Editing Thomas, Count of Savoy (section)

==Biography==

Thomas was born in [[Aiguebelle]], the son of [[Humbert III of Savoy]] and [[Beatrice of Viennois]].{{sfn|Previte-Orton|1912|p=352}} He was still a minor when his father died in 1189, and his mother acted as regent until 1191 during his [[minority reign]].<ref name=HDS/> Despite his youth he began the push northwest into new territories. In the same year he granted [[Aosta Valley]] the "Charte des Franchises", recognising the right to administrative and political autonomy (this right was maintained until the [[French Revolution]]). Later he conquered [[Vaud]], [[Bugey]], and [[Carignano, Piedmont|Carignano]]. He supported the [[Hohenstaufen]]s, and was known as "Thomas the [[Ghibelline]]" because of his career as Imperial [[Vicar]] of [[Lombardy]].

Thomas worked throughout his reign to expand the control and influence of the [[County of Savoy]]. One of the key tools that he used was his large number of children, whom he worked to get into positions of influence in neighbouring regions. In part, this was done by getting many of his sons into episcopal offices in surrounding territories, at a time when bishops had temporal as well as spiritual authority.{{sfn|Cox|1974|p=14-19}} In addition to William and Boniface, who made their careers in the clergy, their brother Thomas started out as a canon at [[Lausanne]] and became [[prévôt]] of Valence by 1226.{{sfn|Chevalier|1889|p=4-5}} Pietro was also a canon at Lausanne and served as acting bishop there until he was replaced in 1231.{{sfn|Cox|1974|p=16}} In 1219 he worked to get his daughter Beatrice married to the fourteen-year-old [[Ramon Berenguer IV, Count of Provence]]. This established a close relationship between the two adjoining counties which would help cement Savoy's control over trade between Italy and France.{{sfn|Cox|1974|p=20-21,29}}

Thomas fought many battles to expand his control. In 1215, his troops fought in an alliance with [[Milan]] against Monferrato, destroying the town of Casale.{{sfn|Cognasso|1940|p=347|ps= vol.I}} In 1222, he captured [[Cavour, Piedmont|Cavour]].{{sfn|Cognasso|1940|p=27|ps= vol.II}} He also worked through diplomatic and economic means to expand his control. The county of Savoy long enjoyed control over critical passes through the [[Alps]]. In his quest to gain more control over [[Turin]], Thomas made an agreement with its rival Asti to reroute its French trade around Turin through [[Savoyard state|Savoyard lands]] in a treaty on 15 September 1224. In 1226, [[Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor|Emperor Frederick II]] came to [[northern Italy]] and named Thomas Imperial Vicar of Lombardy. In this role, he mediated in a Genoese rebellion and a dispute between the town of [[Marseille]] and its bishop.{{sfn|Cox|1974|p=25-28}} Thomas also made a policy of granting franchises and charters to towns on key trade routes, which enabled the merchant class to develop more wealth and built support for his rule.{{sfn|Vaillant|1960}}