AMEDEO V, count of SAVOIA. — The second-born son of Tommaso di Savoia, lord of Piedmont (himself the younger son of Tommaso I, count of Savoia), and of Beatrice Fieschi, niece of Pope Innocent IV, he inherited in 1285 the possessions of his uncle Filippo I, count of Savoia, who had died without heirs. His accession to power met with some opposition from his nephew Filippo, son of his elder brother Tommaso, and from his younger brother Ludovico; but he indemnified them, ceding the paternal possessions in Piedmont to the former and Vaud to the latter as a fief. The division of the Savoyard states into three groups, established by A., was a source of trouble for the dynasty. A. nevertheless succeeded in enlarging his domains by marrying Sibilla di Bagli, lady of Bresse, a territory that proved highly beneficial economically to the Savoia. Unlike his predecessors, who had strongly felt the influence of the English court, with which they were closely related by kinship, A. drew considerably closer to the French monarchy, which appeared dominant in the territories of the old kingdom of Arles, between the Alps and the Rhône. Accordingly, the count of Savoia fought alongside Filippo IV the Fair against the English in the wars of Flanders, later attempting to act as mediator between the two parties. He did not, however, succeed in obtaining any advantage from his French relations: the king of France, Filippo IV the Fair, acted with great prudence in the disputes between Savoia and the Dauphiné, seeking to support neither one side nor the other.
A.’s second marriage, to Maria di Brabante, gave Savoyard politics considerable importance when the count’s brother-in-law, Arrigo di Lussemburgo, became King of the Germans (1308). During Arrigo VII’s descent into Italy, A. played a very important role, and the emperor showed his gratitude by granting him the title of prince of the Empire and recognizing his possession—at that time merely theoretical—of Asti. After the death of Arrigo VII, the count of Savoia again drew close to the French court, where he stayed for a long time, while his lieutenants presided over the government of the states. In Piedmont he pursued a policy of agreement with the Visconti, without allowing himself to be drawn into an open breach with King Roberto d’Angiò, against whom, however, he permitted his nephew Filippo di Acaia to pursue his military activities. As for his religious policy, his turbulent relations with the bishop of Geneva over possession of the city should be recalled, as should his journey to Avignon to discuss with Pope Giovanni XXIII the plan for a crusade. Death overtook him there, on 16 October 1323. He was Altacomba (v.).