Charles Emmanuel III of Sardinia

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Medal of Charles Emmanuel III of Sardinia.

Charles Emmanuel III (April 27, 1701 - February 20, 1773) was the Duke of Savoy and King of Sardinia from 1730 until his death.

1 Biography
2 Family

[edit] Biography

[edit] Early years

He was born in Turin to Victor Amadeus II of Sardinia and his first wife Anne Marie of Orléans. His maternal grandparents were Philippe I, Duke of Orléans and his first wife Henrietta Anne, the youngest daughter of King Charles I of England and Henrietta Maria of France.

Savoy had been successful in the War of Spanish Succession, gaining the title of king of Sicily but later exchanging it with Sardinia. However, Victor Amadeus in his late year was dominated by shyness and sadness, probably under the effect of some mental illness. In the end, on September 3, 1730, he abdicated, leaving the throne to Charles (nicknamed "Carlino" for his gracile and unpleasant building). He has been not loved by Victor Amadeus, and has consequently received an uncomplete education. He however acquired noteworthy knowledge in the military field along his father.

After some time spent in his residence of Chambéry, however, Victor Amadeus started again to intervene in Charles' government, although this did not impede the latter to reintroduce the feasts and the general gay atmosphere that had been abolished from Turin in the former years. In the summer 1731, after having recovered from a potentially fatal illness, Victor Amadeus returned to the throne. He accused his son of incompetence and established himself in Moncalieri: however, Charles Emmanuel managed to have Victor Amadeus arrested by the Crown's Council, in order to prevent him from attacking Milan and probably causing an invasion of Piedmont. The old king was confined to the Castle of Rivoli, where he later died without any further harm to Charles.

Portrait of Carlo Emanuele III.

[edit] The War of Polish Succession

In the War of the Polish Succession Charles Emmanuel sided for the French- backed king Stanislaw I. After the treaty of alliance signed in Turin, on October 28, 1733 he marched on Milan and occupied Lombardy without significant losses. However, when France tried to convince Philip V of Spain to join the coalition, he asked to receive Milan and Mantua in exchange. This was not acceptable for Charles Emmanuel, as it would recreate a Spanish domination in Italy as it had been in the previous centuries. While negotiations continued about the matter, the Savoy-French-Spanish troops attacked Mantua under the supreme command of Charles Emmanuel himself.

Sure that in the end Mantua would be assigned to Spain, he voluntarily thwarted the expedition. The Piedmontese army was victorious in two battles at Crocetta and Guastalla. In the end, when Austria and France signed a peace, Charles was forced to leave Lombardy. In exchange, he was given some territories, including the Langhe, Tortona and Novara.

[edit] The War of Austrian Succession

Coat of Arms of Kings of Sardinia of House of Savoy after 1720.

Charles Emmanuel was involved in the War of Austrian Succession, which he sided for Maria Theresa of Austria, with financial and naval support from England. After noteworthy but inconclusive initially successes, he had to face the French-Spanish invasion of Savoy and, after a failed allied attempt to conquer the Kingdom of Naples, the county of Nizza. When the enemy army invaded Piedmont, in 1744 he personally defended Cuneo by the Spanish-French besiegers. The following year, with some 20,000 men was facing and invasion of two armies for a total of some 60,000 troops. The important strongholds of Alessandria, Asti and Casale fell. In 1746, after received reinforces from Austria, he was able to capture back the first two. In 1747 he obtained a crushing victory over the French at the battle of Assietta, and his territories were saved when the main battleground moved northwards to the Netherlands.

The outcome of the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle showed his qualities as negotiator also, as he was returned the lost provinces of Nice and Savoy, and obtained Vigevano as well as other lands in the Pianura Padana.

He declined to participate in the Seven Years' War (1756-83), preferring to concentrate on administrative reforms, to maintain a well-disciplined army and to strengthen his fortresses. In an attempt to improve the poor condition of the newly acquired Sardinia, he also founded the Universities of Sassari and Cagliari.

Charles Emmanuel died in Turin in 1773. He was buried in the Basilica of Superga.

[edit] Family

He married

1. Anne Christine Louise of Bavaria (b. 1704- d. 1723), a member of the Wittelsbach dynasty. She died a few days later after giving birth to a son:

1. Vittorio Amedeo (b.1723-d.1725).

2. Polyxene (Felicia?) Christine of Hesse-Rheinfels(b.1706-d.1735), with whom he had six children:

1. Victor Amadeus III of Savoy (b.1726-d.1796).

2. Eleonora Maria Teresa (b.1728-d.1781), unmarried.

3. Maria Luisa Gabriella, a nun (b.1729-d.1767).

4. Emanuele Filiberto, Duke of Aosta (b.1731-d.1735).

5. Carlo Francesco Romualdo, Duke of Chablais (1733)

6. Maria Felicita (b.1730-d.1801), unmarried.

3. Elisabeth Teresa of Lorraine (b.1711-d.1741), younger sister of Francis I, with whom he had three children:

1. Carlo Francesco Maria Augusto, Duke of Aosta (1738-1745).

2. Maria Vittoria Margherita (b.1740-d.1742).

3. Benedetto Maria Maurizio (b.1741-d.1808), Duke of Chablais (-1796) and Marchese of Ivrea (1796-1808). He married his niece Maria Anna, Princess of Savoy (b.1757-d. 1824), daughter of his older half-brother Victor Amadeus.