Thomas III of Saluzzo

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Thomas III of Saluzzo (Italian Tommaso III di Saluzzo) (1356 - 1416) was margrave of Saluzzo from 1396 until his death.

[edit] Biography

He was born in Saluzzo in north-western Italy.

The son of margrave Frederick II del Vasto, he tried to continue the latter's philo-French politics, mainly to face the meance of Duke Amadeus VIII of Savoy, who aimed to conquer the whole Piedmont. In fact, the treaty stating the nominal submission to France was signed by Thomas well before his father's death.

The vassallage to French was also a consequence of the education received by Thomas, who lived in Provence for much of his youth, and travelled there in 1375, 1389, 1401, 1403 and 1405. He was married to the French Marguerite of Roussy.

In 1394 he was captured by Savoyard troops while he was leading a ravage in Monasterolo. Imprisoned first in Savigliano and then in Turin, he was freed only two years later after a ransom of 20,000 golden florin had been paid.

In his late years Thomas assigned the succession to his young son Ludovico, under the regence of his brother, Valerano and marquesses Marguerite.

[edit] Culture

A man of great culture, Thomas was the author of one of the most important chivalry texts of the Middle Ages, Le Chevalier Errant, written probably during his imprisonment in Piedmont. The text, written in French, is an allegory of the chevalleresque ideals. It inspired the famous frescoes in the Castello della Manta.