Victor Emmanuel I, born on 24th July, 1759, was a significant figure in the history of the Kingdom of Sardinia. His reign, which lasted from 1802 until his abdication in 1821, was marked by considerable challenges and notable events that shaped the future of the Sardinian kingdom and its territories.
Victor Emmanuel I was born in Turin, the capital of the Kingdom of Sardinia, to Victor Amadeus III and Maria Antonia Ferdinanda of Spain. As the second son he was known as the Duke of Aosta.
The Royal family left Turin two years later as French troops occupied their territories in the north of Italy.
He ascended to the throne in 1802 following the abdication of his older brother, Charles Emmanuel IV. This period was tumultuous due to the ongoing Napoleonic Wars, which had significant implications for the Kingdom of Sardinia.
For the first twelve years, Victor Emmanuel I ruled from Cagliari, until his return to Turin following Napoleon’s downfall.
Challenges During His Reign
Victor Emmanuel I’s reign coincided with one of the most turbulent periods in European history. The Napoleonic Wars led to the occupation of Sardinian territories by French forces. The kingdom’s mainland territories, including Piedmont, were annexed by France, and Victor Emmanuel I was forced into exile in Cagliari, on the island of Sardinia.
Despite these challenges, Victor Emmanuel I remained a steadfast and determined monarch. He worked to maintain the sovereignty of his kingdom and continued to rule from Sardinia, focusing on strengthening his naval forces and supporting the British-led coalition against Napoleon.
Restoration and Reforms
With Napoleon’s fall in 1814, Victor Emmanuel I returned to his continental territories. The Congress of Vienna restored his rule over Piedmont, Savoy, and Nice, significantly reshaping the political landscape of the region.
He established the Carabinieri Corps in 1814 as a police force. They were called Carabinieri to avoid any comparisons with the former Napoleonic gendarmerie, and because they were equipped with carbines as weapons.
During his restored reign, Victor Emmanuel I was known for his conservative policies. He reinstated the traditional laws and customs that had been abolished during the French occupation.
His approach to governance was characterised by a desire to restore the old order and resist liberal reforms. This created tensions in the face of the rising tide of European liberalism and nationalism.
Jacobite Claim to British throne
As a descendant of Henrietta of England, Victor Emmanuel I carried the Jacobite claim to the thrones of England and Scotland. However, he never made the claim in public.
His eldest daughter, Maria Beatrice Victoria Josepha of Savoy (6 December 1792 – 15 September 1840), married her uncle Francis IV, Archduke of Austria and Duke of Modena. The Jacobite line carried on through her son, Francis V Duke of Modena.
Abdication and Later Life
In 1821, facing increasing unrest and pressure from liberal movements, Victor Emmanuel I abdicated in favour of his brother, Charles Felix. He retired to the Royal Palace of Moncalieri, where he lived out the remainder of his life.
Victor Emmanuel I passed away on January 10, 1824.
Sardinia is an island with a long and complex history. Discover more about the island with “Sardinia: Island of Myth and Magic“
This book details everyone from the Phoenicians to the Carthaginians and Aragonese who invaded Sardinia, which is covered with some of the most fascinating historical and archaeological sites in Europe – from thousands of nuraghi, Bronze Age towers and settlements, to ‘giant’s grave’ and ‘fairy house’ tombs. It also holds eccentric festivals, from Barbagia’s carnival parade of ghoulish mamuthones, said to banish winter demons, to the death-defying S’Ardia horse race in Sedilo.
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