Biography Charles Felix of Sardinia

1 biography

1.1 life
1.2 italian campaign (1792-1798)
1.3 viceroy of sardinia (1799-1814)
1.4 marriage , return turin (1814-1821)
1.5 revolution of 1821

1.5.1 origin
1.5.2 beginning of revolt
1.5.3 abdication of victor emmanuel , regency of charles albert
1.5.4 intervention of charles felix
1.5.5 suppression


1.6 reign (1821-1831)

1.6.1 internal policy
1.6.2 economic initiatives
1.6.3 foreign policy
1.6.4 patronage


1.7 death , succession

biography
early life

carlo felice di savoia born in turin eleventh child , fifth son born victor amadeus iii of savoy , maria antonia ferdinanda of spain. paternal grandparents charles emmanuel iii of savoy , german wife polyxena of hesse-rotenburg. maternal grandparents french born king philip v of spain , italian wife, elisabeth farnese.

he younger brother of 2 other rulers of savoy charles emmanuel iv , victor emmanuel i. spent childhood sister maria carolina , younger brother, giuseppe benedetto placido, count of moriana, @ castle of moncalieri.

from youth, carlo felice reported having complex character: on 1 hand consistent , inflexible, private, distrustful, , impulsive, if not touchy , vindictive; on other hand honest, sincere, , cabable of emotion , fondness. had clever mind, @ times ironic. possessed sacral conception of monarchy , right reign.

during years of french revolution , italian campaign, charles felix formed part of parallel court opposed charles emmanuel iv s circle, along brother victor emmanuel, latter s wife maria theresa, maurizio giuseppe duke of monferrat, , giuseppe placido, count of moriana.

in period, charles felix began keep personal diary, important source events , conflicts court in savoy.

the italian campaign (1792-1798)

when war broke out france, charles felix did not distinguish himself soldier, despire having received military education. in 1792, after french occupation of duchy of savoy , county of nice, followed troops saluzzo , in 1793, accompanied father, victor amadeus iii, had directed operations reconquest of nice , savoy along austrians under general j. de vins, susa valley, pinerolo, cuneo, , tende.

charles felix remained far front lines in case. in spring 1794, after arrival in aosta of brother duke of monferrat, charles felix , giuseppe placido went morgex in order retake positions of relative strategic importance, did not achieve anything.

on 28 april 1796, victor amadeus iii forced sign armistice of cherasco french, followed treaty of paris on 15 may, accepted french control of nice, savoy, genevoise, , fortresses. charles felix, had been titled duke of genoa, obtained title of marquis of susa in compensation nominal loss.

victor amadeus iii died in october of same year , succeeded prince of piedmont charles emmanuel iv. relationship between new king , charles felix had never been good, deteriorated king strove keep brothers in dark affairs of state.

two years reign, charles emmanuel iv forced surrender royal control on mainland. along king , rest of royal family, charles felix left turin on evening of 9 december 1798 cagliari, arrived on 3 march 1799.

viceroy of sardinia (1799-1814)

charles felix grand master of order of saints maurice , lazarus

charles emmanuel iv childless and, after death of wife, abdicated in favour of brother victor emmanuel on 4 june 1802. latter did not take possession of domains in sardinia himself, preferring entrust them charles felix viceroy.

charles felix s government of sardinia rather rigid , authoritarian. since sardinian revolutionary movements (it) in 1794, island had experienced period of disorder, exacerbated widespread poverty, had led increase in crime, viceroy supressed notable harshness, writing brother king, slaughter, slaughter, of human race.

charles felix established military regime, such sardinian subjects referred him carlo feroce (charles ferocious). tool of regime special court of viceregal delegation investigation of political proceedings, took action against capopolo (popular leader), vincenzo sulis, guilty of nothing other having been more successful viceroy in defeating revolutionary movements. when sulis condemned twenty years in gaol, viceroy considered lenient sentence. furthermore, in persecution of state criminals, charles felix legitimated adoption of military procedures , granted every power police, spying, censoring letters , placing bounties on suspects.

