Charles II, Duke of Savoy


Charles II
Duke of Savoy
Reign13 March 1490 – 16 April 1496
PredecessorCharles I
SuccessorPhilip II
Born23 June 1489
Turin, Piedmont, Duchy of Savoy
Died16 April 1496(1496-04-16) (aged 6)
Moncalieri, Duchy of Savoy
HouseSavoy
FatherCharles I
MotherBlanche of Montferrat

Charles II or Charles John Amadeus (Carlo Giovanni Amedeo in Italian) (23 June 1489, [citation needed] Turin, Piedmont – 16 April 1496), was the Duke of Savoy from 1490 to 1496 but his mother Blanche of Montferrat (1472–1519) was the actual ruler as a regent.[1] In 1485 his father Charles I had received the hereditary rights to the Kingdoms of Cyprus, Jerusalem, and Armenia which were inherited by young Charles.

Biography

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Coat of Arms of the Dukes of Savoy

During his reign, Charles VIII of France invaded Italy and conquered Naples; and the House of Savoy, under Blanche's regency, allowed Charles free passage through the duchy.[2][3]

Born in Turin, Duke Charles died in Moncalieri at about seven, falling by his bed. His duchy was therefore inherited by his granduncle Philip II (reigned 1496–1497), the male heir of the Savoy line. Charles's heir-general was his underage sister Violante Ludovica, who was married to Philip's eldest son Philibert the Handsome. Violante however died in 1499, 12 years old and childless, leaving the 18-year-old Philibert (who had succeeded his elderly father as Duke in 1497) a widower. Charles's and Violanta's next heir general was their first cousin Princess Charlotte of Naples (1479–1506), daughter of their aunt Anne of Savoy. The next year, Charlotte married Nicolas Guy de Montfort, Count of Laval (as Guy XVΙ). Their female descendants claimed the Kingdom of Jerusalem, although de jure their claims to the Kingdom of Cyprus, Jerusalem and Armenia (as well as the rights of René of Valois-Anjou) belong to the line of the heir general, not to the line of Philip II, Duke of Savoy.

References

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  1. ^ Sabaudian Studies: Political Culture, Dynasty, and Territory (1400–1700), ed. Matthew Vester, (Truman State University Press, 2013), ix.
  2. ^ Sabaudian Studies: Political Culture, Dynasty, and Territory (1400–1700), ed. MAtthew Vester,(Truman State University Press, 2013), 6.
  3. ^ Michael Mallett and Christine Shaw, The Italian Wars, 1494–1559, (Pearson Education Limited, 2012), 6.
Charles II, Duke of Savoy
Born: 23 June 1489 Died: 16 April 1496
Regnal titles
Preceded by Duke of Savoy
1490–1496
Succeeded by
Titles in pretence
Preceded by — TITULAR —
King of Armenia
King of Cyprus
King of Jerusalem

1490–1496
Succeeded by
Succeeded by