Amadeus VIII (redirected from Amadeus VIII, Duke of Savoy)

Amadeus VIII (ămədē`əs), 1383–1451, count (1391–1416) and duke (from 1416) of Savoy, antipope (1439–49) with the name Felix V. In 1434 he appointed his son regent of Savoy and retired to the hermitage of Ripaille, on Lake Geneva, which he had founded. In 1439 the Council of Basel (see Basel, Council of), which had been pronounced heretical by the pope, declared Eugene IV deposed and elected Amadeus, much respected for his probity, to the papacy. Although a layman, Amadeus reluctantly accepted, believing that he could bring peace to the church. As Felix V, he received only scattered recognition from the secular powers. Following the election of Nicholas V as pope, Felix yielded his claim. He was subsequently made a cardinal. He was the last of the antipopes.