Page "Umberto I, Count of Savoy" Paragraph 3

During the wars between Rudolph III of Burgundy and the Emperor Henry II, Umberto supported the latter with provisions and soldiers because he was related to the imperial family by marriage.

Thus, in 1003, the emperor installed him as the Count of Aosta, a mountainous region then a part of Burgundy but today within Italy, and granted him the northern Viennois as a reward.

Umberto in turn protected the right flank of Henry's army during his subsequent invasion of Italy in 1004.