Aymon III of Geneva
Encyclopedia
Aymon III or Aimon III a soldier, statesman and Crusader, was the twelfth Count of Geneva
between January 1367 and his death seven months thence. He was the eldest son and successor of Amadeus III
and Mahaut d'Auvergne. He pursued a policy of alliance and cooperation with the House of Savoy
begun by his father. By all contemporary accounts, he was "handsome [and] possessed great charm of person and of manner."
in Italy when they were ambushed by some members of an English “great company
”. Aymon was among those captured and forced to pay a ransom for his freedom. Aymon later accompanied Amadeus to Avignon
, then the residence of the Popes
, and stayed at an inn under "the sign of the Fleurs-de-Lys and the Stag" (signum Florum Lilii et Cervi) beside the hostelry of Saint-Georges between 2/3 and 13 December 1362. The purpose of the trip to Avignon was for Amadeus to confer with King John II of France
and to plan a punitive campaign against the great companies ravaging southeastern France and Italy, but Pope Urban V
envisaged a new crusade against the Ottoman Turks
and sought to bring them into a great anti-Turkish alliance. In the summer of 1363 Aymon took part in Amadeus' campaign to force the Margrave Frederick II of Saluzzo
into submission.
royal court, Aymon made a bid to marry Joanna, Duchess of Durazzo
, a niece of the powerful Queen Joanna I of Naples. This faction persuaded the duchess that Aymon was a superior suitor to the one proposed by the queen, Frederick II of Sicily
, to whom a marriage would have a meant a rapprochement between the Neapolitan and Sicilian kingdoms, and that he was "more beautiful" (pulcrior) than Louis of Navarre, another suitor and the one Joanna eventually married. When Joanna finally met Aymon, she immediately fell in love. Among the courtiers who persuaded the young Joanna to refuse to marry Frederick in favour of Aymon was the latter's uncle, Cardinal Guy of Boulogne
. He and Joanna's great uncle Elias Talleyrand were opposing candidates for the Papacy in 1362, and the latter made several attempts to frustrate Aymon's marriage to Joanna. Guy's proposed marriage was, however, deeply opposed by the dominant court faction and the populace generally, as it was thought it would jeopardise a final peace with Sicily. The proposed marriage to Joanna fell through, as did her proposed union with Frederick. In his will Aymon arranged the repayment of a debt of 1,400 ducat
s to Pierre d'Ameil, who as Archbishop of Naples had supported his project, and who had become Archbishop of Embrun as a reward from Aimon's brother, the Antipope Clement VII
. Piere d'Ameil's letters, many containing coded passages, are the principal source for Aimon and Joanna's romance.
On 23 May 1366, shortly before leaving on Crusade, Aymon made a written agreement to marry Margaret, eldest daughter of the late Henri de Joinville, Count of Vaudémont, but the marriage never took place because of his death.
that departed in 1366. He joined Amadeus of Savoy's army at Venice
in June that year, along with some mercenary companies and a host of Burgundians
. The crusader fleet totalled some fifteen vessels, including six Venetian galleys. Aymon, "the lord of Geneva" (monsieur de Genève), was named "admiral" of one of the galleys. On 3 January 1366 Amadeus had made up his will in case of his death overseas, naming as his heirs general first his son (and his issue) and then his second cousin's younger children, Amadeus and Louis
, and finally to Aymon of Geneva on the condition that he adopt the name and arms of the house of Savoy. This will never went into effect, since Amadeus returned alive, and Aymon predeceased him anyway.
