count of Savoy, succeeded his father Amadeus VII. in 1391. With the large sum of 45,000 florins of gold he purchased the country of Genevois from its last earl. Anxious to extend his territories, he purchased the city of Rumillii, upon the lake of Geneva, from the widow of the count of Genevois; and thus the house of Savoy became so powerful, that the emperor Sigismund erected Savoy into a duchy in the year 1416. Historians relate that he assisted John Paleologus against the duke of Milan, who endeavoured to wrest from him the duchy of Montferrat. Deeply sensible of the services which he had received, Paleologus not only resigned to the duke Chivas, Brandis, and several other estates, but submitted to hold all the marquisate of Montferrat as a fief from the house of Savoy. These fortunate acquisitions of territory were not yet limited; for upon the marriage of his daughter with Philip Maria, duke of Milan, he received Vercelli; and about the same time the count of Crescentino submitted to become his feudary. In his ambitious pursuit he laid claim to the sovereignty of the city of Geneva; but that claim, though enforced by the pope, was rejected by the citizens with disdain; and the emperor Sigismund, taking it under his protection, declared it an imperial city. After such an extensive acquisition of dominion, and amassing such sums of money, he formed the singular scheme of abandoning his throne and family; and for that purpose retired to a religious house at a place called Ripaille. But although he resigned the dukedom of Savoy to his eldest son Lewis, and made his youngest son Philip count of Genevois, yet their honours were merely nominal; for he constrained them to live on a very scanty allowance, while he in his retirement received all the revenues, and collected such sums of money, that he is said to have purchased the papal honours. Having assumed great sanctity of manners during the previous part of his life, the motives for his retirement were generally reckoned religious; but it was soon discovered that his hermitage was the abode of voluptuous pleasure and of the most refined luxury. Instead of a religious habit, he wore purple robes; and upon his mantle was embroidered a golden cross. His table groaned under a weight of dainties, and the softest music cheered his daily feast: in short, such was the luxury of the place, that in the French language the phrase faire ripaille signifies to make exquisitely good cheer.

He instituted a secular knighthood in that place, under the appellation of St Maurice. The brethren assumed the name of hermits, wore beards, and excluded women from their community; and in other respects exhibited the character of decent epicures.

When he obtained the papal dignity, and was crowned by the cardinal of Arles at Basil, all Europe was filled with astonishment in consequence of his elevation; for he had never entered into holy orders. But he had found means to remove every objection, the council confirmed his election, and with pretended reluctance he put on the pontifical ornaments, and was consecrated in the church of St Maurice, under the title of Felix V. The papal dignity was severely contested between him and Eugenius; and notwithstanding all the importunities of the council, the emperor refused to acknowledge his elevation. This religious dispute involved all Europe in contention. Historians relate that Germany remained neutral, while France, England, Italy, Spain, and Hungary, declared for Eugenius; but Aragon, Poland, and Bretagne, recognised the council only; at the same time that Savoy, Switzerland, Basil, Strasbourg, Pomerania, and one of the duchies of Bavaria, recognised Felix. The emperor Frederick III. held a council at Frankfort, before which both the popes urged their respective rights by means of deputies. This attempt, however, to establish peace in Europe proving unsuccessful, the emperor repaired to the vicinity of Basil, and had a personal interview with Felix. Amadeus, that he might the more freely indulge his sensual appetite, again repaired to his favourite retreat; and after the fathers of the council had frequently solicited him in vain to reside at Basil, he prevailed upon them to remove to Lyons, which was near the seat of his pleasures. During the contest Eugenius had excommunicated Felix, the council, and several of the German princes, so that the whole church was then filled with confusion and disorder. The struggle, however, was terminated by the death of Eugenius, when the cardinals at Rome elected Thomas de Sarzan, who assumed the name of Nicholas V. In this state of affairs Amadeus deemed it prudent to enter into a negotiation for the resignation of the papal crown. His policy and address were such that Nicholas was induced to annul all the acts of Eugenius; to confirm the determination of the council of Basil to appoint him perpetual apostolical legate in Savoy, Piedmont, and the other places of his own dominions; and even to confer on him the bishoprics of Basil, Lausanne, Strasburg, and Constance. Nor did his vanity forsake him even in this political transaction, for he provided that he should continue to wear the pontifical dress, unless in a very few particulars. In order to gratify the same haughty disposition, he stipulated that he should not be obliged to go to Rome to attend any general council; and that when he had occasion to approach the pope, he should rise to receive him, and instead of kissing his toe, should be permitted to kiss his cheek. Amadeus retired to Lausanne, and died there at the age of 69, in the year 1451.

Amadeus IX., count of Savoy, succeeded his father Lewis, in his dominion and honours. His bodily constitution was weak, and he was afflicted with the falling-sickness; yet, on account of his piety, virtue, benevolence, and justice, he was surmamed the Happy. The clemency of his temper was such that he readily pardoned those who offended him, and in few instances was he induced to punish. In his character the virtue of benevolence shone with peculiar splendour among the other virtues of the Christian. In 1472, in the seventh year of his reign, and the thirty-seventh of his life, he died universally lamented by all his loyal subjects.