Marquisate of Saluzzo
Encyclopedia
The Marquisate of Saluzzo was an historical Italian state
that included French and Piedmont territories on the Alps
.
occupied parts of the provinces of Cuneo
and Turin
, and at times areas now under French control. However, Saluzzo was historically the area between the Stura
, the Po
and the Alps
. the del Vasto family, who ruled Saluzzo throughout its period, also owned other areas in Liguria and Italy for the many arranged marriages, but Saluzzo never saw these territories annexed to it. Probably, if there had not been the Italian advance of Savoy, Saluzzo might have been able to conquer other lands in Piedmont, which ranking as one of the main Italian signorie
.
located in the region around Ventimiglia
, Del Vasto became masters of the city when Boniface
got it as a fief from Ulric Manfred II of Turin
and passed it to his eldest son Manfred
. From that moment the del Vasto became Marquis of the Piedmontese town and handed the title dynastically as a true signoria.
Manfred II
, who had tried to extend the marquisate beyond its domain, battled with the Savoy
and, after his death, his widow Alasia
had to recognize them a number of tributes per year: from these tributes, Savoy camped claims on their mastery over the marquisate which led them to clash repeatedly against the weak Marquis.
Often torn by internal dissension, Saluzzo reached the period of greatest splendor under the Marquess of Ludovico I
and Ludovico II
in the 15th century: the first, with a policy neutral to Italian belligerence, was able to act as mediator between the discord and received praises from the emperor and the king of France; the second looking for the glory on the battlefield, was repeatedly beaten, beginning the end for the glory of the Marquisate. During his reign, however, he was attentive in developing trade by building the first Alpine tunnel, the Buco di Viso connecting with a safe road Saluzzo with the Dauphiné
and Provence
.
At his death, however, his children fought bitterly for the throne, tearing the countryside and draining finances: when it was possible to determine the order, it was too late: France had his eye over the Marquis, and was a formality, after the deposition of the last Marquis Gabriel, annexing it to the crown of Paris
.
Saluzzo became part of France for half a century, until the Savoy, with the Treaty of Lyon (1601)
, succeeded in taking possession of it and retaining control, with alternating phases, until the Unification of Italy.
Historical states of Italy
Italy, until the present era, was a conglomeration of city-states and other small independent entities. The following is a list of the various states that made up what we now know as Italy during the past...
that included French and Piedmont territories on the Alps
Alps
The Alps is one of the great mountain range systems of Europe, stretching from Austria and Slovenia in the east through Italy, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Germany to France in the west....
.
Marquisate territories
The Marquisate of SaluzzoSaluzzo
Saluzzo is a town and former principality in the province of Cuneo, Piedmont region, Italy.The city of Saluzzo is built on a hill overlooking a vast, well-cultivated plain. Iron, lead, silver, marble, slate etc...
occupied parts of the provinces of Cuneo
Cuneo
Cuneo is a city and comune in Piedmont, Northern Italy, the capital of the province of Cuneo, the third largest of Italy’s provinces by area...
and Turin
Turin
Turin is a city and major business and cultural centre in northern Italy, capital of the Piedmont region, located mainly on the left bank of the Po River and surrounded by the Alpine arch. The population of the city proper is 909,193 while the population of the urban area is estimated by Eurostat...
, and at times areas now under French control. However, Saluzzo was historically the area between the Stura
Stura
Stura was a département of the First French Empire in present Italy. It was named after the river Stura di Demonte. It was formed in 1802, when Napoleon Bonaparte occupied the Kingdom of Sardinia. Its capital was Cuneo. It was divided into the arrondissements of Cuneo, Alba, Mondovì, Saluzzo, and...
, the Po
Po
-Places:* Po , a major Italian river* Pô , the name of a département of the First French Empire in present Italy* Potha, the name of two villages in Pakistan* Po, Wiang Kaen, a village in Chiang Rai Province, Thailand...
and the Alps
Alps
The Alps is one of the great mountain range systems of Europe, stretching from Austria and Slovenia in the east through Italy, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Germany to France in the west....
. the del Vasto family, who ruled Saluzzo throughout its period, also owned other areas in Liguria and Italy for the many arranged marriages, but Saluzzo never saw these territories annexed to it. Probably, if there had not been the Italian advance of Savoy, Saluzzo might have been able to conquer other lands in Piedmont, which ranking as one of the main Italian signorie
Signoria
A Signoria was an abstract noun meaning 'government; governing authority; de facto sovereignty; lordship in many of the Italian city states during the medieval and renaissance periods....
.
The Government of Del Vasto
Ancient and noble dynasty of LiguriaLiguria
Liguria is a coastal region of north-western Italy, the third smallest of the Italian regions. Its capital is Genoa. It is a popular region with tourists for its beautiful beaches, picturesque little towns, and good food.-Geography:...
located in the region around Ventimiglia
Ventimiglia
Ventimiglia is a city and comune in Liguria, northern Italy, in the province of Imperia. It is located southwest of Genoa by rail, and 7 km from the French-Italian border, on the Gulf of Genoa, having a small harbour at the mouth of the Roia River, which divides the town into two parts...