in reorganisation work, however, displayed notable energy control autonomy of judiciary , local bureaucracy , managed correct abuses of feudal regime.

in fact, when stamenti, parliament of kingdom, voted pay tax of 400,000 lire, charles felix exerted significant pressure have poorest classes exempted tax , judged disputes in feudal jurisdiction in favour of vassals rather feudal lords. when anti-feudal revolt took place against duke of asinara, had refused conform regulations of viceroy, charles felix decided punish both duke, stripped of property, revolutionaries.

despite precarious political , social situation, charles felix able bring improvements agriculture , economy of island. under rule, agrarian society , office administration of crown mines , forests established. additionally, farming of olives encouraged , commercial contracts granted in order encourage local production. finally, began project systematise road network.

marriage , return turin (1814-1821)

maria cristina of naples, wife of charles felix , queen of sardinia

on 7 march 1807, in cappella palatina of palazzo dei normanni in palermo, charles felix married proxy maria cristina of naples , sicily (17 january 1779 - 11 march 1849), daughter of ferdinand iv king of naples , sicily , maria carolina of austria.

the marriage had been opposed charles felix, had been arranged or dynastic reasons. neither charles emmanuel nor victor emmanuel had male children (the son of latter had become sick , died in sardinia), while duke of montferrat , count of morian deceased, charles felix had become heir presumptive , therefore had produce male heir.

although marriage maria cristina proved harmonious, unable have children, forcing victor emmanuel consider succession of charles albert, prince of carignano, collatoral line of house of savoy.

after fall of napoleon , return of victor emmanuel turin on 20 may 1814, charles felix joined him brief period before returning sardinia following year wife. formally retained role of viceroy until 1821, although returned court in turin after short period.

revolution of 1821
origin

following revolts in cadiz in 1820, king ferdinand vii of spain forced restore spanish constitution of 1812 , hope of obtaining similar concessions own sovereigns arose in many european states. insurrections broke out in naples , palermo.

the initial indications of crisis confirmed on 11 january 1821 when 4 students stopped police @ theatre performance in turin because wearing red caps black bows, symbol of carboneria. young men offered resistance , arrested, provoking large brawl.

the next day, students , many of teachers protested, calling release of youths and, when refused, blockaded in university , government forced call in army. although nobody killed, wounded numerous , situation escalated.

a connection made between protestors , secret society of federati , leaders santorre di rossi, giacinto collegno, carlo emanuele asinari, , guglielmo moffa di lisio gribaldi (all soldiers, officials, or sons of ministers) , roberto d’azeglio met charles albert on 6th of march. ready act, having identified prince new man house of savoy, might willing break absolutist past.

the goal of conspirators not abolish house of savoy, induce enact political , social reforms , undertake war against austria, seemed possible in light of anti-austrian sentiments of victor emmanuel i.

in this, conspirators took advantage of absence of charles felix, whom thought have been able induce victor emmanuel oppose plans. planned raise army, surround royal residence @ moncalieri castle , force him grant constitution , declare war on austria. role of charles albert have been mediate between conspirators , king, following morning, changed mind , attempted escape conspirators, although did not disavow them.

beginning of revolt

the conspirators grew suspiscious , prepared cancel insurrection had planned 10th. same day, charles albert, penitent, raced moncalieri in order confess victor emmanuel , beg pardon. in night garrison of alessandria, commanded 1 of conspirators, guglielmo ansaldi, rebelled , occupied city. although had been abandoned prince, rest of revolutionaries decided act @ point.

abdication of victor emmanuel , regency of charles albert

victor emmanuel i, abdicated in favour of charles felix after rebellion of 1821

on sunday 11 march 1821, king victor emmanuel met crown council, charles albert member of. result of king s indecision, no action taken.

on 12 march, citadel of turin fell hands of rebels. victor emmanuel encouraged charles albert , cesare balbo negotiate carbonari, refused listen messages. thus, in evening, in face of spreading military uprising, king abdicated in favour of brother charles felix. since latter in modena @ time, charles albert appointed regent.

