Background
He was the eldest son of Thomas II of Savoy and Beatrice di Fieschi, niece of Pope Innocent IV. Upon the death of his father, Thomas became Count in his paternal estates in Piedmont.
He was the eldest son of Thomas II of Savoy and Beatrice di Fieschi, niece of Pope Innocent IV. Upon the death of his father, Thomas became Count in his paternal estates in Piedmont.
However, his late father"s younger brother Peter of Savoy, a sonless nobleman who had resided in England for much of his life, was recognized as count. After Peter"s death in 1268, Thomas continued his claim although Philip of Savoy, archbishop of Lyon, the youngest surviving brother of his father and also sonless, succeeded in the county and was recognized. Philip, first of the line of Savoy-Achaea, lasting from 1285 to 1418
Peter
Thomas
Amadeus
William
Philip and Thomas were in dispute much of their reigns 1268-1282.
However, ultimately count Philip made Amadeus V of Savoy (1249–1323), the next younger brother of Thomas III as his heir in Savoy.
Amadeus founded the line of Counts of Savoy which continues to modern days and until 1418, the extinction of Thomas III"s line, was genealogically a cadet branch of this House. Thomas III was fatally wounded in a border dispute with Humbert I of Viennois in 1282.
