Rene of Savoy

At birth, Renato received possession of the ancient lord of the House of Savoy in Switzerland - Villars . In 1498, he married Anna Lascari (1487–1554), heir to the county of Tend on the French-Italian frontier. With his brother Philibert II (1480-1504), he actually ruled the Duchy of Savoy , fulfilling the duties of a monarch even in ceremonies on the occasion of his marriage to Austrian Margarita . The latter saw a political rival in René, accused him of conspiring with the Swiss and expelled him from the limits of Savoy.

Like many other Italians, the “ great bastard of Savoy ” ( Fr. Grand Bâtard de Savoie ) found refuge in France, under the wing of his sister Louise of Savoy . In 1515, his nephew Francis Angouleme ascended the French throne. The earl of Tende was immediately appointed governor of Provence , and after the death of the duke de Roanne (1519), he replaced him as chief steward of the court ceremonies. Comte de Villard actively participated in the pursuit of the constable de Bourbon and in the division of his lands, and in the battle of Pavia he was captured with the king; died of wounds.

Two years later, his daughter Magdalena married Anne de Montmorency , who succeeded his father-in-law as chief steward of the court. As the Count of Tend, he was succeeded by the son Honore , who after the murder of Coligny was promoted not only to marshals , but also to the admirals of France (that is, he became the head of the entire French fleet). His only daughter married another fanatical Catholic, the Duke de Mayenne ; their granddaughter, Louis Maria, was the Queen of Poland .

With this, the legitimate offspring of the "great bastard" died out in the men's knee. His illegitimate male descendants existed in relative obscurity in the 18th century. On the offspring of his daughter Magdalena, see the article by Anne de Montmorency , on the offspring of Rene's granddaughter - the article by Honore d'Urfe .

• Curriculum Vitae in Dictionnaire de la Noblesse (1774)