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Revision as of 21:44, 28 May 2011 editSrnec (talk | contribs)Autopatrolled, Extended confirmed users, Page movers, Pending changes reviewers120,766 edits Undid revision by Kotniski: how can it be laid down by fiat what the article is about? Why isn't the kingdom of Sardinia before 1720 a legitimate topic for the article titled Kingdom of Sardinia?← Previous edit Revision as of 21:46, 28 May 2011 edit undoKotniski (talk | contribs)Autopatrolled, Pending changes reviewers, Rollbackers40,317 edits sorry, no, Misplaced Pages isn't a game - we have an article on the other Kingdom of Sardinia, Misplaced Pages must have an article about the Savoyard state, and this is itNext edit →
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'''Kingdom of Sardinia''' or '''Sardinia''', (during the 20th century also - not officially - know as '''Piedmont-Sardinia''', '''Sardinia-Piedmont''' or '''Piemonte''') consisted of the island of ] in ] first with ] (1297–1713) <ref name=Casula>{{Cite book|title=]|chapter=Breve storia di Sardegna|edition=|publisher=Carlo Delfino Editore|year=1994|page=185}}</ref>, then ] (1713–20), and finally ] (1720–1861). Its capital was originally ], in the south of the island, and later ], on the mainland. The kingdom was formed by ] from a papal claim to the islands of ] and Sardinia in 1297 and bestowed, as a ] of the Holy See, on ] <ref name=Casula>{{Cite book|title=]|chapter=Breve storia di Sardegna|edition=|publisher=Carlo Delfino Editore|year=1994|page=}}</ref>. It was not until 1324 that James launched a military campaign to take control of his kingdom, and not until 1410 that the last native resisters fell. In 1416 the first of a ] was appointed, and in 1420 the last competing claim to the island was bought out. From 1516 the Aragonese and by extension the Sardinian crown were in personal union with the ] and thus formed a part of the much larger ]<ref name=Casula>{{Cite book|title=]|chapter=Breve storia di Sardegna|edition=|publisher=Carlo Delfino Editore|year=1994|page=}}</ref>. During this period the ] was introduced for administration. In 1713, following the ], the Kingdom of Sardinia was ceded to the ] by the ], effectively a consolation prize for the loss of their Spanish kingdoms. By the same treaty ], ], received the ], supplying him with the coveted royal rank <ref>See the article section '']''</ref>. By 1720 the balance of power had shifted again and the ] was forced to exchange Sicily with the Habsburgs for Sardinia (]). At that time the Kingdom of Sardinia refers to the ] of the ] from 1720 or 1723 onwards, following the award of the crown of ] to ] under the ]. After 1720 the kingdom became a composite state and besides Sardinia included ], ], ], ], ], ] and ], the ] and part of the ]; ], including ], was added by the ] in 1815. Officially, the nation's name was ''Kingdom of Sardinia'' <ref name=Casula>{{Cite book|title=]|chapter=Breve storia di Sardegna|edition=|publisher=Carlo Delfino Editore|year=1994|page=185}}</ref>; the House of Savoy maintaining a national claim to the thrones of ] and ], although both had long been under ] rule and never conquered (the title was merely a formal title). In 1860, Nice and Savoy were ceded to France in return for French consent and assistance in ]. In 1861, the Kingdom of Sardinia became the founding state of the new ], ] all other Italian states. The Kingdom thus continued in legal continuity with the actual Italian state, to which it transferred all its institutions first to ] and after to ] <ref name=Casula>{{Cite book|title=]|chapter=Breve storia di Sardegna|edition=|publisher=Carlo Delfino Editore|year=1994|page=245}}</ref>. '''Kingdom of Sardinia''' or '''Sardinia''', also (not officially) '''Piedmont-Sardinia''', '''Sardinia-Piedmont''' or '''Piemonte''', refers to the ] of the ] from 1720 or 1723 onwards, <ref>See the article section '']''</ref> following the award of the crown of ] to ] under the ]. This compensated him for the loss of the crown of ] to ] and allowed him to retain the title of king, as the title "King of Sardinia" (and also the kingdom) had existed since the 14th century <ref name=Casula>{{Cite book|title=]|chapter=Breve storia di Sardegna|edition=|publisher=Carlo Delfino Editore|year=1994|page=185}}</ref>. After 1720 the kingdom was a composite state and besides Sardinia included ], ], ], ], ], ] and ], the ] and part of the ]; ], including ], was added by the ] in 1815. Officially, the nation's name was ''Kingdom of Sardinia'' <ref name=Casula>{{Cite book|title=]|chapter=Breve storia di Sardegna|edition=|publisher=Carlo Delfino Editore|year=1994|page=185}}</ref>; the House of Savoy maintaining a national claim to the thrones of ] and ], although both had long been under ] rule and never conquered (the title was merely a formal title). During most of the 18th and 19th centuries, the political and economic capital of the kingdom was ] in Piedmont on the Italian mainland. In 1860, Nice and Savoy were ceded to France in return for French consent and assistance in ]. In 1861, the Kingdom of Sardinia became the founding state of the new ], ] all other Italian states. The Kingdom thus continued in legal continuity with the actual Italian state, to which it transferred all its institutions first to ] and after to ] <ref name=Casula>{{Cite book|title=]|chapter=Breve storia di Sardegna|edition=|publisher=Carlo Delfino Editore|year=1994|page=245}}</ref>.