the abdication of king, followed dismissal of ministers of state, led chaos because created dynastic crisis foreign powers not ignore , because split army , bureaucracy, preventing every possibility of maintaining order.#

the regent tried take control naming new government (the lawyer, ferdinando del pozzo (1768-1843) minister of intrior, general emanuele pes di villamarina minister of war, , lodovico sauli d igliano minister of foreign affairs) , attepted negotiate rebels, achieved nothing.

given impossibility of taking decisions without agreement of new king, charles albert sent charles felix account of events, seeking instructions, letter took long time reach destination.

fearful of becoming object of popular anger, on evening of 13 march 1821, charles albert signed decree granting constitution along lines of spanish constitution of 1812, not become law until approved king.

the next day, regent decided form junta, protect parliament. 2 days after that, swore observe spanish constitution, in savoyard version had been altered according requests of victor emmanuel s consort, maria therese.

intervention of charles felix

at point, charles felix, had received letter charles albert notifying him of brother s abdication, decided act. told messenger not address him majesty , asserted since abdication had been extracted through violence, not considered valid. finally, said, tell prince that, if there still drop of our royal blood in veins, should set out novara , wait there orders.

as spanish constitution, declared sovereign acts taken after abdication of brother null , void, issued following proclamation, far consenting change in pre-existing form of government nominal abdication of king, our beloved brother, consider royal subjects have aided or abetted traitors or have presumed proclaim constiution, rebels.

charles albert, discouraged, did charles felix commanded, went novara, , issued proclamation renouncing regency , calling on submit charles felix. on 29th, received letter charles felix ordering him depart family florence.

with charles albert out of way, charles felix dispatched several letters francis of austria, asking him send troops in order suppress revolt.

on 3 april, issued second proclamation granted pardon soldiers while applying strict sanctions rebel officials, ultimately, prevented form of compromise. chancellor metternich himself said francis iv of modena proclamation had been imprudent , written animosity, passion, , hatred.

the rebels, realising no other option remained them, marched on novara, forces loyal charles felix gathered under command of vittorio sallier de la tour. this, inevitably, convinced metternich intervene.

on 8 april there battle (noara-borgo vercelli) troops of de la tour , of austrian general ferdinand von bubna, occupied vercelli , alessandria on 11 april, while de la tour, had received full powers charles felix, occupied turin on 10th.

on 19 april, despite pressure emperors of russia , austria, metternich, charles albert, francis iv, , charles felix himself (who hated idea of receiving crown rebels), victor emmanuel reaffirmed abdication. thus, on 25 april, charles felix acceded throne.

suppression

once control of turin re-established, charles felix, still in modena, entered personal communication emperor of austria in order obtain recognition congress of laibach, in session, able assume full control of possessions, absolute monarch, , austria not allowed interfere in way in territories.

at subsequent congress of verona, charles felix feared pressure constitutional changes , reiterated in instructions ambassadors repression of revolutionary spirit inspired congress of laibach belonged exclusively him , firmly convinced of necessity of obligation.

having decided remain @ modena, appointed ignazio thaon di revel lieutenant general of kingdom, , placed g. piccono della valle , g.c. brignole in charge of foreign affairs , financial affairs respectively.

finally, began suppression of opposition. following extract work of guido astuti describes actions:

the new king, charles felix, let loose reaction arbitrary repressive methods, using extraordinary commissions judge rebels , establishing political investigators inorder purge army , bureaucracy

finally, king instituted 3 different jurisdictions: mixed civil , military tribunal called royal delegation penal powers, military commission investigating conduct of officers , non-commissioned officers, , scrutiny commission investigating conduct of every employee of kingdom.

the royal delegation sat 7 may october, in time issued 71 death sentences, 5 sentences of life imprisonment, , 20 sentences of imprisonment 5 20 years. after delegation s dissolution, senate issued further 24 death sentences, 5 sentences of life imprisonment, , 12 sentences of imprisonment 15–20 years. end of october military commission had dismissed 627 officers.

the scrutiny commission, divided superior tribunal , 7 divisional boards of scrutiny, issued numerous dismissals , suspensions of cvil servants , professors of every kind of school, whom found particularly culpable.

