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Principe Eugenio Ilarione di Savoia
1st Conte di Villafranca
(1753–85)

Biographical

1st Conte di Villafranca
Knight of the Order of the Holy Annunciation 1773 [Italy]

Colonel

Eugenio joined the French service and was made colonel of the Villefranche Regiment. He married in 1779 without the knowledge of King Victor Amadeus III. Once the King was aware of the marriage, he was indignant and had Prince Eugenio expulsed from the royal house. Intervention was sought from the parliament of Paris and the marriage was annulled in October 1780. This scandal caused the King to issue royal decrees regulating marriages of the Savoy princes when previously, they were governed by unwritten dynastic rules. Prince Eugenio was soon pardoned by the King, and his rights to the succession were restored, along with his marriage being recognised by royal decree in November 1780. However, his marriage was morganatic, and his descendants would have no right to the royal succession. He was confirmed as count of Villafranca, transmissible to his descendants, and Savoy arms indicating their morganatic quality. In February 1781 he was required to repeat the marriage ceremony at Saint-Malo.

Place of birth: Turin
Place of marriage: Castle at Parc, Saint-Malo
Place of death: Domart sur la Luce

Son of Luigi Vittorio di Savoia and Christine, Landgravine of Hesse-Rheinfels-Rotenburg. He married Elisabeth Magon de Boisgarin in 1779, and had issue.

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