Amadeus VII, Count of Savoy, known as the Red Count

AMADEUS VII, COUNT OF SAVOY, Known As the Red Count. - Son of Amedeo VI, Count of Savoy, and of Bona of Bourbon, born on 24 February 1360 at Chambéry. In 1377 he married Bona of Berry. When, in 1383, he received his father's succession, he already had a certain competence in political affairs. Amedeo VI had given him the government of Bresse so that he might gain experience in administration; he had waged war with the neighboring lords of Beaujeu; at the coronation of Charles VI at Reims, he had come to know the French political milieu. Nevertheless his father wished him to govern with the assistance of his mother, and she in fact held the government while A. occupied himself with war. He was in Flanders in the service of the king of France against the English; he attempted the subjugation of the Valais and of the marquisate of Saluzzo. A fortunate political undertaking was his siding with the Grimaldi and the Durazzo of Genoa, which procured for him the dedi-

tion of the county of Nice (28 September 1388) and allowed the Savoys the long-desired access to the sea. A. died at Ripaille on 1 November 1391, from septicemia caused by a wound from a fall from a horse; the sudden death gave rise to accusations of poisoning, and consequently to grave trials and to innocent victims of the ignorance and grief of the family members.

Francesco Cognasso