Thomas, 2nd Duke of Genoa

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Tommaso Alberto Vittorio di Savoia (Turin, February 6, 1854 - Turin, April 15, 1931), 2nd Duke of Genoa, also known as Thomas Albert Victor of Savoy-Carignan, was an Italian royal prince, nephew of the king of Sardinia, from 1860 King of Italy, cousin and brother-in-law of its another king, and uncle of yet one king of Italy.

He was born in Turin as the second child and only son of Prince Ferdinand of Savoy, 1st Duke of Genoa, the second son of Charles Albert, King of Sardinia (1798-1849, abdicated 1848) and Maria Theresa of Austria-Tuscany (1801-55). Thomas' mother was Princess Elisabeth of Saxony (1830-1912), daughter of King John I of Saxony (1801-73) and Princess Amalie of Bavaria (1801-77). Thomas' paternal grandfather had died already before his birth, so Sardinian kingdom was ruled by his uncle Victor Emmanuel II. Thomas' Saxon grandparents lived much longer, but instead he lost his paternal grandmother the Dowager Queen of Sardinia when one year old, and also his father, whom he succeeded as 2nd Duke of Genoa in 1855, at the age of one.

His uncle the king managed to unite Italy as one kingdom, and in 1860, with all the royal family, young Thomas also became a prince of Italy.

Duke Thomas' elder sister Margherita of Savoy-Genoa (1851-1926) married King Umberto I of Italy. Her only child was king Victor Emmanuel III of Italy, who reigned starting from his father's murder in 1900.

Thomas died in 1931, leaving six adult children.

[edit] Family and children

In 1883 at Nymphenburg, Bavaria, he was married to Princess Maria Isabella of Bavaria (1863-1924), the eldest daughter of the late Prince Adalbert of Bavaria (died 1875) and Infanta Amelia Philippina of Spain, Duchess of Bavaria (1834-1935), daughter of the Duke of Cadiz.

Their marriage produced following children:

Ferdinand (1884-1963), Prince of Udine, 3rd duke of Genoa. Married Maria Luisa Alliaga Gandolfi dei conti di Ricaldone. Childless.
Philibert (1895-1990), Duke of Pistoia, 4th Duke of Genoa. Married princess Lydia von Arenberg. Childless.
Bonne Margaret (1896-1971). Married prince Konrad of Bavaria (1883-1969), son of prince Leopold of Bavaria and Archduchess Gisela of Austria. Had children.
Adalbert, Duke of Bergamo (1898-1982), Duke of Bergamo. unmarried and childless.
Adelaide (April 25, 1904 - February 8, 1979). Married Leone Massimo (January 25, 1896 - March 4, 1979), Prince of Arsoli etc.
Eugen (March 13, 1906 - December 8, 1996), Duke of Ancona, 5th duke of Genoa. Married Princess Lucia of Bourbon-Sicily (July 9, 1908 - November 3, 2001). They emigrated to sao Pauol, Brazil. One daughter:
- Isabella of Savoy-Genoa (born 1943)