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Tommaso Francesco di Savoia
1st Principe di Carignano
(1596-1656)

Biographical

1st Principe di Carignano 1620–56†
Marchese di Carignano 1620
Marchese di Racconigi 1620–56†
Marchese di Busca 1620–56†
Marquis de Châtelard en Bauges
Signore di Villafranca 1620-56†
Signore di Cavallermaggiore 1620–56†
Signore di Caselle 1620–56†
Signore di Roaschia 1620–56†
Signore di Roccavione 1620–56†
Signore di Vigone 1620–56†
Signore di Barge 1620–56†
Signore di Peveragno 1620–56†
Signore di Boves 1620–56†
Seigneur de Rochemont
Knight of the Order of the Holy Annunciation 1618 [Italy]

Grand Master of France 1664
General of the French Armies in Italy
General of the Spanish army at Flanders 1634
Lieutenant general of Savoy 1626

Tommaso first assumed arms under his father, who was one of the most eminent soldiers of his time. His father's military talents, courage, frequent wars, and excellence in mentoring rapidly brought forward Thomas who particularly distinguished himself at the battle of Corniento, and at the siege of Asti. The Treaty of Monçon closed his Italian campaign, and he went to France where he married a daughter of the Count of Soissons, trusting to place himself in that Kingdom that was fitting to his birth and rank in life. Cardinal de Richelieu was, however, opposed to the family of Savoy, and cast so many difficulties in Tommaso's way that he was unable to surmount them, and he retired to Spain where he was well received.

In Spain, he was appointed Commander of the Spanish Armies in the Low Countries. In his first campaign in 1634, Tommaso was defeated at the battle of Avein, as the soldiers under his command failed to support him. But he soon recovered this ill-fortune, since in 1635, he raised the siege of Louvain, and obliged the French Army to retreat into Holland. The following year he marched his army into France, where La Capelle, Chatelet on the Sambre, and Bouchain, became his first conquests. He next attacked Corbie by siege, but when the French forces arrived, Tommaso was obliged to retreat. But even this was carried out in a way to add to his military reputation, which he afterwards increased by forcing Marshal Châtillon to raise the siege of St Omers.

The death of his brother, the Duke of Savoy, on the 7th of October, 1637, caused Tommaso to leave the Netherlands, to attend his own interests in Italy. The will of his brother, the late Duke, had appointed his Duchess, the tutoress of his two sons, and Regent of the Dukedom. Tommaso and his brother, Cardinal Maurice, claimed the same office, and while they were supported by the King of Spain, France embraced the cause of the Duchess. The Civil War which followed, lasted several years, and was finally concluded by Tommaso and the Cardinal withdrawing their claims through the intervention of Louis XIII. By this time, Cardinal Richelieu had died, so Tommaso connected with France, and he was soon employed by that nation to defend Savoy from the Spaniards. He was still as successful as he had formerly been, and in February 1664, he was made Grand Master of France, a position he held until his death.

Place of death: Turin
Place of marriage: Paris
Place of death: Turin
Place of burial: San Giovanni, Turin

Son of Carlo Emanuele I di Savoia and Infanta Catalina of Spain. He married Marie de Bourbon-Soissons in 1625, and had issue.

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