, Del Vasto became masters of the city when Boniface
Boniface del Vasto
Boniface del Vasto was the margrave of Western Liguria from 1084 to 1125, the son and successor of Otto. He was of the Aleramici family, which also furnished the margraves of Montferrat...
got it as a fief from Ulric Manfred II of Turin
Ulric Manfred II of Turin
Ulric Manfred II was the Margrave of Turin and Susa in the early 11th century.- Biography:...
and passed it to his eldest son Manfred
Manfred I of Saluzzo
Manfred I was the first marquess of Saluzzo, serving in that capacity from 1125 until his death. He was the eldest son of Boniface del Vasto, the margrave of Western Liguria, of a noble stock which had ruled the region between Savona and Ventimiglia for generations...
. From that moment the del Vasto became Marquis of the Piedmontese town and handed the title dynastically as a true signoria.
Manfred II
Manfred II of Saluzzo
Manfred II was the second marquess of Saluzzo from his father's death in 1175 to his own. He was the son of Manfred I and Eleanor. He placed the capital of the margravate definitively in Saluzzo....
, who had tried to extend the marquisate beyond its domain, battled with the Savoy
Savoy
Savoy is a region of France. It comprises roughly the territory of the Western Alps situated between Lake Geneva in the north and Monaco and the Mediterranean coast in the south....
and, after his death, his widow Alasia
Azalaïs of Montferrat
Azalaïs of Montferrat was marchioness and regent of Saluzzo.-Biography:Azalaïs was one of at least three daughters of William V of Montferrat and his wife Judith of Babenberg...
had to recognize them a number of tributes per year: from these tributes, Savoy camped claims on their mastery over the marquisate which led them to clash repeatedly against the weak Marquis.
Ludovico I of Saluzzo
Ludovico I del Vasto was Marquess of Saluzzo from 1416 until his death.The son of Marquess Thomas III, he held the Marquisate of Saluzzo for much of the 15th century, under its period of greatest splendour...
and Ludovico II
Ludovico II of Saluzzo
Ludovico II del Vasto was marquess of Saluzzo from 1475 until his death. Before his accession ar marquis he held the title of Count of Carmagnola....
in the 15th century: the first, with a policy neutral to Italian belligerence, was able to act as mediator between the discord and received praises from the emperor and the king of France; the second looking for the glory on the battlefield, was repeatedly beaten, beginning the end for the glory of the Marquisate. During his reign, however, he was attentive in developing trade by building the first Alpine tunnel, the Buco di Viso connecting with a safe road Saluzzo with the Dauphiné
Dauphiné
The Dauphiné or Dauphiné Viennois is a former province in southeastern France, whose area roughly corresponded to that of the present departments of :Isère, :Drôme, and :Hautes-Alpes....
and Provence
Provence
Provence ; Provençal: Provença in classical norm or Prouvènço in Mistralian norm) is a region of south eastern France on the Mediterranean adjacent to Italy. It is part of the administrative région of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur...
.
At his death, however, his children fought bitterly for the throne, tearing the countryside and draining finances: when it was possible to determine the order, it was too late: France had his eye over the Marquis, and was a formality, after the deposition of the last Marquis Gabriel, annexing it to the crown of Paris
Kingdom of France
The Kingdom of France was one of the most powerful states to exist in Europe during the second millennium.It originated from the Western portion of the Frankish empire, and consolidated significant power and influence over the next thousand years. Louis XIV, also known as the Sun King, developed a...
.
Saluzzo became part of France for half a century, until the Savoy, with the Treaty of Lyon (1601)
Treaty of Lyon (1601)
The Treaty of Lyon was signed on January 17, 1601 between France, Spain, and Savoy. Based on the terms of the treaty, Henry IV of France relinquished Saluzzo to Savoy. In return, he acquired Bugey, Valromey, Gex, and Bresse. Eventually, the territory of Bresse was attached to the French military...
, succeeded in taking possession of it and retaining control, with alternating phases, until the Unification of Italy.
See also
- SaluzzoSaluzzoSaluzzo is a town and former principality in the province of Cuneo, Piedmont region, Italy.The city of Saluzzo is built on a hill overlooking a vast, well-cultivated plain. Iron, lead, silver, marble, slate etc...
- List of Margraves of Saluzzo
- County of SavoyCounty of SavoyThe Counts of Savoy emerged, along with the free communes of Switzerland, from the collapse of the Burgundian Kingdom of Arles in the 11th century....
- Duchy of SavoyDuchy of SavoyFrom 1416 to 1847, the House of Savoy ruled the eponymous Duchy of Savoy . The Duchy was a state in the northern part of the Italian Peninsula, with some territories that are now in France. It was a continuation of the County of Savoy...
- PiedmontPiedmontPiedmont is one of the 20 regions of Italy. It has an area of 25,402 square kilometres and a population of about 4.4 million. The capital of Piedmont is Turin. The main local language is Piedmontese. Occitan is also spoken by a minority in the Occitan Valleys situated in the Provinces of...
- Province of CuneoProvince of Cuneoayr is a province in the southwest of the Piedmont region of Italy. To the west it borders on the French region of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur ....