Piedmontese Civil War

Piedmontese Civil War
	; Christine of France, Regent and head of the Madamisti faction
Date	1639 – 1642
Location	Savoyard state, particularly Piedmont
Result	1642 treaties of Turin
Belligerents
Madamisti faction ; France	Principisti faction ; Spain
Commanders and leaders
Comte d'Harcourt ; Vicomte Turenne; Christine Marie ; La Mothe-Houdancourt	Prince Thomas ; Marquis of Leganés ; Prince Maurice
Strength
12,000 – 15,000	16,000 – 20,000

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.

After four years of fighting, Christine was confirmed as Regent, a position she retained until her death in 1663. As part of the settlement that ended the war, Prince Maurice married his niece Princess Luisa Cristina of Savoy, and became governor of the Savoyard territory of Nice; Prince Thomas was given control of the fortresses of Biella and Ivrea, and thereafter fought for the French.