The Duchy of Savoy (Italian: Ducato di Savoia; French: Duché de Savoie) was a territorial entity of the Savoyard state that existed from 1416 until 1847 and was a possession of the House of Savoy. It was created when Sigismund, Holy Roman Emperor, raised the County of Savoy into a duchy for Amadeus VIII.

Duchy of Savoy (red) and other Italian states in 1494. By the 8th century, the territory that would later become known as Savoy was part of Francia, and at the division of Francia at the Treaty of Verdun in 843, it became part of the short-lived kingdom of Middle Francia.

County of Savoy; Duchy of Savoy; Sicily; Sardinia; Italy; France [a] Spain; Albania; Croatia; Jerusalem; Cyprus; Armenia; Founded: 1003; 1022 years ago () Founder: Umberto I of Savoy: Current head: Disputed: ... The House of Savoy (Italian: Casa Savoia) is an Italian royal house (formally a dynasty) ...

The Duchy of Savoy celebrated its 600 years in 2016. The name Amadeus VIII the Peaceful reverberates the intricacies of Savoyard history. His first title was Count of Savoy, Aosta, and Maurienne.

In the early modern period, Savoy became an object of French expansion because of its strategic position commanding the roads into Italy. Although Savoy was occupied a number of times by French troops in the 16th and 17th centuries, the dukes of Savoy were able to recover it.

Flag of Savoy The location of the duchy in 1600. The Duchy of Savoy was a monarchy in northern Italy and southwest France. It was ruled by the Savoy family. They took their name from the territory. From 1416 to 1562, the capital of the state was Chambéry. From 1562 to 1713, after which the capital was Turin.

Situated in the western Alps with its capital at Chamb é ry, the duchy of Savoy began as a county of the Holy Roman Empire in the Middle Ages. During the reign of Amadeus VIII (1391 – 1436), the duchy acquired significant territory in Piedmont, east of the Alps, and its ruler was promoted to the status of duke by the Holy Roman emperor in 1416.

In 1415, Emperor Sigismund raised the Country of Savoy to a Dukedom and Amadeus became its first Duke. The new duchy was further enlarged at the death of his relative, Louis of Savoy, Duke of Piedmont, the last descendant of Thomas II of Savoy who had founded the Piedmont branch of the dynasty. The Duke also nominated a supporter as Bishop of ...

Beyond the powdered wigs and satin gowns, the Duchy of Savoy was a geopolitical hotspot, a veritable hot potato of a territory, passing back and forth between France, the Holy Roman Empire and the House of Savoy like a medieval game of catch.

History map of the Growth of Savoy, 1418-1748; illustrating the County of Savoy about 1280, Domain of the Duchy of Savoy in 1418.