Claude de Savoie

Claude de Savoie (1507-1566) was a French governor and commander. Son of René of Savoy, Tende's career would begin at a young age, fighting at the Battle of Pavia in 1525. He served extensively throughout the later Italian Wars in particular holding a key role in the Italian War of 1536–1538 and the dauphins invasion of Roussillon. During this time he would establish himself as a moderate religious presence, keen to achieve compromise and avoid the brutality that typified the Massacre of Mérindol perpetrated by one of his subordinates in 1545. With the outbreak of civil war in 1562, his son Sommerive rallied the Catholics of Provence against him, and successfully drove him into exile. Restored to his office in 1563, he would lead the region for another 3 years before dying in 1566.