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Charles Emmanuel II, Duke of Savoy
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Charles Emmanuel II (Italian: Carlo Emanuele II di Savoia, June 20, 1634 – June 12, 1675) was the Duke of Savoy from 1638 to 1675 and under regency of his mother Christine Marie of France until 1663. He was also Marquis of Saluzzo, Count of Aosta, Geneva, Moriana and Nice, as well as claimant king of Cyprus and Jerusalem.
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He was born in Turin to Victor Amadeus I, Duke of Savoy and Christine Marie of France. His maternal grandparents were Henry IV of France and his second wife Marie de' Medici.
His mother governed in his place, and even after reaching adulthood, Charles Emmanuel continued a life of pleasure, far away from the affairs of state.
He became notorious for his persecution of the Vaudois (Waldensians) culminating in the massacre of 1655. Protector Oliver Cromwell proposed to send the British Navy if the massacre was not stopped while gathering funds for helping the Waldensians. Sir Samuel Morland was commissioned with that task. He later wrote The History of the Evangelical Churches of the Valleys of Piemont (1658).
Only after the death of his mother in 1663, he really assumed power. He was not successful in gaining a passage to the sea at the expense of Genoa (Second Genoese-Savoyard War, 1672-1673), and had difficulties in retaining the influence of his powerful neighbour France.
But he greatly improved commerce and wealth in the Duchy, developing the port of Nice and building a road through the Alps towards France. He also reformed the army, which until then was mostly composed of mercenaries: he formed instead five Piedmontese regiments and recreated cavalry, as well as introducing uniforms. He also restored fortifications. He constructed many beautiful buildings in Turin, for instance the Palazzo Reale.
| Charles Emmanuel II, Duke of Savoy | Father: Victor Amadeus I, Duke of Savoy |
Paternal Grandfather: Charles Emmanuel I, Duke of Savoy |
Paternal Great-Grandfather: Emmanuel Philibert, Duke of Savoy |
| Paternal Great-grandmother: Margaret of France, Duchess of Berry |
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| Paternal Grandmother: Catherine Michelle of Spain |
Paternal Great-Grandfather: Philip II of Spain |
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| Paternal Great-Grandmother: Elisabeth of Valois |
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| Mother: Christine Marie of France |
Maternal Grandfather: Henry IV of France |
Maternal Great-Grandfather: Antoine of Navarre |
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| Maternal Great-Grandmother: Jeanne III of Navarre |
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| Maternal Grandmother: Marie de' Medici |
Maternal Great-grandfather: Francesco I de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany |
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| Maternal Great-Grandmother: Johanna of Austria |
Charles Emmanuel married
- 1. Françoise Madeleine of Orléans (b.1648-d.1664), daughter of his maternal uncle Gaston, Duke of Orléans and younger brother of his mother Christine Marie.
- 2. Marie Jeanne Baptiste de Savoie-Nemours (French) b.1644- d. March 15, 1724, regent 1675 to 1684 and had 1 child Vittorio Amedeo.
He also had a number of illegitimate children.
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Charles Emmanuel II, Duke of Savoy
Born: 20 June 1634 Died: 12 June 1675 |
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| Preceded by Francis Hyacinth and Regent Christine Marie of France (1638 - 1663) |
Duke of Savoy 1638-1675 |
Succeeded by Victor Amadeus II |