acquitting himself with great valour, and two years later he was named a colonel of cavalry in the service of his distant cousin Louis XIV, King of France.
Career
He constructed the Palazzo Carignano in Turin. His being deaf greatly concerned his family. However, he eventually learned to communicate with others by lip-reading, and to speak a few words, though with great difficulty.
Under his guidance, Emmanuel Philibert learned to read and to write.
He went on to study a range of sciences under the guidance of Alessandro Tesauro,showing great aptitude. A great connoisseur of architecture, Emmanuel Philibert commissioned the Palazzo Carignano in Turin, built between 1679 and 1684.
He also commissioned major renovations to the castle of Racconigi. Guarino Guarini rebuilt an older dwelling, while the project for the park was entrusted to André le Nôtre who realised magnificent French-style gardens.
He also acted as god father to Maria Luisa"s sister, Princess Maria Adelaide, mother of Louis XV. Emmanuel Philibert died in Turin on 21 April 1709.
In 1836 his remains were brought to the church of San Michele della Chiusa in that city.
Membership
On 10 November 1684 in the Castle of Racconigi, Emmanuel Philibert, by now in his fifties, married Maria Angela Caterina d"Este, the beautiful daughter of the late General Borso d"Este, a member of the ducal family of Modena, and Ippolita d"Este, Borso"s niece.