Kingdom of Sardinia

Quick Facts: Who was Kingdom of Sardinia?

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Kingdom of Sardinia

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A historical kingdom in Southern Europe, evolving through Aragonese and Savoyard rule.

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Origins & Early Life

The Kingdom of Sardinia, also referred to as the Kingdom of Sardinia and Corsica among other names, was a kingdom in Southern Europe from the late 13th until the mid-19th century. The kingdom's history can be divided into two distinct phases, one as part of the Aragonese and Spanish crowns (1324–1720) and one as a possession of the Savoyard state (1720–1861). The kingdom was a member of the Council of Aragon and initially consisted of the islands of Corsica and Sardinia, sovereignty over both of which was claimed by the papacy, which granted them as a fief, the Regnum Sardiniae et Corsicae (Kingdom of Sardinia and Corsica), to King James II of Aragon in 1297. Beginning in 1324, James and his successors conquered the island of Sardinia and established de facto their de jure authority. In 1420, after the Sardinian–Aragonese war, the last competing claim to the island was bought out.

Career & Major Achievements

After the union of the crowns of Aragon and Castile, Sardinia became a part of the burgeoning Spanish Empire. In 1720, the island and its kingdom were ceded by the Habsburg and Bourbon claimants from the Spanish throne to the Duke of Savoy, Victor Amadeus II. The Savoyards united it with their historical possessions on the Italian mainland, and the kingdom came to be progressively identified with the mainland states, which included, besides Savoy and Aosta, dynastic possessions like the Principality of Piedmont and the County of Nice. The formal name of this composite state was the "States of His Majesty the King of Sardinia", and it was and is referred to as either Sardinia–Piedmont, Piedmont–Sardinia, or erroneously the Kingdom of Piedmont, since the island of Sardinia had always been of secondary importance to the monarchy. Under Savoyard rule, the kingdom's government, ruling class, cultural models, and centre of population were entirely situated in the mainland.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Therefore, while the capital of the island of Sardinia and the seat of its viceroys had always been de jure Cagliari, it was the Piedmontese city of Turin, the capital of Savoy since the mid 16th century, which was the de facto seat of power. This situation would be conferred official status with the Perfect Fusion of 1847, when all the kingdom's governmental institutions would be centralized in Turin. When the mainland domains of the House of Savoy were occupied and eventually annexed by Napoleonic France, the king of Sardinia temporarily resided on the island for the first time in Sardinia's history under Savoyard rule. The Congress of Vienna (1814–1815), which restructured Europe after Napoleon's defeat, returned to Savoy its mainland possessions and augmented them with Liguria, taken from the Republic of Genoa. Following Geneva's accession to Switzerland, the Treaty of Turin (1816) transferred Carouge and adjacent areas to the newly created Swiss Canton of Geneva.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1297: 1297 Milestone — The kingdom was a member of the Council of Aragon and initially consisted of the islands of Corsica and Sardinia, sovereignty over both of which was claimed by the papacy, which granted them as a fief, the Regnum Sardiniae et Corsicae (Kingdom of Sardinia and Corsica), to King James II of Aragon in 1297.
2. 1324: 1324 Milestone — The kingdom's history can be divided into two distinct phases, one as part of the Aragonese and Spanish crowns (1324–1720) and one as a possession of the Savoyard state (1720–1861).
3. 1420: 1420 Milestone — In 1420, after the Sardinian–Aragonese war, the last competing claim to the island was bought out.
4. 1720: 1720 Milestone — In 1720, the island and its kingdom were ceded by the Habsburg and Bourbon claimants from the Spanish throne to the Duke of Savoy, Victor Amadeus II.
5. 1814: 1814 Milestone — The Congress of Vienna (1814–1815), which restructured Europe after Napoleon's defeat, returned to Savoy its mainland possessions and augmented them with Liguria, taken from the Republic of Genoa.
6. 1816: 1816 Milestone — Following Geneva's accession to Switzerland, the Treaty of Turin (1816) transferred Carouge and adjacent areas to the newly created Swiss Canton of Geneva.
7. 1847: 1847 Milestone — This situation would be conferred official status with the Perfect Fusion of 1847, when all the kingdom's governmental institutions would be centralized in Turin.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Kingdom of Sardinia

True or False: “The Kingdom of Sardinia was always considered equally important to the mainland possessions of the House of Savoy during its entire history.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): Historically, the island of Sardinia was often viewed as secondary in importance compared to the mainland states, which dictated the center of power.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

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• Abdülmecid I — Historical peer (Died in 1861) (1861): 31st Sultan of the Ottoman Empire, known for initiating the Tanzimat era of reform.
• Aleksey Yermolov — Historical peer (Died in 1861) (1861): Prominent Russian general known for service in the Napoleonic Wars and the Caucasian Campaign.
• Emperor Hanazono — Historical peer (Born in 1297) (1297): The 95th Emperor of Japan, whose reign spanned the years 1308 to 1318.
• Jean Fouquet — Historical peer (Born in 1420) (1420): Master French painter, pioneer of the portrait miniature, bridging Gothic and Renaissance styles.
• Sesshū Tōyō — Historical peer (Born in 1420) (1420): Zen master and unparalleled painter of Japanese ink landscapes.
• Alexander Graham Bell — Historical peer (Born in 1847) (1847): Pioneering inventor credited with patenting the first practical telephone.

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