Humbert III was born around 1136 in the castle of Avigliana, Piedmont, near Turin, to Count Amadeus III of Savoy and Mahaut (Mathilde), Countess of Albon and Vienne.[1][2] Humbert III is an important figure in medieval society, as attested in the history of the House of Savoy. His life was characterised by certain key features, including mysticism, borne of a vocation and tradition of the contemplative life. This he fostered in parallel with, and notwithstanding, his role as military leader and politician, undertaken reluctantly and only to safeguard his family’s dynastic claims.
With his father he had inherited from his grandfather, Humbert II, the dream of reuniting the fragmented Kingdom of Burgundy, in sharp contrast with a centralising policy of the French royal family. In those efforts, Humbert was supported by Frederick I Barbarossa, but found himself required to quell neighbouring feudal lords settled among his domains. Like his father, himself dying young when his son was not yet of age, his education was entrusted to Amadeus of Lausanne, former abbot of Hautecombe. Under his guidance the young Humbert made great progress in studies and spiritual formation, foregoing worldly glamour and giving himself to prayer, meditation and penance.[3] To better achieve this he frequently withdrew to Hautecombe Abbey, on the banks of Lake Bourget in Savoy, founded by his father. It was always with expressions of regret when duties to the family and the Savoyard nobility called him back to political affairs.
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