Thomas II () (1304 – 18 August 1357) was

Marquess of Saluzzo The marquises (also marquesses or margraves) of Saluzzo were the medieval feudal rulers city of Saluzzo (today part of Piedmont, Italy) and its countryside from 1175 to 1549. Originally counts, the family received in ''feudum'' the city from the ...

from 1336 to his death. He succeeded his father,

Frederick I Frederick I or Friedrich I may refer to: * Frederick of Utrecht or Frederick I (815/16–834/38), Bishop of Utrecht. * Frederick I, Duke of Upper Lorraine (942–978) * Frederick I, Duke of Swabia (1050–1105) * Frederick I ...

His mother Margarete de La Tour du Pin, a daughter of Humbert I de La Tour du Pin, Dauphin de Viennois. His succession was disputed by his uncle

Manfred ''Manfred: A dramatic poem'' is a closet drama written in 1816–1817 by Lord Byron. It contains supernatural elements, in keeping with the popularity of the ghost story in England at the time. It is a typical example of Gothic fiction. Byr ...

. The ensuing war was part of the wider Guelf–Ghibelline conflict. Thomas, who had married a Visconti, was a Ghibelline and Manfred a Guelf with the support of the Angevin King

Robert of Naples Robert of Anjou (), known as Robert the Wise (; 1276 – 20 January 1343), was King of Naples, titular King of Jerusalem and Count of Provence and Forcalquier from 1309 to 1343, the central figure of Italian politics of his time. He was the thir ...

. Robert therefore, to reduce Ghibelline (and Visconti) power in the north, advanced on Saluzzo and besieged it. He succeeded in taking it and sacking it, setting the city on fire and imprisoning Thomas, who had to pay a ransom. The whole dramatic event is recorded by

Silvio Pellico Silvio Pellico (; 24 June 1789 – 31 January 1854) was an Italian writer, poet, dramatist and patriot active in the Italian unification. Biography Silvio Pellico was born in Saluzzo, Piedmont. He spent the earlier portion of his life at Pi ...

. In August 1347, he joined John II, Marquess of Montferrat and Humbert II of Viennois as they attacked

Savoy Savoy (; )  is a cultural-historical region in the Western Alps. Situated on the cultural boundary between Occitania and Piedmont, the area extends from Lake Geneva in the north to the Dauphiné in the south and west and to the Aosta Vall ...

and conquered the Angevin lands in northern Italy after the death of Robert. The 1348 treaty which resolved this war left none of the participants satisfied. Thomas now owed allegiance to Milan, as well as his prior allegiance to Savoy. Thomas was eventually succeeded by his son Frederick II.

Marriage and children

Thomas married Ricciarda Visconti. She was a daughter of

Galeazzo I Visconti Galeazzo I Visconti (21 January 1277 – 6 August 1328) was lord of Milan from 1322 to 1327. After being chosen Captain of Milan, he defeated two papal armies and was excommunicated by Pope John XXII. Temporarily imprisoned for murder, Galeazzo re ...

Lord of Milan The Lordship of Milan was a state in Northern Italy created in May 1259 following the election of Martino della Torre as lord of Milan. From 1259 to 1277 it was governed by the Della Torre, Della Torre family until, following the Battle of Desio, ...

and Beatrice d' Este. Beatrice was a daughter of Obizzo II d'Este by either his first wife Giacoma Fieschi or his second wife Constanza della Scala. They had eleven children: * Frederick II, Marquess of Saluzzo. *Galeazzo of Saluzzo (born 1332, date of death unknown). Considered to have died young. *Azonne of Saluzzo (c. 1336–1426). Lord of Monasterolo, Oncino, Paesana, Crissolo, Sanfront and Castellar. *Eustacchio of Saluzzo (died 1405). Count of Cervinasco and Monesiglio, Lord of San Pietro Monterosso, Montemale and Prasleves. *Luchino of Saluzzo. Squire to the Counts of Savoy, possibly illegitimate. *Constanza of Saluzzo. *Giacomo of Saluzzo. *Luchina of Saluzzo. Married Giovanni Beccaria. *Beatrice of Saluzzo. Married Antoni Falletto, Lord of Villafaletto. *Pentesilea of Saluzzo. Married Ludovico of Chiesa. *Anna of Saluzzo. A

nun A nun is a woman who vows to dedicate her life to religious service and contemplation, typically living under vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience in the enclosure of a monastery or convent.''The Oxford English Dictionary'', vol. X, page 5 ...

Notes

Sources

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Thomas 02 Of Saluzzo 1357 deaths Marquesses of Saluzzo Aleramici Year of birth unknown