The House of Savoy was a dynasty of nobles who traditionally had their domain in Savoy, a region between Piedmont, Italy, France and French-speaking Switzerland. They once had claims on the modern canton of Vaud in Switzerland, but their access to it was cut by Geneva during the Reformation, after which it was conquered by Bern.
They became Kings of Sardinia and later of Italy.
Their Kingdom ended with the referendum by which Italians chose the republic as the form of state — see also birth of the Italian Republic. Under the Constitution of the Italian Republic, male descendants of the House of Savoy were forbidden from entering Italy. This provision was removed in 2002.
The house descended from Humbert I, Count of Sabaudia (or "Maurienne") (Italian Umberto I "Biancamano"), (1003-1047 or 1048), and includes the Counts of Savoy, the Dukes of Savoy, the Kings of Sardinia, and the Kings of Italy. Piedmont was later joined with Sabaudia, and the name evolved into "Savoy" (Italian "Savoia").
List of rulers
Counts of Savoy
Main Branch
Dukes of Savoy
Kings of Sardinia
Savoy-Carignano Branch
Kings of Italy
Rulers of other countries
Heads of the House of Savoy since 1946:
See also: Lists of incumbents, President of Italy
Name, motto, titles
Name of the dynasty: Real Casa di Savoja.
Motto: FERT
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The Motto is believed an acronym of
- "Foedere Et Religione Tenemur" (We will be kept together by the [constitutional] pact and by religion)
- but others suggest:
- "Fortitudo Eius Rhodum Tenuit" (His [Our Lord's] strength preserved Rhodes) or
- "Fides Est Regni Tutela" (Faith is the protection of the kingdom)
- the proposed origin from "Foemina Erit Ruina Tua" (Woman will be your ruin) is obviously only a satire.
Titles of the Crown at the time of Vittorio Amedeo III:
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VITTORIO AMEDEO III, per la grazia di Dio Re di Sardegna, Cipro e Gerusalemme; Duca di Savoja, Monferrato, Chablais , Aosta, e Genevese; Principe di Piemonte ed Oneglia ; Marchese d'Italia Saluzzo, Susa, Ivrea, Ceva , Maro, Oristano, Sezana ; Conte di Moriana , Geneva, Nizza, Tenda , Asti, Alessandria, Goceano ; Barone di Vaud e di Faucigny; Signore di Vercelli, Pinerolo , Tarantasia , Lumellino , Val di Sesia ; Principe e Vicario perpetuo del Sacro Romano Imperio in Italia.
External links
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Brief history of the House with a picture of coat-of-arm
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Genealogy of recent members of the House
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House of Savoy fansite
Last updated: 10-18-2005 05:37:42
