Humberto III (the Blessed) of Savoy, Count of Savoy

Male 1136 - 1189  (53 years)


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  • Name Humberto III (the Blessed) of Savoy 
    Suffix Count of Savoy 
    Born 1136  Avigliana, Piemonte, Italy Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Gender Male 
    Died 04 Mar 1189  Chambery, Departement de la Savoie Rhône-Alpes, France Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Buried Abbaye de Hautecombe Saint-Pierre-de-Curtille Departement de la Savoie Rhône-Alpes, France Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Notes 
    • Wikipedia
      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humbert_III,_Count_of_Savoy

      Umberto III (1136, Avigliana, Piedmont-4 March 1188, Chambéry, Savoy), surnamed the Blessed, was Count of Savoy from 1148 to 1188. His parents were Amadeus III of Savoy and Mathilde d'Albon the daughter of Guigues III of Albon. He ceded rights and benefits to monasteries and played a decisive role in the organization of Hautecombe Abbey. It is said that he would rather have been monk than a sovereign. On the death of his third wife he retired to Hautecombe, but then changed his mind and, by his fourth wife finally had son, Thomas.

      He is an important figure in medieval society, as attested in the history of House of Savoy. His life was characterized by certain key features, including mysticism, borne of a vocation and tradition of the contemplative life, which came about in the events of his time as warrior and politician, which he undertook exclusively for dynastic reasons.

      He inherited from his father, as well as from his grandfather, Umberto II, the dream of reconstituting the fragmented Kingdom of Burgundy, in stark opposition to the centralizing policy of the French royal family. In his efforts he was supported by Frederick I Barbarossa, and found himself induced to play a shrewd political subjugation of neighboring feudal lords or settled among his domains. Like his father, Umberto II, who died young when he was still a minor, Amadeus III entrusted the education of his son, Umberto III to St. Amedeus of Lausanne, former abbot of Hautecombe, and under his guidance the young Umberto made great progress in studies and spiritual formation, despising the apparent splendor of worldly things, and giving himself to prayer, meditation and penance. He always left the abbey with regret, every time the family and the Savoyard nobility called him back for occupy himself with political matters.

      His father, Amadeus III, was a pilgrim in the Holy Land in 1122. In 1146 he participated in the Second Crusade, and died on the island of Cyprus in Nicosia on 1 April 1148, where he was buried, leaving the twelve-year old Umberto as heir. Although still at an early age, in 1151 Umberto was bethrothed to Faidiva, daughter of Alphonse Jourdain, Count of Toulouse. She would soon die without children. He later married Gertrude, daughter of Thierry, Count of Flanders and Sibylla of Anjou. This second marriage was annulled by reason of infertility.

      In 1164, Umberto married Clementia of Zähringen, by whom he had two daughters: Alice and Sofia. She died in 1173, and he decided to retire to Hautecombe, but not for long. In 1177, the nobility in 1177 convinced him marry for the fourth time. As wife, he took Beatrice of Mâcon, daughter Géraud I of Mâcon and Maurette de Salins. At last he had a male heir, Thomas, to continue the dynasty. Beatrice also bore him a daughter who died at the age of seven.

      Umberto's reign was long. It lasted forty years, and was characterized by struggles with the Holy Roman Emperor, various lords and count-bishops. This led to a gradual reduction of the possessions and authority of Umberto III on the Italian side, leaving him with the territories of the valleys of Susa and Aosta. In 1187, he was banished from the Holy Roman Empire by Henry VI, for supporting the emperor's opponents.

      The death of Umberto III, March 4, 1189 in Chambéry, at the age of fifty-two, was mourned sincerely by all the people. He was the first prince of Savoy to be buried in Hautecombe Abbey, which has since become a burial place for the dynasty. The last King of Italy, Umberto II, and his wife, Marie José of Belgium, are buried here.

      The spirituality of Umberto undoubtedly blossomed in an environment of ancient Christian traditions, favored especially by the example of his father, a pilgrim and crusader in the Holy Land, and of his tutor, St. Amadeus, Bishop of Lausanne. However, Umberto's life was full of contradictions: He was a lover of peace, but had frequent hostilities and wars. He was penitent, ascetic, contemplative, but was forced to take the reins of government, during which time he had a life of action, and found himself forced in marriage in order to have an heir. However, he let unmistakable signs of great moral balance, severity with himself and indulgence and love of neighbor. He was a benefactor to churches, monasteries, and charitable causes, the care of the poor. Throughout his life, he supported Hautecombe Abbey. In 1188 he founded the Monastery of Sant'Antonio di Ranverso.

    Person ID I36268  Master File
    Last Modified 7 Oct 2016 

    Father Amadeus III of Savoy,   b. ca 1095, Carignano, Piedmont, Italy Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Apr 1148, Nicosia, Cyprus Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age ~ 53 years) 
    Mother Mahaut of Albon, Countess of Savoy,   b. 1112,   d. 1148  (Age 36 years) 
    Family ID F14887  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family Beatrice of Vienne, Countess of Savoy,   b. 1160, Vienne, Rhône-Alpes, France Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 1230, Champagne-et-Fontaine, Aquitaine, France Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 70 years) 
    Children 
    +1. Tommaso (Thomas) I of Savoy, Count of Savoy, ,   b. ca 1178, Aiguebelle, Departement de la Savoie Rhône-Alpes, France Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 01 Mar 1233, Moncalieri Città Metropolitana di Torino Piemonte, Italy Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age ~ 55 years)
    Last Modified 7 Oct 2016 
    Family ID F14970  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart