| Benedetto | |
|---|---|
| Duke of Chablais | |
| Spouse | Maria Anna of Savoy |
| Full name | |
| Benedetto Maria Maurizio di Savoia | |
| House | House of Savoy |
| Father | Charles Emmanuel III of Sardinia |
| Mother | Elisabeth Therese of Lorraine |
| Born | 21 June 1741 Palace of Venaria, Turin |
| Died | 4 January 1808 (aged 66) Rome, Papal States |
| Burial | Royal Basilica of Superga, Turin |
Benedetto of Savoy (Benedetto Maria Maurizio; 21 June 1741 – 4 January 1808) was a prince of Savoy and Duke of Chablais.[1] He was born in the reign of his father Charles Emmanuel III, King of Sardinia. He has no descendants but had a distinguished military career. He married his niece and was the owner of the Palazzo Chiablese in Turin.
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Chablais was born at the Palace of Venaria[2] the was the youngest child of his father Charles Emmanuel III of Sardinia and Élisabeth Thérèse of Lorraine. His mother died giving birth to him. He was named after Pope Benedict XIV who became pope the year before his birth.[2]
Known alternatively between the names of Benedetto and Maurizio, at the time of his birth, he was third in line to the Sardinian throne after his oldest half brother Victor Amadeus, Duke of Savoy and Prince Carlo his only full brother who died in infancy. His paternal cousin's included Louis XV of France, the future Ferdinand VI of Spain and the Prince of Carignan. His maternal cousin's included the future Queen of Naples and the famous Marie Antoinette.
His uncle Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor[3] proposed his daughter Archduchess Maria Christina of Austria as a perspective wife but the marriage between the two never materialised. The Emperor wanted the marriage to encourage ties between the House of Lorraine and the House of Habsburg.[4]
In 1753 his father gave what is now the Palazzo Chiablese as his personal residence. It was under Savoy that the building would embellish it under Benedetto Alfieri, a popular Savoyard architect of the era.[5]
In 1763 his father gave him the Duchy of Chablais (having been styled as such since birth) with the subsidiary lands of Cureggio, Trino, Dezan, Crescentino, Riva di Chieri, Well, Ghemme Pollenzo Tricerro, Apertole Centallo. His brother later Victor Amadeus III of Sardinia created him the Marquis of Ivrea on 19 June 1796.[1] In 1764 he also bought the fiefdom of Agliè where the Ducal Palace of Agliè was. Purchased from his brother,[6] Chablais also carried out improvements to the building under the direction of Ignatius Birago Borgaro.[6]
Chablais later married Maria Anna of Savoy at the Royal Palace of Turin on 19 March 1775. Maria Anna was his niece and sixth child of his oldest brother Victor Amadeus III of Sardinia[7] and his consort Maria Antonietta of Spain.[1] The marriage produced no children, Maria Anna dying in 1824.
Noted as a good soldier[8] Chablais was given control of the Army of Italy which contained French troops and intended on restoring the monarchy in France after the execution of Louis XVI in 1793.[9] He took part in the Battle of Loano.
He died in Rome aged 66 and was buried at the church of San Nicolo dei Cesarini then later moved to the Royal Basilica of Superga, Turin.[1] At his death the title of Duke of Chablais reverted to the crown.
Media related to [//commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Benedetto,_Duke_of_Chablais Benedetto of Savoy] at Wikimedia Commons
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