⚫ ==Early history of Kingdom of Sardinia==
==Spanish rule (1297–1713)==
] ]
⚫ {{Main|History of Sardinia|}}
]
In 1297, ], intervening between the ] and ] in the war called ], established on paper a ''regnum Sardiniae et Corsicae'' that would be a ] of the Papacy, but in the island, however, already existed native state entities. Then the Pope offered his newly-invented fief to ] of ], promising him papal support should he wish to conquer Pisan Sardinia in exchange for Sicily.
⚫ {{main|Spanish Empire|History of Sardinia|}}
In 1297, ], intervening between the ] and ] in the war called ], established on paper a ''Regnum Sardiniae et Corsicae'' that would be a ] of the Papacy (in the island, however, already existed native state entities). Then the Pope offered his newly-invented fief to ] of ], promising him papal support should he wish to conquer Pisan Sardinia in exchange for Sicily. In 1323 James II formed an alliance with ] and, following a military campaign which lasted a year or so, occupied the Pisan territories of ] and ] along with ], claiming the territory as the ''Kingdom of Sardinia and Corsica''. In 1347 Aragon made war on ] (who owned large areas of the ]) then, starting from 1353, fought with the ] leader ], of the ] family, but did not reduce the last of the ] ] (indigenous kingdoms of Sardinia) until 1409 when the Sardinian hopes of expel the Aragonese from the island vanished due to the heavy defeat at the ]. In 1420, after the exstintion of the Giudicato of Arborea, the Aragonese conquest of Sardinia was completed and the royal territory for the first time after almost a century of wars, coincided with that of the entire island. The ''Kingdom of Sardinia and Corsica'' retained its separate character as part of the Crown of Aragon and was not merely incorporated into the Kingdom of Aragon. At the time of his struggles with Arborea, ] granted an autonomous legislature to the Kingdom, which had one of Europe's most advanced legal traditions. The Kingdom was governed in the king's name by a viceroy. When in 1409, ], king of Sicily and heir to Aragon, defeated the last Sardinian ''giudicato'' but then died in Cagliari of malaria, without issue, Sardinia passed with the Crown of Aragon to a united Spain. Corsica, which had never been conquered, was dropped from the formal title. In 1323 James II formed an alliance with ] and, following a military campaign which lasted a year or so, occupied the Pisan territories of ] and ] along with the city of ], claiming the territory as the ''Kingdom of Sardinia and Corsica''. In 1353 Aragon made war on ], then fought with its leader ], but did not reduce the last of the ] ] (indigenous kingdoms of Sardinia) until 1410.
The Kingdom of Sardinia and Corsica retained its separate character as part of the Crown of Aragon and was not merely incorporated into the Kingdom of Aragon. At the time of his struggles with Arborea, ] granted an autonomous legislature to the Kingdom, which had one ]. The Kingdom was governed in the king's name by a viceroy.
⚫ When in 1409, Martin the younger, king of Sicily and heir to Aragon, defeated the last Sardinian ''giudicato'' but then died in Cagliari of malaria, without issue, Sardinia passed with the Crown of Aragon to a united Spain. Corsica, which had never been conquered, was dropped from the formal title. The loss of the autochthonous' independence, the firm Aragonese (later Spanish) rule, with the introduction of a sterile ], as well as the discovery of the ], provoked an unstoppable decline of Kingdom of Sardinia. A short period of resurgence occurred under the local noble ], marquess of ], who managed to defeat the viceroy's army in the 1470s but was later crushed at the ] (1478), ending any further hope of independence for the island.


