Blog
>
Fictional interview ...
8 February 2024
Fictional interview with Thomas I of Savoy
Today, we have the pleasure of interviewing one of the most famous members of the Savoy dynasty – Count Thomas I, who had a considerable impact on the stability and influence of his States.
SHORT BIOGRAPHY
1175-1180 Birth
1196 Marriage with Marguerite de Genève
1203 Birth of Pierre II de Savoie
1233 Death
Thomas I, thank you for coming all the way to Chillon to see the exhibition dedicated to your son, Peter II of Savoy.
(Embarrassed silence) …Who?
Your son. Peter II, Count of Savoy
Ah, Peter! He wasn’t exactly my second child, you know. My family was enormous under my reign. My wife, Margaret of Geneva, and I did some great work. We had ten little monkeys, eight of which were boys. Peter was the seventh. It gave us some peace of mind for the future, but it wasn’t always easy to remember who’s who at the dinner table.
Now that that’s cleared up, let’s come back to Peter…
And what about me?
It’s just that the exhibition here at Chillon Castle is about him…
The nerve! I’m the one who gave this old pile of pebbles some semblance of a castle. The exhibition should have been about me! I would like to speak to your overlord!
Recumbent statue of Count Thomas I of Savoy, according to historiographer Samuel Guichenon (1658)
We have a director here. And that was simply not the brief she and the Chillon Castle Foundation put to Leah Linh.
And who is she?
A contemporary artist, who has reimagined your son’s reign and his image, from his childhood to his death.
Whatever for? As the youngest son, Peter was destined to join the Church and help boost our House’s standing. Not to reign. He was not capable.
You know, once he became a count, he actually did a pretty good job. For example, he had his niece marry King Henry III of England. That brought him plenty of cash, meaning he could purchase or negotiate many territories.
Not bad. And what became of the Pays de Vaud? Did he manage to do something with the ol’ Vaudois people?
Forgive me, Your Lordship, but let us return to my questions. Will you be coming along to one of the guided tours led by Leah Linh at Chillon?
Certainly not. I’ve had enough of Chillon. I even went so far as to found the Ville Neuve de Chillon, the little village right next to the castle. Today, you simply call it Villeneuve. In 1214, it was the first village to be entirely ‘created’ by the House of Savoy north of Lake Geneva. As for me, I was a conqueror; I waged war, I had a whole brood of children, and I was a founder. Art is all very well, but when it glorifies neither God nor myself, I’m not particularly interested. Tell that artist that I have a siege to lay or a battle to fight, and that I send her my warmest regards.
Further reading
Fictional interview with Beatrice of Faucigny
This month, we have the pleasure of meeting Princess Beatrice of Faucigny, daughter of Agnes of Faucigny and Peter II of Savoy.
Exhibition: Leah Linh brings Peter II of Savoy to life
Contemporary artist, Leah Linh, takes us on a journey back to the 13th century in her exhibition Fortunes and reflections in the era of Peter II of Savoy.
Peter II/Leah Linh quiz
Chillon Castle hosts regular temporary contemporary art exhibitions. The latest edition, opening in September, will be dedicated to the young artist Leah Linh, who drew her inspiration from a famous historical figure: Peter II of Savoy. Sound familiar? Answer these questions to put your knowledge to the test.