Victor Amadeus I (Italian: Vittorio Amedeo I di Savoia; 8 May 1587 – 7 October 1637) was the Duke of Savoy and ruler of the Savoyard states from 26 July 1630 until his death in 1637. He was also known as the Lion of Susa.
He was succeeded by two of his sons; Francis Hyacinth and Charles Emmanuel II. His male-only line became extinct in 1831 with the death of Charles Felix. Therefore, the Kings of Italy are descended from his younger brother, Thomas Francis.
The lordship of Piedmont, later the principality of Piedmont (Italian: Piemonte), was originally an appanage of the County of Savoy, and as such its lords were members of the Achaea branch of the House of Savoy. The title was inherited by the elder branch of the dynasty in 1418, at about which time Savoy was elevated to ducal status and Piedmont to princely status. When the House of Savoy was given the Kingdom of Sardinia, the Savoyards used the style of Prince of Piedmont (Italian: Principe di Piemonte) for their heir apparent. This first came into use by Prince Victor Amadeus of Savoy.
The usage was retained when Victor Emmanuel II became King of Italy, "Prince of Piedmont" becoming roughly equivalent to the British "Prince of Wales", the title bestowed to the Crown prince.
The Piedmontese Civil War, 1639 to 1642, was a succession struggle for control of the Savoyard state. Although Savoy was not directly involved in the 1635 to 1659 Franco-Spanish War, its strategic importance prompted the intervention of Spain and France.
Following the death of Victor Amadeus I, Duke of Savoy in October 1637, his wife Christine of France ruled on behalf of heir young son, Francis Hyacinth. When he, too, died in 1638, she became guardian to her second son, Charles Emmanuel II. In 1639, her regime was challenged by Prince Maurice of Savoy and Thomas Francis, Prince of Carignano.