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Honoré II de Savoie
Marquis de Villars
(>1511–80)

Other names: Honorat

Biographical

Marquis de Villars 1565–80†
Comte de Villars 1531 (cr Savoy)
Comte de Tende
Conte di Sommariva del Bosco
Vicomte de Castillon-sur-Dordogne 1540
Baron d'Aiguillon 1540
Baron Madaillan 1540
Baron de Montpezat 1540
Baron de Sainte-Livrade 1540
Baron de Dolmayrac 1540
Baron du Grand-Pressigny1525
Baron d'Hauvet
Signore del Maro
Signore di Prela
Seigneur de Loyes
Seigneur de Vernant
Seigneur de Limon
Seigneur de Villeneuve
Seigneur de Cipières
Seigneur de la Garde
Seigneur de le Loubet
Seigneur d'Antibes
Seigneur de Ferrière-Larçon
Seigneur de Gourdans 1525
Seigneur de Bâtie-d'Albanois 1525
Seigneur d'Apremont, Bresse 1525
Seigneur de Surpierre 1525
Seigneur de Sainte-Menehould 1524
Seigneur de Passavant 1524
Seigneur de Vassy 1524
Seigneur de la vigne de Lucey 1525
Knight of the Order of the Holy Spirit 1578 [France]
Knight of the Order of Saint Michael 1549 [France]

Privy councillor in France 1572
Marshal of France 1571
Admiral of France 1571
Lieutenant general of Guyenne 1570–77 res.
Lieutenant general of Languedoc 1547–62 res.
Seneschal of Provence
Gentleman of the bedchamber to the King of France 1533

Honoré is said to have been born after the 24th of June 1511 as he is not mentioned in his father's will drawne on that date. Soon after becoming of age, he embarked on his military career. He was present at the campaign of Picardy in 1536, and in the following year, he was under the command of Admiral d'Annebault. He had little time for family life as the king constantly required his presence on the battlefields, and as he was away serving his country, his wife, Jeanne de Foix, died suddenly in 1542. Honoré was bestowed with favours and dignities under the new king of France, Henri II. He was appointed lieutenant general of Languedoc in 1547, and entered Toulouse. The following year he received the prince of Spain, son of the Emperor. In 1550 he was commanding a military unit at Saint-Germain at Laye. In 1552 he was called to accompany Henri II to Lorraine, and was present at the taking of Metz, Toul, and Verdun. He was also present at the siege of Hesdin where he was captured and imprisoned for a short period in 1553. He was seriously wounded at the Battle of Saint-Quentin in 1557, but this did not prevent him from rescuing Corbie besieged by the Imperialists. A staunch Catholic, Honoré took part in the rigorous repression of the Reformists that was to follow, along with his brother, Claude, and devoted himself entirely to the King's cause. In 1562 he was sent to Poitou by Charles IX to monitor the Reformists, and in 1565 he accompanied the king on his tour of France. He fought against the Huguenots at the Battle of Saint-Denis in 1567, and at the Battle of Moncontour in 1569, where he distinguished himself. Appointed lieutenant general of Guyenne in 1570, he commanded an army to subdue the Huguenots there. In 1572 his nephew, Honoré, Comte de Tende, died without a will, and there arose conflict between Honoré the elder and his niece, Renée, dame d'Urfé, over the succession of Tende, Marro, Prela, and other Provençal lands. Eventually, troops were sent to Tende as factions on both sides clashed, with those supporting Honoré being banished by Renée. By 1575, the Duke of Savoy intervened and acquired Tende and other disputed lands through an agreement. Honoré was by now war-weary and in poor health and in 1577 he resigned his post as lieutenant general of Guyenne. He retired to Pressigny.

Place of death: Pressigny-en-Touraine
Place of burial: Pressigny-en-Touraine

Son of René de Savoie and Anna Lascaris. He married Jeanne de Foix in 1540 and had issue. He also had illegitimate issue.

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