⚫ ]
⚫ The loss of the autochthonous' independence, the firm Aragonese (later Spanish) rule, with the introduction of a sterile ], as well as the discovery of the ], provoked an unstoppable decline of Kingdom of Sardinia. A short period of resurgence occurred under the local noble ], marquess of ], who managed to defeat the viceroy's army in the 1470s but was later crushed at the ] (1478), ending any further hope of independence for the island. The unceasing attacks from ] and a series of plagues (from 1582, 1652 and 1655) further worsened the situation.


⚫ ==Early history of Duchy of Savoy==
==Austrian rule (1713–1720)==
⚫ {{Main|Duchy of Savoy}}
The Spanish domination of Sardinia ended at the beginning of the 18th century, as a result of ]. By the ] of 1713, ]'s European empire was divided: ] received ] and parts of the ], while ] (the ] and ]), received the ], the ], ], and the bulk of the ]. In 1718, by the ] among the great powers, ], duke of Savoy and sovereign of Piedmont, was forced to yield Sicily to the Austrian Habsburgs and in exchange received Sardinia. Two years later, on Aug. 24, 1720, he formally took possession of the island.
⚫ Piedmont was inhabited in early historic times by Celtic-] tribes such as the ] and the ]. They later submitted to the ] (c. ]), who founded several colonies there including ''Augusta Taurinorum ''(Turin) and ''Eporedia'' (]). After the fall of the ], the region was repeatedly invaded by the ], the ] (5th century), ], ] (6th century), ] (773). In the 9th-10th centuries there were further incursions by the ] and ]. At the time Piedmont, as part of the ] within the ], was subdivided into several marks and counties.

⚫ In 1046, ] added Piedmont to their main segment of ], with a capital at ] (now in ]). Other areas remained independent, such as the powerful communes of ] and ] and the marquisates of ] and ]. The County of Savoy was elevated to a duke in 1416, and Duke ] moved the seat to ] in 1563.


] ]
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Victor Amadeus initially resisted the exchange, and until 1723 continued to style himself King of Sicily rather than King of Sardinia.<ref>See for example Thuesen, 2002, p. 506. A minted in 1722 still uses the title of King of Sicily for Victor Amadeus II.</ref> The state took the official title of ''Kingdom of Sardinia, Cyprus and Jerusalem'', as the house of ] still claimed the thrones of ] and ], although both had long been under ] rule. Victor Amadeus initially resisted the exchange, and until 1723 continued to style himself King of Sicily rather than King of Sardinia.<ref>See for example Thuesen, 2002, p. 506. A minted in 1722 still uses the title of King of Sicily for Victor Amadeus II.</ref> The state took the official title of ''Kingdom of Sardinia, Cyprus and Jerusalem'', as the house of ] still claimed the thrones of ] and ], although both had long been under ] rule.


⚫ ]
⚫ ]
⚫ ==Napoleonic Wars and the Congress of Vienna==
==Savoyard rule (1720–1861)==
⚫ ===Early history of Piedmont===
⚫ {{Main|Duchy of Savoy}}
⚫ Piedmont was inhabited in early historic times by Celtic-] tribes such as the ] and the ]. They later submitted to the ] (c. ]), who founded several colonies there including ''Augusta Taurinorum ''(Turin) and ''Eporedia'' (]). After the fall of the ], the region was repeatedly invaded by the ], the ] (5th century), ], ] (6th century), ] (773). In the 9th-10th centuries there were further incursions by the ] and ]. At the time Piedmont, as part of the ] within the ], was subdivided into several marks and counties.

⚫ In 1046, ] added Piedmont to their main segment of ], with a capital at ] (now in ]). Other areas remained independent, such as the powerful communes of ] and ] and the marquisates of ] and ]. The County of Savoy was elevated to a duke in 1416, and Duke ] moved the seat to ] in 1563.

⚫ ]
⚫ ===Napoleonic Wars and the Congress of Vienna===
In 1792 Piedmont-Sardinia joined the ] against the ], but was beaten in 1796 by Napoleon and forced to conclude the disadvantageous ], giving the French army free passage through Piedmont. On December 6, 1798 ] occupied Turin and forced ] to abdicate and leave for the island of Sardinia. The provisionary government voted to unite Piedmont with France. In 1799 the Austro-Russians briefly occupied the city, but with the ] (1800), the French regained control. The island of Sardinia stayed out of the reach of the French for the rest of the war. In 1792 Piedmont-Sardinia joined the ] against the ], but was beaten in 1796 by Napoleon and forced to conclude the disadvantageous ], giving the French army free passage through Piedmont. On December 6, 1798 ] occupied Turin and forced ] to abdicate and leave for the island of Sardinia. The provisionary government voted to unite Piedmont with France. In 1799 the Austro-Russians briefly occupied the city, but with the ] (1800), the French regained control. The island of Sardinia stayed out of the reach of the French for the rest of the war.