The crusade was not ultimately successful in dislodging the Turks from Europe, but it did remove them from Gallipoli
and free the Emperor John V Palaiologos
from the Bulgars
. Aymon, "[having] distinguished himself by his bravery", returned with the Crusade to Venice on 29 July 1367. There he remained for two weeks, possibly ill or wounded. He passed through Padua
and Pavia
on his return trip to Geneva, where his father had died in January. At Pavia Aymon was received by Galeazzo II Visconti
, who loaned him money, on or near 20 August. There he fell ill and dictated his will to a notary in his room in the castle. His will is dated 30 August, and he died that day or the next, leaving the county to his brother Amadeus IV
. He was buried beside his father in the chapel of the church of Notre-Dame de Liesse at Annecy
. News of his death reached Amadeus of Savoy at Venice on 6 September, and the community of Annecy by 9 September.
Count of Geneva
The County of Geneva, largely corresponding to the later Genevois province, originated in the tenth century, in the Burgundian Kingdom of Arles which fell to the Holy Roman Empire in 1032.-History:...
between January 1367 and his death seven months thence. He was the eldest son and successor of Amadeus III
Amadeus III of Geneva
Amadeus III was the Count of Geneva from 1320 until his death. He ruled the Genevois, but not the city of Geneva proper, and it was during his time that the term "Genevois" came to be used as it is today. He was the eldest son and successor of William III and Agnes, daughter of Amadeus V of Savoy...
and Mahaut d'Auvergne. He pursued a policy of alliance and cooperation with the House of Savoy
House of Savoy
The House of Savoy was formed in the early 11th century in the historical Savoy region. Through gradual expansion, it grew from ruling a small county in that region to eventually rule the Kingdom of Italy from 1861 until the end of World War II, king of Croatia and King of Armenia...
begun by his father. By all contemporary accounts, he was "handsome [and] possessed great charm of person and of manner."
Youth of soldiering
During his youth, while still only heir to Geneva, Aymon was frequently in the entourage of his first cousin once removed, Count Amadeus VI of Savoy. On 20 October 1361 Aymon was with his cousin's army at the castle of LanzoLanzo Torinese
Lanzo Torinese is a comune in the Province of Turin, region of Piedmont, northwestern Italy. It is located about 30 km northwest of Turin at the mouth of the Valli di Lanzo.-History:...
in Italy when they were ambushed by some members of an English “great company
Great Company
The Great Company may refer to one of several armies of mercenaries in the late medieval period:*The free companies that ravaged France and Italy* Catalan Company, sometimes called the Catalan Great Company...
”. Aymon was among those captured and forced to pay a ransom for his freedom. Aymon later accompanied Amadeus to Avignon
Avignon
Avignon is a French commune in southeastern France in the départment of the Vaucluse bordered by the left bank of the Rhône river. Of the 94,787 inhabitants of the city on 1 January 2010, 12 000 live in the ancient town centre surrounded by its medieval ramparts.Often referred to as the...
, then the residence of the Popes
Avignon Papacy
The Avignon Papacy was the period from 1309 to 1376 during which seven Popes resided in Avignon, in modern-day France. This arose from the conflict between the Papacy and the French crown....
, and stayed at an inn under "the sign of the Fleurs-de-Lys and the Stag" (signum Florum Lilii et Cervi) beside the hostelry of Saint-Georges between 2/3 and 13 December 1362. The purpose of the trip to Avignon was for Amadeus to confer with King John II of France
John II of France
John II , called John the Good , was the King of France from 1350 until his death. He was the second sovereign of the House of Valois and is perhaps best remembered as the king who was vanquished at the Battle of Poitiers and taken as a captive to England.The son of Philip VI and Joan the Lame,...
and to plan a punitive campaign against the great companies ravaging southeastern France and Italy, but Pope Urban V
Pope Urban V
Pope Urban V , born Guillaume Grimoard, was Pope from 1362 to 1370.-Biography:Grimoard was a native of Grizac in Languedoc . He became a Benedictine and a doctor in Canon Law, teaching at Montpellier and Avignon...
envisaged a new crusade against the Ottoman Turks
Ottoman Turks
The Ottoman Turks were the Turkish-speaking population of the Ottoman Empire who formed the base of the state's military and ruling classes. Reliable information about the early history of Ottoman Turks is scarce, but they take their Turkish name, Osmanlı , from the house of Osman I The Ottoman...
and sought to bring them into a great anti-Turkish alliance. In the summer of 1363 Aymon took part in Amadeus' campaign to force the Margrave Frederick II of Saluzzo
Frederick II of Saluzzo
Frederick II was marquess of Saluzzo from 1357 to his death. He succeeded his father, Thomas II of Saluzzo.His mother was Ricciarda Visconti. She was a daughter of Galeazzo I Visconti, Lord of Milan and Beatrice d'Este...
into submission.
