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Birth:          4 Aug 1136 Avigliana, Piedmont
Death:          4 Mar 1189 Chambery, Savoy

Notes
possibly a Crusader
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humbert_III,_Count_of_Savoy
Umberto III (1136, Avigliana, Piedmont – 4 March 1188, Chambéry, Savoy), surnamed 
the Blessed, was Count of Savoy from 1148 to 1188. His parents were Amadeus III of 
Savoy and Mathilde d'Albon the daughter of Guigues III of Albon. He ceded rights and 
benefits to monasteries and played a decisive role in the organization of Hautecombe 
Abbey. It is said that he would rather have been monk than a sovereign. On the death 
of his third wife he retired to Hautecombe, but then changed his mind and, by his 
fourth wife finally had son, Thomas. He sided with the Guelph party of Pope Alexander 
III against the Ghibelline Emperor Frederick Barbarossa. The result was an invasion of 
his states twice: in 1174 Susa was set on fire, and in 1187 Henry VI banished him from 
the empire and wrested away most of his domains, of which he was left only with the 
valleys of Susa and Aosta. He died at Chambéry in 1189. He was the first prince 
buried at Hautecombe. His memorial day is March 4
Life and reign[edit]

Early life[edit]

Umberto III, Count of Savoy, beatified in the Catholic Church, was born around 1136 
in the castle of Avigliana, near Turin, to Count Amadeus III and Mathilde d'Albon, 
Countess of Albon and Vienne. He is an important figure in medieval society, as 
attested in the history of House of Savoy. His life was characterized by certain key 
features, including mysticism, borne of a vocation and tradition of the contemplative 
life, which came about in the events of his time as warrior and politician, which he 
undertook exclusively for dynastic reasons.

He inherited from his father, as well as from his grandfather, Umberto II, the dream of 
reconstituting the fragmented Kingdom of Burgundy, in stark opposition to the 
centralizing policy of the French royal family. In his efforts he was supported by 
Frederick I Barbarossa, and found himself induced to play a shrewd political 
subjugation of neighboring feudal lords or settled among his domains. Like his father, 
Umberto II, who died young when he was still a minor, Amadeus III entrusted the 
education of his son, Umberto III to St. Amedeus of Lausanne, former abbot of 
Hautecombe, and under his guidance the young Umberto made great progress in 
studies and spiritual formation, despising the apparent splendor of worldly things, and 
giving himself to prayer, meditation and penance.[1] To better achieve his lofty goals, 
he frequently withdrew Hautecombe Abbey, on the banks of Lake Bourget in Savoy, 
founded by his father. He always left the abbey with regret, every time the family and 
the Savoyard nobility called him back for occupy himself with political matters.

Marriages[edit]

Amadeus III was a pilgrim in the Holy Land in 1122. He went there through the offices 
of Pope Callixtus II, and in 1146 he participated in the Second Crusade, and died on 
the island of Cyprus in Nicosia on 1 April 1148, where he was buried, leaving the 
twelve-year old Umberto as heir. Although still at an early age, in 1151 Umberto was 
bethrothed to Faidiva, daughter of Alphonse Jourdain, Count of Toulouse. She would 
soon die without issue. He later married Gertrude, daughter of Thierry, Count of 
Flanders and Sibylla of Anjou. This second marriage was annulled by reason of 
infertility.

In 1164, Umberto married Clementia of Zähringen,[2] by whom he had two daughters: 
Alice and Sofia. She died in 1173, and he decided to retire to Hautecombe, but not for 
long. In 1177, the nobility in 1177 convinced him marry for the fourth time. As wife, he 
took Beatrice of Mâcon, daughter Géraud I of Mâcon and Maurette de Salins. At last 
he had a male heir, Thomas, to continue the dynasty. Beatrice also bore him a 
daughter who died at the age of seven.

