Luigi Villari

“ Charles Emmanuel (1796-1802) , believing in Bonaparte's promises, was induced to enter into a confederation with France and give up the citadel of Turin to the French, which meant the end of his country's independence. Realizing his folly he abdicated on the 6th of December 1796, and retired to Sardinia, Victor while the French occupied the whole of Piedmont. After the defeat of the French by the Austro-Russian armies during Bonaparte's absence in Egypt, Charles Emmanuel landed at Leghorn, hoping to regain his kingdom ”

“ Princess Clothilde (b. 1843) , who married Prince Napoleon; Humbert, prince of Piedmont (1844) ; Amadeus, duke of Aosta (b. 1845) ; Oddone, duke of Montferrat (b. 1846) ; and-Princess Maria Pia (b. 1847) . Humbert, who Humber, in 1868 had married Princess Margherita of Savoy, daughter of Victor Emmanuel's brother, the duke of Genoa, became king of Italy on his father's death in 1878. In July 1900 he was assassinated by an anarchist at Monza. He was succeeded by his only son, Victor Emmanuel III., born in 1869, who during his father's lifetime had borne the title of prince of Naples. ”

“ He alone of the sons of Thomas I. left male heirs, and his son Amadeus V. (1285–1323) reunited the scattered dominions of his house. When Amadeus succeeded to the throne these were divided into the county of Savoy (his own territory) , the principality of Piedmont ruled by his nephew Philip, prince of Achaea (a title acquired through his wife, Isabella of Villehardouin, heiress of Achaea and the Morea) , and Vaud ruled by his brother Louis. ”

“ The war between France and Spain continued to rage, and Savoy, on whose territory much of the fightingitook place, suffered severely in consequence. By the treaty of the Pyrenees (1669) the war came to an end and Savoy regained most of the towns occupied by France. Charles died in 1675 and was succeeded by his only son, Victor Amadeus II. (167 5-1732) . The Amadeus latter's minority was passed under the regency of his " able but imperious mother, Ieanne of Savoy-Nemours. He married Anne of Orleans, daughter of Henrietta of England and niece of Louis XIV. of France. ”

“ By the peace of Aix-la-Chapelle in 1748, following on the defeat of the French, Savoy gained some further accessions of territory in Piedmont. The reign of Charles's son, Victor Amadeus III. (177 3-1 796) , was a period of decadence; the king was incapable and extravagant, and he chose equally incapable ministers. On the outbreak of the French Revolution he sided with the royalists and was eventually brought into conflict with the French republic. The army being demoralized and the treasury empty, the kingdom The fell an easy prey to the republican ~forces. ”

“ He induced both France and Spain to evacuate the fortresses which they still held in Piedmont, made a profitable exchange of territory with the Bernese, and acquired an extension of seaboard by the purchase of Tenda and Oneglia (see EMMANUEL PHILIBERT of Savoy) . His son and successor, Charles Emmanuel I., surnamed ue!
the Great, strengthened the tendency of Savoy to become less of a French and more of an Italian Power. In 1 588 he wrested Saluzzo from the French, but his expeditions to Provence and Switzerland were unsuccessful. ”

“ The French invaded Piedmont, but were totally defeated at the siege of Turin by Victor Amadeus and Prince Eugene of Savoy (1706) , and eventually driven from the country. By the treaty, of Utrecht (1713) Victor received the long-coveted Montferrat and was made king of Sicily; but in 1718 the powers obliged him to exchange that kingdom for Sardinia, which conferred The km!" on the rulers of Savoy and Piedmont the title subse- g';f ':, ;5a quently borne by them until they assumed that of kings of Italy. ”

“ He was succeeded by his sons, Edward (1323–1329) , known as “the Liberal,” on account of his extravagance, and Aimone, the Peaceful (1329–1343) , who strove to repair the harm done to the state's exchequer by his predecessor and proved one of the best princes of his line. ”