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] ]
==Italian unification==
===Risorgimento===
⚫ ]
{{Main|Italian unification}} {{Main|Italian unification}}
Like all of Italy, the Kingdom of Sardinia was troubled with political instability, under alternating governments. After a very short and disastrous renewal of the war with Austria in 1849, Charles Albert abdicated on March 23, 1849, in favour of his son ]. Like all of Italy, the Kingdom of Sardinia was troubled with political instability, under alternating governments. After a very short and disastrous renewal of the war with Austria in 1849, Charles Albert abdicated on March 23, 1849, in favour of his son ].
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] ]
===Garibaldi and the Thousand=== ===Garibaldi and the Thousand===
⚫ ]
On March 5, 1860 ], ], ], and ] voted in ]s to join the Kingdom of Sardinia. This alarmed Napoleon who feared a strong Savoyard state on his southeastern border and he insisted that if the Kingdom of Sardinia were to keep the new acquisitions they would have to cede Savoy and Nice to France. This was done after dubious referendums showed over 99.5% majorities in both areas in favour of joining France. <!-- not sure how to fix this, but I don't understand why the referenda in Savoy and Nice were "dubious" but the ones in central Italy were not. --> On March 5, 1860 ], ], ], and ] voted in ]s to join the Kingdom of Sardinia. This alarmed Napoleon who feared a strong Savoyard state on his southeastern border and he insisted that if the Kingdom of Sardinia were to keep the new acquisitions they would have to cede Savoy and Nice to France. This was done after dubious referendums showed over 99.5% majorities in both areas in favour of joining France. <!-- not sure how to fix this, but I don't understand why the referenda in Savoy and Nice were "dubious" but the ones in central Italy were not. -->


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On March 17, 1861 the ] was proclaimed by the Parliament, so ratifying the ]s of all other Italian states to Piedmont. The institutions and laws of the Kingdom were quickly extended to all Italy, brutally abolishing the administrations of the other regions. Piedmont would become the most dominant and wealthiest region in Italy and the capital of Piedmont, Turin, would remain the Italian capital until 1865 when the capital was moved to ]; but in contrast, many revolts exploded through the peninsula, ]. The ] would rule Italy until 1946 when Italy was declared a ]. On March 17, 1861 the ] was proclaimed by the Parliament, so ratifying the ]s of all other Italian states to Piedmont. The institutions and laws of the Kingdom were quickly extended to all Italy, brutally abolishing the administrations of the other regions. Piedmont would become the most dominant and wealthiest region in Italy and the capital of Piedmont, Turin, would remain the Italian capital until 1865 when the capital was moved to ]; but in contrast, many revolts exploded through the peninsula, ]. The ] would rule Italy until 1946 when Italy was declared a ].


==Flags from 1720 to 1861==
==Kings of Sardinia (1297–1861)==
{{main|List of monarchs of Sardinia|List of viceroys of Sardinia}}
]
]
]
Dynasty of the ]:
* ] (1324–1327)
* ] (1327–1336)
* ] (1336–1387)
* ] (1387–1396)
* ] (1396–1410)
Dynasty of the ] of ]:
* ] (1412–1416)
* ] (1416–1458)
* ] (1458–1479)
* ] (1479–1516)
Dynasty of the ] of ]:
* ] (1516–1556)
* ] (1556–1598)
* ] (1598–1621)
* ] (1621–1665)
* ] (1665–1700)
Dynasty of the ] of Spain:
* ] (1700–1713)
Dynasty of the ] of Spain
* ] (1713–1720)
Dynasty of ]:
* ] (1720–1730)
* ] (1730–1773)
* ] (1773–1796)
* ] (1796–1802)
* ] (1802–1821)
* ] (1821–1831)
* ] (1831–1849)
*] (1849–1861)

==Flags==
When the ] was add into Kingdom of Sicily in 1713 and Kingdom of Sardinia in 1723, it maintained its traditional flag depicting a white cross on a red field. But a problem arose: if the Duchy owned the small harbour of ] only, the union with Sicily and then Sardinia gave to the Kingdom a quite big fleet, which had the same flag of ]. To disambiguate the ships of the two different States, the House of Savoy added a blue border to its flag, and then it reduced the cross in a single quarter. When the ] was add into Kingdom of Sicily in 1713 and Kingdom of Sardinia in 1723, it maintained its traditional flag depicting a white cross on a red field. But a problem arose: if the Duchy owned the small harbour of ] only, the union with Sicily and then Sardinia gave to the Kingdom a quite big fleet, which had the same flag of ]. To disambiguate the ships of the two different States, the House of Savoy added a blue border to its flag, and then it reduced the cross in a single quarter.


