SAVOY, HOUSE OF, one of the most ancient royal families, and also distin guished for having produced a remarkable number of eminent warriors and states men. Its origin is not historically es tablished, but most genealogists trace it to a German count, Humbert, who, in the 11th century, established himself on the W. slope of the Alps between Mont Blanc and Lake Leman. In 1111 his descend ants were enrolled among the counts of the Holy Roman empire. Count Ama deus, in 1383, founded a law of primo geniture which greatly strengthened the family, leading to the immediate acquisi tion of the territory of Nice. In 1416 the Counts of Savoy adopted the title of duke; and in 1418 they acquired the principality of Piedmont. Taking part in the great wars between France and the Holy Roman empire, now on the one side and then on the other, as policy dic tated, the Princes of Savoy increased their possessions in all directions, but chiefly toward the S.; and at the peace of Utrecht in 1713 they obtained the is land of Sicily, with the title of king.
Sicily had to be exchanged, in 1718, for the isle of Sardinia, to which henceforth the royal dignity remained attached. Genoa and the surrounding territory were added to the Sardinian crown at the peace of 1815. The direct male line of the house of Savoy died out with King Charles Felix, in 1831, and the existing Salic law prohibiting the accession of females, the crown fell to Prince Charles Albert, of the House of Savoy-Carignan. The latter branch—taking its name from a small town in the province of Turin, was founded by Thomas Francis, born in 1596, a younger son of Duke Charles Emanuel I. of Savoy. King Charles Al bert, the first of the house of Savciy Carignan, abdicated the throne, March 23, 1849, in favor of his son, Victor Em manuel II., the first King of Italy. See VICTOR EMMANUEL.