Emmanuel Philibert (in Italian Emanuele Filiberto; known as "Testa di ferro" in English "Ironhead," because of his military career, 8 July 1528 – 30 August 1580) was Duke of Savoy from 1553 to 1580.
Born in Chambéry, Emmanuel Philibert was the only child of Charles III, Duke of Savoy and Beatrice of Portugal to reach adulthood. His mother was sister-in-law to Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor, and the future duke served in Charles's army during the w...
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Emmanuel Philibert (in Italian Emanuele Filiberto; known as "Testa di ferro" in English "Ironhead," because of his military career, 8 July 1528 – 30 August 1580) was Duke of Savoy from 1553 to 1580.
Born in Chambéry, Emmanuel Philibert was the only child of Charles III, Duke of Savoy and Beatrice of Portugal to reach adulthood. His mother was sister-in-law to Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor, and the future duke served in Charles's army during the war against Francis I of France, distinguishing himself by capturing Hesdin in July 1553. A month later, he became duke on the death of his father, but this was a nearly empty honour, as the vast majority of his hereditary lands had been occupied and administered by the French since 1536. Instead, he continued to serve the Habsburgs in hopes of recovering his lands, and served his maternal first cousin King Philip II as Governor of the Netherlands from 1555-1559.
In this capacity he personally led the Spanish invasion of northern France and won...
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