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1307, Principality of Achaia, Phiilp of Savoy. Billon Denier Tournois. XF-AU!

Reference: Metcalf 973. Mint Period: 1301-1307 AD Denomination: Billon Denier Tournois Condition: Light surface roughness (salt-water corrosion?), otherwise a nice XF-AU for this type! Material: Billon (low grade silver and bronze alloy) Diameter: 19mm Weight: 0.82gm

Obverse: Stylized castle, topped by cross and flanked by pellets. Legend around. Legend: + (lis) DE CLARENCIA (lis) Reverse: Short-cross within inner circle. Legend: .+ PhS P ACh TAR D R.

The Principality of Achaea or of the Morea was one of the three vassal states of the Latin Empire which replaced the Byzantine Empire after the capture of Constantinople during the Fourth Crusade. It became a vassal of the Kingdom of Thessalonica, along with the Duchy of Athens, until Thessalonica was captured by Theodore, the despot of Epirus, in 1224. After this, Achaea became for a while the dominant power in Greece.

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Philip I (1207 – 16 August 1285) was the Count of Savoy from 1268 to 1285. Before this, he was the Bishop of Valence (1241–1267), Dean of Vienne, Isère (1241–1267) and Archbishop of Lyon (1245–1267).

Philip was born in Aiguebelle, Savoie, the eighth son of Thomas I of Savoy and Marguerite of Geneva. His family prepared him for a clerical career. In 1236, his brother William was able to use his influence with Henry III of England to get Philip positions in the churches of Hillingdon, Oxney, and Geddington. In 1240, he was a candidate for Bishop of Lausanne, but had to resign. Instead, he became Bishop of Valence in 1241. His brother Thomas had Philip installed as chancellor of Flanders and prévôt of St-Donatien-de-Bruges.

In 1243, while Henry was fighting in Gascony, Philip escorted his sister Beatrice of Savoy and niece Sanchia of Provence to visit Eleanor, Henry, and their new baby Beatrice. This so cheered the besieged king that he lavished further gifts on the bishop.

In 1244, Pope Innocent IV fled from Rome, and Philip convinced his brother, Amadeus IV, Count of Savoy, to let the pope pass through Savoy. Philip escorted the Pope to Lyon, and then remained with him to ensure his safety. Pope Innocent ensured Philip's election as Archbishop of Lyon in 1245.

While there, Philip continued his family's policies of governing through trade. In 1248 he negotiated with Aymar III of Valentinois to reduce the taxes that traders would pay on foods travelling through   his lands, and over the next few years he granted charters to towns   throughout the area.

When, against expectations, Philip became the next heir for the County of Savoy, he gave his church offices up and married Adelaide, Countess Palatine of Burgundy, on 12 June 1267. He became Count of Savoy in 1268, and in 1272 he also acquired the County of Bresse. While he was at first successful in extending the power of Savoy, in 1282 he was opposed by a coalition of King Rudolph I, Charles of Anjou (who was also Count of Provence), the Dauphin, and the Counts of Geneva.

He appointed his nephew, Amadeus, as his successor, and died childless in Roussillon in 1285.