Jacques
de Savoie
Prince of Achaia
(c. 1315–67)
Biographical
Titular Prince of Achaia 1334–60 dep.; 1363–67†
Signore di Piemonte 1334–60 dep.; 1363–67†
Signore di Cumiana 1334-67
Jacques succeeded his father, but as he was still a minor, Piedmont was
governed by his mother and a Council of Regency. They immediately put
an end to the statue of emergency that the state had found itself in under
Philippe I. Three disadvantageous peace treaties signed with the rivals
of Piedmont signed between 1334 and 1335 resulted in a loss of territory
for Jacques. But at the same time control over urban municipalities were
strengthened after the precarious situation resulting from Ghibelline
rebellion of 1334 at Turin. By 1340 Giacomo had been given control of
governing his lands, but from 1339 to the end of the 1340s, he, and the
counts of Savoy, were involved in military clashes with the marquises
of Montferrat and the Visconti over the Canavese area and the Angevin
lands. Through arbitration in 1349, the conflict ended and Jacques saw
his political power diminished, and the loss of control of Ivrea. The
arrival of Charles IV in Italy in 1354 was an opportunity for Jacques
to recover his losses, and the emperor granted him numerous benefits,
particularly, the right to impose taxes for goods in transit in his domains.
As this affected goods through the Susa valley, relations with Amédée
VI worsened, and a crisis emerged where Jacques allied himself with the
Visconti and took Ivrea. As Piedmont was subject to Savoy, the count forced
Jacques to cease control of Ivrea and he abolished the taxes. However,
Jacques reinstated the taxes in 1359, regenerating the crisis, and combined
with other provocative abuses, such as associating his son, Philippe,
with the government without the count's consent, finally prompted Amédée
VI to invade Jacques domains, depose him, and have him imprisoned. The
relative political autonomy that the Savoy-Achaia line enjoyed was eliminated
permanently and it remained strictly under the control of the counts of
Savoy. Jacques regained control of his dominions, except for the Canavese,
in 1363 through a treaty signed the previous year, in exchange for the
promise of a large indemnity to the counts of Savoy. Also, Amédée
tool charge of the succession, ordering Jacques to marry Margaret of Beaujeu,
and whose children were made his heirs to the exclusion of his son Philippe.
In 1364 Philippe was made to renounce all rights that his father had granted
to him in connection with the governing of his dominion. Jacques amended
his will in 1366 naming Amédée, his son by Margaret, his
principal heir, in accordance with Amédée VI's orders, and
with Philippe being bequeathed some lands as a vassal to his younger brother.
Philippe rebelled soon afterwards ageist his father, using military action,
and occupying a large area of the east in 1367. Jacques denounced his
son, and fled to Pavia, and then to Pinerolo, where he died.
Place of death: Pinerolo
Place of burial: Pinerolo
Son of Philippe I de Savoie and Catherine de La Tour du Pin. He was married
firstly to Beatrice d'Este in 1338, but had no issue. He was married secondly
to Sibylle de Baux in 1339, and had issue. He was married thirdly to Marguerite
de Beaujeu in 1362 (marriage contract), and had issue. He also had illegitimate
issue.
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