Editing Humbert I, Count of Savoy (section)

==Biography==

===Family===
Humbert was the son of Amadeus, who may or may not have preceded him as [[count of Maurienne]].<ref>Hellmann, ''Grafen'', p. 2. By contrast, according to a late-medieval legend, Humbert's father was a Saxon noble named Berold, who was the grandson of [[Emperor Otto II]]</ref> His brother was Bishop Otto of Belley. Humbert is the progenitor of the dynasty known as the [[House of Savoy]]. The origins of this dynasty are unknown, but Humbert's ancestors are variously said to have come from [[Saxony]],<ref>{{CathEncy|wstitle=Savoy}}</ref> [[Burgundy]] or [[Provence]]. Given Humbert's close connections with [[Rudolf III of Burgundy]],<ref>For Humbert's relationship with Rudolf III, see Previté-Orton, ''Early History'', pp. 9, 13ff.,26, 38, 47ff,</ref> it is likely that his family was Burgundian, and was descended either from the dukes of [[Vienne, Isère|Vienne]],<ref>Previté-Orton, ''Early History''</ref> or from a Burgundian aristocratic family (such as the Guigonids, ancestors of the [[counts of Albon]]).<ref>Ducourthial, ‘Géographie du pouvoir'</ref> It is also likely that Humbert was related to [[Ermengarde of Burgundy]], second wife of Rudolf III.<ref>Ripart, ''Les fondements idéologiques du pouvoir'', I, p. 54.</ref>

Humbert initially held lands around [[Belley]] and in the county of Sermorens,<ref>Ducourthial, ‘Géographie,’ pp. 223-235</ref> before gaining lands in [[Aosta]] and [[Valais]].<ref>Previté-Orton, ''Early History'', pp. 19ff., 90ff.</ref>

===Humbert and the empire===
After Rudolf III's death (1032), Humbert I swore fealty to [[Emperor Conrad II]].<ref>Previté-Orton, ''Early History'', pp. 32f.</ref> He supported Conrad II in his campaigns against [[Odo II, Count of Blois]], and [[Aribert, Archbishop of Milan]].<ref>Previté-Orton, ''Early History'', pp. 19, 30ff., 35, 41; Hellmann, Grafen, pp. 8ff.</ref> In return, Conrad II appointed Humbert count of Savoy and granted him [[county of Maurienne|Maurienne]], [[Chablais]] and perhaps [[Tarentaise Valley|Tarentaise]].<ref>Ducouthial, ‘Géographie,’pp. 235-238. By contrast, Hellmann, ''Grafen'', p. 3 argues Humbert possessed [[county of Maurienne|Maurienne]] long before this.</ref> These imperial grants to a loyal supporter secured key passes through the Alps, controlling trade between Italy and Western Europe, which would be the core of Savoy power for centuries.{{sfn|Cox|1967|p=18-19}}

===Marriage and children===
Humbert married Ancelie (Auxilia or Ancilia). She may have been Ancilla of Aoste, the daughter of ''vir illustris'' Anselme of Aoste<ref>François Demotz, La Bourgogne, dernier des royaumes carolingiens (855-1056). Roi, pouvoirs et élites autour du Léman, Lausanne, Société d’histoire de la Suisse romande, 2008, 764 pages ({{ISBN|978-2-94006-606-3}}), p. 308</ref> or Ancilla of [[Lenzburg]], the daughter of the [[master of ceremonies]] of Burgundy. Alternatively, Ancilla may have been a daughter of Anselm and Aldiud, and thus a member of a northern Italian dynasty known as the Anselmids.<ref>On the identity of Humbert's wife, see Previté-Orton, ''Early History'', pp. 10f., 19ff., 67f., 71; ''Die Urkunden der burgundischen Rudolfinger'', p. 23 n.11.</ref>
With his wife, Humbert had at least four sons:
#[[Amadeus I, Count of Savoy|Amadeus I]] (died 1056), Count of Savoy, successor
#Aymon (died 1054 or 1055), [[Bishop of Sion]]
#[[Burchard (bishop of Aosta)|Burchard]] (died 1068 or 1069), [[Archbishop of Lyon]]
#[[Otto of Savoy|Otto]] (died c. 1057), Count of Savoy, successor of his brother

Some authors believe that he had additional sons.

===Death===
[[File:Humbert I of Savoy tomb.jpg|thumb|The cenotaph of Humbert I in [[Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne Cathedral]]]]
Humbert is often said to have died c. 1047/8 at [[Hermillon]], a town in the Maurienne region of present-day [[Savoie]], France.<ref>Previté-Orton, ''Early History'', pp. 39f., 69; Hellmann, ''Grafen'', p. 10</ref> In the 21st century, it has been suggested that he died by 1042.<ref>Ducourthial, ''Géographie'', p. 231</ref>