His Reign[edit]

Umberto's reign was long. It lasted forty years, and was characterized by struggles 
with the Holy Roman Emperor, various lords and count-bishops. The main reason for 
conflict consisted in the patronage of the Bishop of Turin by Frederick Barbarossa, 
who dreamed of undisturbed dominance of the capital of Piedmont. This led to a 
gradual reduction of the possessions and authority of Umberto III on the Italian side, 
leaving him with the rump territories of the valleys of Susa and Aosta. In 1187, he was 
banished from the Holy Roman Empire by Henry VI, for supporting the emperor's 
opponents. He did not retire, as has been said, to his Alpine domains, devoting himself 
in particular to the practice of personal virtues and fraternal charity. also he promoted 
the foundation of Precettoria of St. Anthony of Ranverso at Buttigliera Alta, not far 
from the town of Avigliana, entrusting it to Antoniani from Vienne, France.

His Death[edit]

The death of Umberto III, March 4, 1189 in Chambéry, at the age of fifty-two, was 
mourned sincerely by all the people. He was the first prince of Savoy to be buried in 
Hautecombe Abbey, which has since become a burial place for the dynasty. The last 
King of Italy, Umberto II, and his wife, Marie José of Belgium, are buried here.

Spiritual Life & Veneration[edit]

The spirituality of Umberto undoubtedly blossomed in an environment of ancient 
Christian traditions, favored especially by the example of his father, a pilgrim and 
crusader in the Holy Land, and of his tutor, St. Amadeus, Bishop of Lausanne. 
However, Umberto's life was full of contradictions: He was a lover of peace, but had 
frequent hostilities and wars. He was penitent, ascetic, contemplative, but was forced 
to take the reins of government, during which time he had a life of action, and found 
himself forced in marriage in order to have an heir. However, he let unmistakable signs 
of great moral balance, severity with himself and indulgence and love of neighbor. He 
was a benefactor to churches, monasteries, and charitable causes, the care of the 
poor. Throughout his life, he supported Hautecombe Abbey. In 1188 he founded the 
Monastery of Sant'Antonio di Ranverso.

Umberto was venerated by many immediately after his death. Miracles were reportedly 
wrought through his intercession. In Aosta, he is depicted on the facade of the city's 
cathedral. He is mentioned by St. Alphonsus Ligouri as a particularly pious monk.[3]

In 1838, Charles Albert King of Sardinia, and his descendant, tried and failed to have 
him beatified by Pope Gregory XVI. The king' efforts on behalf of Boniface of Savoy, 
Archbishop of Canterbury, also failed. In Italy, Umberto is still remembered in particular 
at Racconigi, where the Royal Sanctuary of the Madonna delle Grazie houses a 
picture of him donated by Queen Helena that was it restored by Umberto II, King of 
Italy.

Family[edit]

Umberto had four wives:
 1.Faidiva of Toulouse (Italian) (d. c.1154) daughter of Alphonse Jourdain, Count of 
Toulouse[4]

2.Gertrude of Flanders (m. abt 1155). The marriage was annulled, she was confined to 
a convent, later freed, and returned to the court of her brother, Philip of Flanders[5]

3.Clementia of Zähringen (married 1164), daughter of Conrad I, Duke of Zähringen.[2] 
They had 2 daughters:
Sofia, (1165–1202), married Azzo VI of Este[6]
Alicia, (1166–1178), betrothed to John of England[7]

4.Beatrice of Mâcon[6] and had one son:
Thomas, (born 1178)[6]

Parents
____ Amadeus (Amadeo) III (ABT 1092 - 30 Mar 1149)
OF ALBON Matilda (Mathilde) (Maud) (ABT 1106 - AFT Jan 1145)

Siblings
OF SAVOY Matilde (Maud) (1125 - 4 Nov 1157)
____ Humbert (Umberto) III "The Saint" (4 Aug 1136 - 4 Mar 1189)

Marriage To DE MACON (DE VIENNE) Beatrice (Beatrix) (ABT 1161 - 8 Apr 1230)
    m. 1175 his 4th

Notes

Parents
____ Gerard I (ABT 1142 - BEF 15 Sep 1184)
DE SALINS Guyonne (Maurette) (Guigonne) (ABT 1140 - AFT 1200)

Children by DE MACON (DE VIENNE) Beatrice (Beatrix) ABT 1161 - 8 Apr 1230
____ Thomas I (20 Mar 1177 - 1 Mar 1233)

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