Marriage proposals
With the help of a faction at the NeapolitanNaples
Naples is a city in Southern Italy, situated on the country's west coast by the Gulf of Naples. Lying between two notable volcanic regions, Mount Vesuvius and the Phlegraean Fields, it is the capital of the region of Campania and of the province of Naples...
royal court, Aymon made a bid to marry Joanna, Duchess of Durazzo
Joanna, Duchess of Durazzo
Joanna of Durazzo was the eldest daughter and eldest surviving child of Charles, Duke of Durazzo and his wife Maria of Calabria. She succeeded as Duchess on the death of her father in 1348 when she was only a child of four years old. Joanna was a member of the House of Anjou-Durazzo.She reigned as...
, a niece of the powerful Queen Joanna I of Naples. This faction persuaded the duchess that Aymon was a superior suitor to the one proposed by the queen, Frederick II of Sicily
Frederick III of Sicily
Frederick II was the regent and subsequently King of Sicily from 1295 until his death. He was the third son of Peter III of Aragon and served in the War of the Sicilian Vespers on behalf of his father and brothers, Alfonso and James...
, to whom a marriage would have a meant a rapprochement between the Neapolitan and Sicilian kingdoms, and that he was "more beautiful" (pulcrior) than Louis of Navarre, another suitor and the one Joanna eventually married. When Joanna finally met Aymon, she immediately fell in love. Among the courtiers who persuaded the young Joanna to refuse to marry Frederick in favour of Aymon was the latter's uncle, Cardinal Guy of Boulogne
Guy of Boulogne
Guy of Boulogne was a statesman and a churchman, serving the Avignon Papacy for 33 years. He participated in the papal conclaves of 1352, 1362 and 1370, and was the Subdean of the Sacred College of Cardinals. His diplomatic postings were extensive...
. He and Joanna's great uncle Elias Talleyrand were opposing candidates for the Papacy in 1362, and the latter made several attempts to frustrate Aymon's marriage to Joanna. Guy's proposed marriage was, however, deeply opposed by the dominant court faction and the populace generally, as it was thought it would jeopardise a final peace with Sicily. The proposed marriage to Joanna fell through, as did her proposed union with Frederick. In his will Aymon arranged the repayment of a debt of 1,400 ducat
Ducat
The ducat is a gold coin that was used as a trade coin throughout Europe before World War I. Its weight is 3.4909 grams of .986 gold, which is 0.1107 troy ounce, actual gold weight...
s to Pierre d'Ameil, who as Archbishop of Naples had supported his project, and who had become Archbishop of Embrun as a reward from Aimon's brother, the Antipope Clement VII
Antipope Clement VII
Robert of Geneva was elected to the papacy as Pope Clement VII by the French cardinals who opposed Urban VI, and was the first Avignon antipope of the Western Schism.-Biography:...
. Piere d'Ameil's letters, many containing coded passages, are the principal source for Aimon and Joanna's romance.
On 23 May 1366, shortly before leaving on Crusade, Aymon made a written agreement to marry Margaret, eldest daughter of the late Henri de Joinville, Count of Vaudémont, but the marriage never took place because of his death.