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<center><gallery> <center><gallery>
⚫ File:Savoie flag.svg|
File:Gelre Folio 62r.jpg|Flags of the Aragonese dominions, including Sardinia, from the ]
File:Savoyard flag.svg|
File:Bandera nacionalista sarda.svg|Flag of Sardinia under the Spanish
⚫ File:Flag of the Kingdom of Sardinia.svg|
⚫ File:Savoie flag.svg|Original flag of Savoy
File:Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg|
File:Savoyard flag.svg|Original naval ensign of kingdom of Sardinia
⚫ File:Flag of the Kingdom of Sardinia.svg|Revised naval ensign of Kingdom of Sardinia
File:Flag of Kingdom of Sardinia (1848).svg|National flag based on the naval ensign
File:Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg|Tricolour with coat of arms, used as civil flag and ensign by Sardinia after 1848 and by Italy until 1946
File:Flag of Italy (1861-1946) crowned.svg|Tricolour with additional crown, used as state flag and ensign by Sardinia after 1848 and by Italy until 1946
</gallery></center> </gallery></center>


⚫ ==Maps from 1324 to 1720 ==
⚫ ==Territorial evolution of the Kingdom of Sardinia==

⚫ ===1324 - 1720===
<center> <center>
<gallery> <gallery>
File:Sardinia 1324 .png|From 1324 to 1368
File:Sardinia 1324 .png|The political situation in Sardinia after 1324 when the Aragonese conquered the pisan territories of Sardinia who included the defunted ] and ].
File:Kingdom of Sardinia 1368-1388 -- 1392-1409.png|The Kingdom of Sardinia from 1368–1388 and 1392–1409 , after the wars with Arborea , comprehended only the cities of Cagliari and Alghero. File:Kingdom of Sardinia 1368-1388 -- 1392-1409.png|From 1368 to 1388 and from 1392 to 1409
File:Kingdom of Sardinia 1410-1420.png|The Kingdom of Sardinia from 1410 to 1420 , after the defeat of the Arborean giudicate in the battle of Sanluri (1409) File:Kingdom of Sardinia 1410-1420.png|From 1410 to 1420
File:Kingdom of Sardinia & Royal cities - 16th century.png|The Kingdom of Sardinia from 1420 to 1720 File:Kingdom of Sardinia & Royal cities - 16th century.png|from 1420 to 1720
</gallery> </gallery>
</center> </center>


===1720 - 1861=== ==Maps from 1720 to 1861==
<center> <center>
<gallery> <gallery>

Revision as of 21:46, 28 May 2011

This article's factual accuracy is disputed. Relevant discussion may be found on the talk page. Please help to ensure that disputed statements are reliably sourced. (May 2011) (Learn how and when to remove this message)
This article is about the Savoyard possessions collectively known as Kingdom of Sardinia. For the earlier history of the Kingdom of Sardinia, see Kingdom of Sardinia and Corsica.
Kingdom of SardiniaRegno di Sardegna
1297–1861
Flag of Sardinia Flag (1816–1848) Coat of arms of Sardinia Coat of arms
Kingdom of Sardinia in 1815: Mainland Piedmont with Savoy, Nice, Genoa and the island of Sardinia.Kingdom of Sardinia in 1815: Mainland Piedmont with Savoy, Nice, Genoa and the island of Sardinia.
CapitalCagliari, Turin
Common languagesItalian, Sardinian, French, Piedmontese, Occitan
Religion Roman Catholicism
GovernmentMonarchy
• 1297-1327 James II of Aragon
• 1849–61 Victor Emmanuel II
LegislatureParliament (since 1848)
• Upper houseRoyal Senate
• Lower houseChamber of Deputies
History 
• In Rome, James II of Aragon is crowned King of Sardinia by Pope Boniface VIII April 04 1297
• Battle of Lucocisterna Febbruary 29, 1324
• Battle of Sanluri, June 30, 1409
• Treaty of The Hague Febbruary 20, 1720
• Constitution March 4, 1848
• Italian unification March 17 1861
Population
• 1859 4,650,368
CurrencyPiedmontese scudo (Mainland, 1720–1800)
Sardinian scudo (Island, 1720–1821)
Sardinian lira (1816–1861)
Preceded by Succeeded by
Republic of Pisa
File:Stemma arborense p.gif Giudicato of Arborea
Kingdom of Italy (1861–1946)