on instructions of minister of interior, roget de cholex, university of turin closed , many professors received severe admonitions because, king wrote in letter brother (9 may 1822): has studied @ university entirely corrupt: professors detestable, there no way replace them... bad taught , ignorant. .

in case, although oppressive climate established, accompanied habituation accusations , diversity of political ideas, offering pretext pursuing private vendettas, royal authority, governor of genoa, giorgio des geneys, did not prevent people fleeing. of people condemned, 2 executed.

further, reported letter of count d agliè charles felix never prevented secretly passing subsidies condemned men had gone exile , angelo brofferio reports when king discovered 1 of these subsidies going family of 1 of 2 individuals had been executed in 1821, king doubled sum.

the suppression of opposition terminated on 30 september 1821, when charles felix issued pardon of individuals had been implicated in revolt, excluding leaders, financiers , had been found guilty of homicide or extortion. few days later, charles felix entered turin.

reign (1821-1831)

even before reached turin, charles felix repudiated regent s promise and, restore order, called in austrians, stayed in piedmont till 1823. in same year charles albert went spain extinguish force of arms last sparks of revolt, making himself object of hatred betrayer of italian liberalism, regaining confidence of king, might have chosen successor.

charles felix true reactionary, convinced world swept clean of - in view - wicked , sacrilegious innovations introduced french revolution , diffused throughout europe napoleon bonaparte rascal called him.

internal policy

charles felix depicted on 1 lira coin of 1828

charles felix present @ turin king , did not participate in social life of capital, since had never sought throne , had no particular affection turinese, whom considered have proven traitors dynasty through support napoleon , constitutional protests.

in practice, resided in turin during theatre season , spent rest of time travelling around savoy, nice, genoa (one of favourite residences) , castles of govone , agliè, had inherited sister maria anna.

as result, king tended elegate large amounts of power ministers, count roget de cholex, minister of interior, reserving supervisory role himself. government characterised massimo d azeglio follows:

a despotism full of straight , honest intentions representatives , arbiters 4 old chamberlains, 4 old maids of honour, hive of friars, priests, monks, , jesuits.

nevertheless, king not entirely unaware of need reform , exerted himself in defense of piedmontese realm pontifical , foreign intervetion. limited privileges , exemptions of church, seemed harmful state, abolishing right of sanctuary in holy places, granted secular courts right hear cases against priests , , imposed civic oversight of catechisms, sermons, , religious books.

regarding issue of church property had been secularised in 1792 (with papal consent) , francisican property had been secularised unilaterally, king appointed extraordinary board composed of official , supporters of clergy. proposals, delivered pope leo xii ambassador-extraordinary filiberto avogadro di collobiano in december 1827, examined council of cardinals, rejected financial details , right of state dispose of property freely. however, on 1 april 1828, king summoned new council, professed flexibility on financial issues , rigidity on issue of disposal. resulting agreement approved on 14 may 1828 holy see.

there important legislative reforms, effected edict of 16 july 1822, reformed mortgages; edict of 27 august 1822, unified military penal law; , edict of 27 september 1822, reformed judicial system. these changes capped civil , criminal laws of kingdom of sardinia, signed on 16 january 1827, replaced dated carta de logu.

charles felix, every man of restoration, simultaneously included both reactionaries , reformers, had had great variety of experiences , appeared oscillate between open revival of eighteenth century despotism, had come end napoleonic state, , historic innovations, had little luck in italy, however... on 1 hand there typical effort update dynastic absolutism, on other hand there substantial adoption of frence system - exceptions , modifications.

in fact, while victor emmanuel had implemented rigid counter-revolution, uncritically revoked every arrangement made french after abdication of charles emmanuel iv, state not continue ignore of majority of subjects called laws in accordance ideas , needs of contemporary world. reforms fill gaps necessary.

thus, on 27 september 1822, after charles felix had re-established publication of mortgages , codified military penal law, promulgated edict on reform of civil judicial system - excluding sardinia.

