Savoy, a historical region of southeastern France. It consists approximately of the present French departments of Haute-Savoie and Savoie. The region adjoins Italy and Switzerland on the east; its northern boundary is formed by Lake Geneva. Principal cities are Chambéry and Annecy. In the Middle Ages Savoy was a feudal domain in the Kingdom of Aries. It became a duchy in the 15th century. The duchy's ruling house, which also held Piedmont and Nice, acquired Sardinia in 1720 and combined the four domains into the Kingdom of Sardinia. France had control of Savoy from 1792 until 1815, when the Kingdom of Sardinia regained control. In 1860 Savoy was ceded to France.