Crusade and death
Although in 1364, when the Order of the Collar was formed with Amadeus III of Geneva as a member, the count made a promise to go on the crusade, he was unable to fulfill it personally due to ill health, and sent his son Aymon in his place. Aymon was thus the leader of the Genevan contingent on the Savoyard crusadeSavoyard crusade
The Savoyard crusade was born out of the same planning that led to the Alexandrian Crusade. It was the brainchild of Pope Urban V and was led by Amadeus VI, Count of Savoy, against the Ottoman Empire in eastern Europe...
that departed in 1366. He joined Amadeus of Savoy's army at Venice
Venice
Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
in June that year, along with some mercenary companies and a host of Burgundians
Duchy of Burgundy
The Duchy of Burgundy , was heir to an ancient and prestigious reputation and a large division of the lands of the Second Kingdom of Burgundy and in its own right was one of the geographically larger ducal territories in the emergence of Early Modern Europe from Medieval Europe.Even in that...
. The crusader fleet totalled some fifteen vessels, including six Venetian galleys. Aymon, "the lord of Geneva" (monsieur de Genève), was named "admiral" of one of the galleys. On 3 January 1366 Amadeus had made up his will in case of his death overseas, naming as his heirs general first his son (and his issue) and then his second cousin's younger children, Amadeus and Louis
Louis of Piedmont
Louis was the Lord of Piedmont and titular Prince of Achaea from 1402. He was a son of James of Piedmont and Marguerite de Beaujeu ....
, and finally to Aymon of Geneva on the condition that he adopt the name and arms of the house of Savoy. This will never went into effect, since Amadeus returned alive, and Aymon predeceased him anyway.
The crusade was not ultimately successful in dislodging the Turks from Europe, but it did remove them from Gallipoli
Gallipoli
The Gallipoli peninsula is located in Turkish Thrace , the European part of Turkey, with the Aegean Sea to the west and the Dardanelles straits to the east. Gallipoli derives its name from the Greek "Καλλίπολις" , meaning "Beautiful City"...
and free the Emperor John V Palaiologos
John V Palaiologos
John V Palaiologos was a Byzantine emperor, who succeeded his father in 1341, at age nine.-Biography:...
from the Bulgars
Second Bulgarian Empire
The Second Bulgarian Empire was a medieval Bulgarian state which existed between 1185 and 1396 . A successor of the First Bulgarian Empire, it reached the peak of its power under Kaloyan and Ivan Asen II before gradually being conquered by the Ottomans in the late 14th-early 15th century...
. Aymon, "[having] distinguished himself by his bravery", returned with the Crusade to Venice on 29 July 1367. There he remained for two weeks, possibly ill or wounded. He passed through Padua
Padua
Padua is a city and comune in the Veneto, northern Italy. It is the capital of the province of Padua and the economic and communications hub of the area. Padua's population is 212,500 . The city is sometimes included, with Venice and Treviso, in the Padua-Treviso-Venice Metropolitan Area, having...
and Pavia
Pavia
Pavia , the ancient Ticinum, is a town and comune of south-western Lombardy, northern Italy, 35 km south of Milan on the lower Ticino river near its confluence with the Po. It is the capital of the province of Pavia. It has a population of c. 71,000...
on his return trip to Geneva, where his father had died in January. At Pavia Aymon was received by Galeazzo II Visconti
Galeazzo II Visconti
-External links:*...
, who loaned him money, on or near 20 August. There he fell ill and dictated his will to a notary in his room in the castle. His will is dated 30 August, and he died that day or the next, leaving the county to his brother Amadeus IV
Amadeus IV of Geneva
Amadeus IV was the Count of Geneva from 1367 until his death. He was the second son of Amadeus III and Mahaut d'Auvergne. He succeeded his childless brother Aymon III in August 1367...
. He was buried beside his father in the chapel of the church of Notre-Dame de Liesse at Annecy
Annecy
Annecy is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.It lies on the northern tip of Lake Annecy , 35 kilometres south of Geneva.-Administration:...
. News of his death reached Amadeus of Savoy at Venice on 6 September, and the community of Annecy by 9 September.