Duke of Aosta
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In the mid-13th century the Hohenstaufen Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II made the County of Aosta (the Valle d'Aosta) a duchy; its arms were carried in the Savoia coat-of-arms until the reunification of Italy, 1870. The region remained part of Savoy lands, with the exception of a French occupation, 1539—1563.
The title of duke of Aosta was given to various princes of the dynasty of Sardinia, second-eldest sons of heirs-apparent. Like Duke of Orleans in France, Duke of Sudermannia in Sweden, Duke of Albany in Scotland and Duke of York in England.
It remained in the branch of Prince Amedeo of Savoia, the second son of king Victor Emanuel II of Italy, as he was the first ever cadet prince Duke of Aosta who left male heirs.
The subsidiary titles of the Duke of Aosta are, from the heritage of Victoria of Cisterna, the mother of duke Emanuele Filiberto, Prince della Cisterna e di Belriguardo, Marquess di Voghera, and Count di Ponderano. Ponderano was created in 1559, Voghera in 1618; Cisterna and Belriguardo as princely in 1670.
The following men have been Dukes of Aosta:
- Vittorio Emanuele, Duke of Aosta (1759-1824), duke of Aosta since his birth, and used the title until his accession to the throne of Sardinia as king Victor Emmanuel I.
- Amedeo, 1st Duke of Aosta (1845–1890), King of Spain 1870–1873
- Emanuele Filiberto, 2nd Duke of Aosta (1869–1931)
- Amedeo, 3rd Duke of Aosta (1898–1942)
- Aimone, 4th Duke of Aosta (1900–1948), King of Croatia 1941–1943
- Amedeo, 5th Duke of Aosta (born 1943)
The title has been used since July 2006 by Amedeo's son Prince Aimone, Duke of Apulia (born 1967), who is married to Princess Olga of Greece, younger daughter of Prince Michael of Greece and Denmark.
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