Kingdom of Sardinia or Sardinia, also (not officially) Piedmont-Sardinia, Sardinia-Piedmont or Piemonte, refers to the states of the House of Savoy from 1720 or 1723 onwards, following the award of the crown of Sardinia to King Victor Amadeus II of Savoy under the Treaty of The Hague (1720). This compensated him for the loss of the crown of Sicily to Austria and allowed him to retain the title of king, as the title "King of Sardinia" (and also the kingdom) had existed since the 14th century . After 1720 the kingdom was a composite state and besides Sardinia included Duchy of Savoy, Piedmont, Nice, Duchy of Aosta, Duchy of Monferrato, Vercelli and Asti, the Marquisate of Saluzzo and part of the Duchy of Milan; Ligurian Republic, including Genoa, was added by the Congress of Vienna in 1815. Officially, the nation's name was Kingdom of Sardinia ; the House of Savoy maintaining a national claim to the thrones of Cyprus and Jerusalem, although both had long been under Ottoman rule and never conquered (the title was merely a formal title). During most of the 18th and 19th centuries, the political and economic capital of the kingdom was Turin in Piedmont on the Italian mainland. In 1860, Nice and Savoy were ceded to France in return for French consent and assistance in Italian unification. In 1861, the Kingdom of Sardinia became the founding state of the new Kingdom of Italy, annexing all other Italian states. The Kingdom thus continued in legal continuity with the actual Italian state, to which it transferred all its institutions first to Kingdom of Italy (1861–1946) and after to Italian Republic .

Early history of Kingdom of Sardinia

Aragon in the 15th century.
Main article: History of Sardinia

In 1297, Pope Boniface VIII, intervening between the Houses of Anjou and Aragon in the war called Sicilian Vespers, established on paper a regnum Sardiniae et Corsicae that would be a fief of the Papacy, but in the island, however, already existed native state entities. Then the Pope offered his newly-invented fief to James II of Aragon, promising him papal support should he wish to conquer Pisan Sardinia in exchange for Sicily. In 1323 James II formed an alliance with Hugh II of Arborea and, following a military campaign which lasted a year or so, occupied the Pisan territories of Cagliari and Gallura along with the city of Sassari, claiming the territory as the Kingdom of Sardinia and Corsica. In 1353 Aragon made war on Arborea, then fought with its leader Marianus IV of Arborea, but did not reduce the last of the autochthonous giudicati (indigenous kingdoms of Sardinia) until 1410. The Kingdom of Sardinia and Corsica retained its separate character as part of the Crown of Aragon and was not merely incorporated into the Kingdom of Aragon. At the time of his struggles with Arborea, Peter IV of Aragon granted an autonomous legislature to the Kingdom, which had one advanced legal traditions. The Kingdom was governed in the king's name by a viceroy. When in 1409, Martin the younger, king of Sicily and heir to Aragon, defeated the last Sardinian giudicato but then died in Cagliari of malaria, without issue, Sardinia passed with the Crown of Aragon to a united Spain. Corsica, which had never been conquered, was dropped from the formal title. The loss of the autochthonous' independence, the firm Aragonese (later Spanish) rule, with the introduction of a sterile feudalism, as well as the discovery of the Americas, provoked an unstoppable decline of Kingdom of Sardinia. A short period of resurgence occurred under the local noble Leonardo de Alagon, marquess of Oristano, who managed to defeat the viceroy's army in the 1470s but was later crushed at the Battle of Macomer (1478), ending any further hope of independence for the island.

Emmanuel Philibert, Duke of Savoy (1553-80), called Ironhead.

Early history of Duchy of Savoy

Main article: Duchy of Savoy

Piedmont was inhabited in early historic times by Celtic-Ligurian tribes such as the Taurini and the Salassi. They later submitted to the Romans (c. 220 BC), who founded several colonies there including Augusta Taurinorum (Turin) and Eporedia (Ivrea). After the fall of the Western Roman Empire, the region was repeatedly invaded by the Burgundians, the Goths (5th century), Byzantines, Lombards (6th century), Franks (773). In the 9th-10th centuries there were further incursions by the Magyars and Saracens. At the time Piedmont, as part of the Kingdom of Italy within the Holy Roman Empire, was subdivided into several marks and counties.

