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René, Le Grand Bâtard de Savoie
Marquis de Villars
(1473–1525)

Biographical

Marquis de Villars 1498–1503 depr; >1505–25†
Comte de Villars 1498–1503 depr; >1505–25†
Comte de Tende 1501–25†
Conte di Ventimiglia 1501–25†
Conte di Sommariva del Bosco 1501–03 depr; >1505–25†
Comte de Beaufort-en-Vallée 1516
Baron du Grand-Pressigny 1523 (purch.)
Signore del Maro
Signore di Prelà
Seigneur de Antibes
Seigneur de Cagnes
Seigneur de le Loubet
Signore di Verrua 1500–03 depr; 1515–25†
Seigneur de Arvières
Seigneur de la Garde
Signore di Lezenasco
Signore di Torria
Signore di Aurigo
Seigneur d'Apremont 1498–1503 depr; 1515–25†
Seigneur de Gourdans 1498–1503 depr; 1515–25†
Seigneur de Cipières 1498–1503 depr
Seigneur de Loyes 1498–1503 depr; 1515–25†
Seigneur de Caussols
Seigneur de la Bastie d'Albanais 1500–03 depr; 1515–25†
Seigneur de Surpierre
Seigneur de la vigne de Lucey
Seigneur de Virieu-le-Grand 1500–03 depr; 1515–25†
Seigneur de Saint-Julien-sur-Reyssouze 1500–03 depr; 1515–25†
Seigneur de Ferrière-Larçon 1523 (purch.)
Signore di Limone
Signore di Vernante
Seigneur de Villeneuve
Signore di Lavina
Signore di Cenova
Signore di Caravonega
Signore di Larzeno
Signore di San Bartolomeo
Signore di Montegrosso
Signore di Borghetto
Signore di Mendatica
Signore di Pornassio
Signore di Carpasio
Signore di Villatalla
Signore di Valloria
Signore di Caneto
Signore di Pantasina
Signore di Stonzo
Grand Collar of the Order of St Michael 1517 [France]

Ambassador extraordinary to Switzerland 1516
Grand Master of France 1515
Governor of Provence 1515
Grand Seneschal of Provence 1515
Lieutenant general of Provence 1515
French General
Governor of Mondovì 1501
Governor of Nice 1500–03
Governor of Savoy 1499
Lieutenant-general of Savoy 1499
Chamberlain to the King of France
Councillor to the King of France

One of the many sons of Philippe II, Count of Savoy, René was born out of wedlock and was educated at the court of Milan where his aunt, Bona of Savoy, was regent. After 1482, when his father was forced to relinquish his position as governor of Savoy and leave Piedmont, René was sent to the court of Emperor Maximilian I who granted him a pension and a lordship of a castle in Burgundy. In 1490 his father made peace with Bianca of Montferrat, regent of Savoy, and he returned to Piedmont with René, where they were granted benefits and allowances. Previously known as the bastard of Bresse from his father's appanage, he became known as the bastard of Savoy after his father succeeded to the duchy, and he became one of his father's closest associates. Philippe had René legitimised, and appointed him the heir to Savoy in the event of the death of his legitimate heirs. After his father's death in 1497 René enjoyed good relations with his half-brother, Duke Philibert II, and he was awarded a number of honours. However, his influence at court and on Philibert soon became a source of tension and hostility. Like his father and most of his family, René was enthusiastic in his devotion to France, and after the marriage of Philibert with the fervently anti-French Margaret of Habsburg, relations between the half-brothers were damaged. At the instigation of Margaret, René was expelled from the duchy in 1503. Retiring to Virieu-le-Grand, he was deprived of all of his offices and fiefdoms in Piedmont after Margaret took him to trial and obtained a decree of confiscation against him (she appropriated Villars for herself). Additionally, Margaret persuaded her father, the Emperor, to annul the deed which had legitimised René. René then sought asylum in France, and in 1504 he became a citizen. At the court of Louis XII, he and his wife were to become important figures. René was put in charge of the education of the duke of Angoulême, the future François I, and he settled in Amboise. Between 1505 and 1506 Sommariva and Villars were restored to him by Duke Charles III of Savoy, and further fiefdoms followed in 1515, but his quarrel with Margaret of Habsburg continued. The complete restoration of his status was finalised by 1519, thanks to the support of his sister, Louise of Savoy, duchess of Angoulême. René continued to support the King of France and accompanied him to Italy in 1507 with his troops after the Genoa riots. He carried out other assignments on the King's behalf, including his mission to the Swiss cantons in 1508 to form an alliance. On the accession of King François I in 1515, René's position in France increased in importance, and he served the new king through important missions and diplomatic duties, and also in battle. After participating in the siege of Brescia in 1515, he moved to Milan, which was under French occupation. He distinguished himself at the Battle of Marignano in 1515, and commanded the army sent by François I to assist the Venetians in 1519. He further distinguished himself at the Battle of Bicocca in 1522. At the Battle of Pavia of 1525, he was wounded and was made prisoner, together with François I, and was imprisoned at the Spanish camp where he died from his injuries a month later. In 1562 Duke Emanuele Filiberto of Savoy recognised Duke Philibert II's legitimation of René and his descendants, and their place in the line of succession of Savoy.

Place of death: Pavia
Place of burial: Lascaris chapel, church of Santa Maria, Tenda

Illegitimate son of Philippe II de Savoie and Libera Portoneria. He married Anna Lascaris in 1501, and had issue.

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