the edict abolished majority of special jurisdictions (e.g. gambling offences, or management of ports), instituted 40 collegial prefecture tribunals (which managed 416 district courts ), original jurisdiction, divided 4 classes, according importance of area, , entrusted instruction of procedures special members of these tribunals. civil , penal jurisdiction remained senate in turin , fiscal jurisdiction court of audit.

in addition, single appellate jurisdiction introduced, eliminating multiplicity of appeals had existed , ministerial position of fiscal advocate introduced.

finally, made act of taking case court free, inadequately, replacing old system of sportula, heavy judicial fee, calculated on basis of seriousness of case, provided judges pay, regular system of salaries paid state.

another important change code of civil , criminal law of kingdom of sardinia promulgated on 16 january 1827, result of work of count of cholex. code prepared in turin supreme council of sardinia. examined appropriate sardinian committee , reale udienza of sardinia. result confection of sardinian , mainland sources, creating law both traditional , novel.

the novel changes relate penal law: abolition of giudatico (impunity criminals had arrested other criminals) , esemplarità (cruel extensions of death penalty, quartering corpse , scattering ashes); restrictions on imposition of death penalty; affirmation of principle punishment should fit crime; , distinction between attempted crimes , crimes committed.

finally, slave trade abolished , declared person found in captivity on ship flying sardinian flag instantly freed.

economic initiatives

the teatro carlo felice, genoa

charles felix s reign characterised financial , economic difficulties , rigid protectionism, there initiatives relating services , public works.

the road network improved construction of road between cagliari , sassari (now strada statale 131 charles felix) , between genoa , nice, bridges on bormida , ticino (the latter completed in 1828). large number of public buildings constructed in cities: port of nice largely restored, genoa received theatre (the teatro carlo felice, named after king), , turin benefited programme of urban improvement included bridge on dora, piazza carlo felice, underground drainage channels, porticos of piazza castello , various new suburbs.

charles felix paid attention steelworking sector, had occupied him viceroy, banking , insurance sectors, improved creation of cassa di risparmio di torino in 1827 , establishment of royal mutual society of insurers in june 1829. encouraged agricultural , manufacturing sector granting lots of exemptions , fiscal benefits , through creation of trade fairs of 1829, in 500 exhibitors participated.

foreign policy

theoretically, charles felix committed territorial expansion of realm, did not maintain expansionist illusions , preferred concentrate on economic , commercial interests of realm. in 1821, of austrians , english, signed advantageous trade agreement sublime porte.

in september 1825, in order force bey of tripoli observe treaty established him in 1816 under english auspices, , respect sardinian ships sailing along coast of north africa, launched demonstration of force. towards end of month, 2 frigates (commercio , cristina), corvette (tritone) , brig (nereide) under command of captain francesco sivori, appeared off coast of tripoli. after final attempt pressure bey diplomatically, ten sardinian longboats sailed harbour on night of 27 september , set fire tripolitanian brig , 2 schooners, routing or murdering tripolitanian troops. forced bey take more conciliatory approach.

in 1828 , ended construction of bridge on river ticino @ boffalora, had been begun brother victor emmanuel years earlier result of treaty emperor of austria, controlled other side of river part of kingdom of lombardy–venetia.

patronage

tomb of charles felix, hautecombe abbey

charles felix avid patron of art , culture. in 1824, acquired hautecombe abbey, many of ancestors buried , entursted restoration programme architect ernesto melano.

in same year, responsible acquisition of part of collection constitutes museo egizio in turin. pieces acquired bernardino drovetti, native of barbania, french consul in egypt. collection placed in palazzo dell accademia delle scienze, still site of museum.

in 1827, charles felix instituted chamber of commerce , school of palaeography , diplomacy, affiliated academy of painting , sculpture.

death , succession

charles felix died without issue on 27 april 1831, in turin @ palazzo chablais had been given him sister princess maria anna, duchess of chablais, after reign of ten years. buried @ hautecombe abbey in savoy, wife buried in 1849. death, main line of house of savoy became extinct. succeeded senior male member of house of savoy-carignano, regent charles albert (1798-1849). selection of charles albert successor had not been made willingly, since charles albert had shown himself inclined liberalism , friendly carbonari.