In 1046, Oddo of Savoy added Piedmont to their main segment of Savoy, with a capital at Chambéry (now in France). Other areas remained independent, such as the powerful communes of Asti and Alessandria and the marquisates of Saluzzo and Montferrat. The County of Savoy was elevated to a duke in 1416, and Duke Emanuele Filiberto moved the seat to Turin in 1563.

Map of the Kingdom of Sardinia

Exchange of Sardinia for Sicily

The Spanish domination of Sardinia ended at the beginning of the 18th century, as a result of War of the Spanish succession. By the Treaty of Utrecht of 1713, Spain's European empire was divided: Savoy received Sicily and parts of the Duchy of Milan, while Charles VI (the Holy Roman Emperor and Archduke of Austria), received the Spanish Netherlands, the Kingdom of Naples, Sardinia, and the bulk of the Duchy of Milan. During the War of the Quadruple Alliance, Victor Amadeus II, duke of Savoy and sovereign of Piedmont, had to agree to yield Sicily to the Austrian Habsburgs and receive Sardinia in exchange. The exchange was formally ratified in the Treaty of The Hague of February 17, 1720. Because a kingdom of Sardinia had existed since the 14th century, the exchange allowed Victor Amadeus to retain the title of king in spite of the loss of Sicily.

Victor Amadeus initially resisted the exchange, and until 1723 continued to style himself King of Sicily rather than King of Sardinia. The state took the official title of Kingdom of Sardinia, Cyprus and Jerusalem, as the house of Savoy still claimed the thrones of Cyprus and Jerusalem, although both had long been under Ottoman rule.

King Charles Albert

Napoleonic Wars and the Congress of Vienna

In 1792 Piedmont-Sardinia joined the First Coalition against the French First Republic, but was beaten in 1796 by Napoleon and forced to conclude the disadvantageous Treaty of Paris (1796), giving the French army free passage through Piedmont. On December 6, 1798 Joubert occupied Turin and forced Charles Emmanuel IV to abdicate and leave for the island of Sardinia. The provisionary government voted to unite Piedmont with France. In 1799 the Austro-Russians briefly occupied the city, but with the Battle of Marengo (1800), the French regained control. The island of Sardinia stayed out of the reach of the French for the rest of the war.

In 1814 the kingdom was restored and enlarged with the addition of the former Republic of Genoa, now a duchy, and it served as a buffer state against France. This was confirmed by the Congress of Vienna. In the reaction after Napoleon, the country was ruled by conservative monarchs: Victor Emmanuel I (1802–21), Charles Felix (1821–31) and Charles Albert (1831–49), who fought at the head of a contingent of his own troops at the Battle of Trocadero, which set the reactionary Ferdinand VII on the Spanish throne. Victor Emanuel I disbanded the entire Code Napoléon and returned the lands and power to the nobility and the Church. This reactionary policy went as far as discouraging the use of roads built by the French. These changes typified Piedmont. The Kingdom of Sardinia industrialized from 1830 onward. A constitution, the Statuto Albertino, was enacted in the year of revolutions, 1848, under liberal pressure, and under the same pressure Charles Albert declared war on Austria. After initial success the war took a turn for the worse and Charles Albert was defeated by Marshal Radetzky at Custozza.

Kingdom of Sardinia in 1860

Italian unification

Camillo Benso, Count of Cavour
Main article: Italian unification

Like all of Italy, the Kingdom of Sardinia was troubled with political instability, under alternating governments. After a very short and disastrous renewal of the war with Austria in 1849, Charles Albert abdicated on March 23, 1849, in favour of his son Victor Emmanuel II.

In 1852 a liberal ministry under Count Camillo Benso di Cavour was installed, and the Kingdom of Sardinia became the engine driving the Italian Unification. The Kingdom of Sardinia (Piedmont) took part in the Crimean War, allied with the Ottoman Empire, Britain, and France, and fighting against Russia.

