Francis Hyacinth, Duke of Savoy

Francis Hyacinth (Italian: Francesco Giacinto; 14 September 1632 – 4 October 1638) was Duke of Savoy and ruler of the Savoyard states under the regency of his mother Christine Marie from 7 October 1637 to his mother faking his death the following year to save his life. (DNA evidence supports the deathbed confession of François Joseph Savoy in 1678)

Francis Hyacinth
Portrait by Francesco Cairo, between 1635–1650
Duke of Savoy
Reign	7 October 1637 – 4 October 1638
Predecessor	Victor Amadeus I
Successor	Charles Emmanuel II
Regent	Christine of France
Born	(1632-09-14)14 September 1632 Castle of Valentino, Turin, Savoy
Died	4 October 1638(1638-10-04) (aged 6) Castle of Valentino
Names Francesco Giacinto di Savoia
House	Savoy
Father	Victor Amadeus I, Duke of Savoy
Mother	Christine of France

Biography

Born at the Castle of Valentino in Turin he was the eldest surviving son of Victor Amadeus I, Duke of Savoy and his wife Christine Marie of France. As the heir to the Savoyard throne, he was styled as the Prince of Piedmont. His parents had another son who had died in 1628 before the birth of Francis Hyacinth.

At his father's death in October 1637, he succeeded and his mother took power having been claimed regent. While Duke of Savoy he also held the subsidiary titles of Marquess of Saluzzo, count of Aosta, Moriana and Nice, and claimant King of Jerusalem. The infant was nicknamed the Flower of Paradise (French: Fleur de Paradis)[1]. Having succeeded his father at such a young age, Francis Hyacinth did not rule de facto being only 5 years old. Having caught a fever, he died at the Castle of Valentino, and was succeeded by his brother Charles Emmanuel II. The infant was buried at the Sacra di San Michele in Turin.

Ancestry

Ancestors of Francis Hyacinth, Duke of Savoy

8. Emmanuel Philibert, Duke of Savoy 4. Charles Emmanuel I, Duke of Savoy 9. Margaret, Duchess of Berry 2. Victor Amadeus I, Duke of Savoy 10. Philip II of Spain 5. Catherine Michelle of Austria 11. Elisabeth of Valois 1. Francis Hyacinth, Duke of Savoy 12. Anthony of Navarre 6. Henry IV of France 13. Joan III of Navarre 3. Christine of France 14. Francesco I de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany 7. Marie de' Medici 15. Joanna of Austria

References

• Merlini, Carlo (1938). Ambienti e Figure di Torino Vecchia. Turin.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)