In 1859 France sided with the Kingdom of Sardinia in a war against Austria, the Austro-Sardinian War. Napoleon III didn't keep his promises to Cavour to fight until all of the Kingdom of Lombardy-Venetia had been conquered. Following the bloody battles of Magenta and Solferino, both French victories, Napoleon thought the war too costly to continue and made a separate peace behind Cavour's back in which only Lombardy would be ceded. Due to the Austrian government's refusal to cede any lands to the Kingdom of Sardinia, they agreed to cede Lombardy to Napoleon who in turn then ceded the territory to the Kingdom of Sardinia to avoid 'embarrassing' the defeated Austrians. Cavour angrily resigned from office when it became clear that Victor Emmanuel would accept the deal.

King Victor Emmanuel II meets Garibaldi in Teano (October 26, 1860)

Garibaldi and the Thousand

On March 5, 1860 Parma, Tuscany, Modena, and Romagna voted in referendums to join the Kingdom of Sardinia. This alarmed Napoleon who feared a strong Savoyard state on his southeastern border and he insisted that if the Kingdom of Sardinia were to keep the new acquisitions they would have to cede Savoy and Nice to France. This was done after dubious referendums showed over 99.5% majorities in both areas in favour of joining France.

In 1860 Giuseppe Garibaldi started his campaign to conquer southern Italy in the name of the Kingdom of Sardinia. He quickly toppled the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies and marched to Gaeta. Cavour was actually the most satisfied with the unification while Garibaldi wanted to conquer Rome. Garibaldi was too revolutionary for the king and his prime minister.

Towards Kingdom of Italy

On March 17, 1861 the Kingdom of Italy was proclaimed by the Parliament, so ratifying the annexations of all other Italian states to Piedmont. The institutions and laws of the Kingdom were quickly extended to all Italy, brutally abolishing the administrations of the other regions. Piedmont would become the most dominant and wealthiest region in Italy and the capital of Piedmont, Turin, would remain the Italian capital until 1865 when the capital was moved to Florence; but in contrast, many revolts exploded through the peninsula, especially in Southern Italy. The House of Savoy would rule Italy until 1946 when Italy was declared a republic.

Flags from 1720 to 1861

When the Duchy of Savoy was add into Kingdom of Sicily in 1713 and Kingdom of Sardinia in 1723, it maintained its traditional flag depicting a white cross on a red field. But a problem arose: if the Duchy owned the small harbour of Nice only, the union with Sicily and then Sardinia gave to the Kingdom a quite big fleet, which had the same flag of Malta. To disambiguate the ships of the two different States, the House of Savoy added a blue border to its flag, and then it reduced the cross in a single quarter.

The flag had following minor changes until 1848, when a revolution happened: to follow the liberal revolutions which were exploding in all Europe, King Charles Albert adopted the Napoleonic Italian tricolour, surmonted by the Savoyard shield, as national flag. This flag became the flag of Italy until 1946.

Maps from 1324 to 1720

  • From 1324 to 1368 From 1324 to 1368
  • From 1368 to 1388 and from 1392 to 1409 From 1368 to 1388 and from 1392 to 1409
  • From 1410 to 1420 From 1410 to 1420
  • from 1420 to 1720 from 1420 to 1720

Maps from 1720 to 1861

Constituent countries

Until the perfect fusion of 1848, the Kingdom of Sardinia was formed by different constituent countries. At that time it was a composite state, formed by the union of several states which kept their own property of states

References

  1. See the article section Exchange of Sardinia for Sicily
  2. ^ "Breve storia di Sardegna". Francesco Cesare Casula. Carlo Delfino Editore. 1994. p. 185. Cite error: The named reference "Casula" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  3. "Sardinia, kingdom of". [[Columbia Encyclopedia|The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia]] (6 ed.). Columbia University Press. 2007. {{cite book}}: URL–wikilink conflict (help)
  4. "Sardinia (historical kingdom, Italy)". Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 6 September 2010.
  5. See for example Thuesen, 2002, p. 506. A coin minted in 1722 still uses the title of King of Sicily for Victor Amadeus II.

Sources

  • Casula, Francesco Cesare (1994). Breve storia di Sardegna. Sassari: Carlo Delfino. ISBN 88-7138-065-7.
  • Hearder, Harry (1986). Italy in the Age of the Risorgimento, 1790-1870. London: Longman. ISBN 0582491460.
  • Martin, George Whitney (1969). The Red Shirt and the Cross of Savoy. New York: Dodd, Mead and Co. ISBN 0396059082.
  • Storrs, Christopher (1999). War, Diplomacy and the Rise of Savoy, 1690-1720. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0521551463.
  • Thuesen, Nils Petter (2002). Verdens historie i årstall. Orion. ISBN 9788245805178.

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