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Victor Amadeus II of Sardinia

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Article Genealogy
Parent: House of Savoy Hop 4
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Victor Amadeus II of Sardinia
NameVictor Amadeus II
CaptionPortrait by an unknown artist
SuccessionDuke of Savoy
Reign12 June 1675 – 3 September 1730
PredecessorCharles Emmanuel II
SuccessorCharles Emmanuel III
Succession1King of Sicily
Reign122 September 1713 – 17 February 1720
Predecessor1Philip IV
Successor1Charles VI
Succession2King of Sardinia
Reign217 February 1720 – 3 September 1730
Predecessor2Charles VI
Successor2Charles Emmanuel III
Birth date14 May 1666
Birth placeRoyal Palace of Turin, Turin
Death date31 October 1732 (aged 66)
Death placeCastle of Rivoli, Rivoli
Burial placeBasilica of Superga
SpouseAnne Marie d'Orléans, Anna Canalis di Cumiana (morganatic)
IssueMaria Adelaide of Savoy, Maria Luisa of Savoy, Victor Amadeus, Prince of Piedmont, Charles Emmanuel III, Emanuele Philibert
HouseSavoy
FatherCharles Emmanuel II
MotherMarie Jeanne Baptiste of Savoy-Nemours
ReligionRoman Catholic

Victor Amadeus II of Sardinia was the ruler of the House of Savoy who transformed his dynasty's fortunes, elevating it from a ducal title to a royal crown. His long reign, first as Duke of Savoy and later as King of Sicily and then King of Sardinia, was defined by shrewd political maneuvering during the War of the Spanish Succession and significant internal reforms. His legacy established the Kingdom of Sardinia as the foundational state for the future unification of Italy.

Early life and accession

Born in the Royal Palace of Turin in 1666, he was the only son of Charles Emmanuel II, Duke of Savoy and his French consort, Marie Jeanne Baptiste of Savoy-Nemours. His father died in 1675, making the nine-year-old Victor Amadeus the duke, with his mother acting as regent during a period dominated by French influence. He formally assumed power in 1684, immediately seeking to assert his independence from the powerful Kingdom of France under Louis XIV, which heavily influenced Savoyard politics.

Reign as Duke of Savoy

Victor Amadeus II pursued a balancing act between the great European powers. Initially allied with France in the Nine Years' War, he later switched allegiance to the Grand Alliance. His most critical test came during the War of the Spanish Succession, where Savoy was a primary battlefield between French forces and the armies of the Holy Roman Empire led by Prince Eugene of Savoy. After surviving a brutal siege of Turin in 1706, his persistence was rewarded with territorial gains in the Treaty of Utrecht.

King of Sicily and Sardinia

The Treaty of Utrecht in 1713 granted Victor Amadeus the title of King of Sicily, finally achieving royal status for the House of Savoy. His rule in Palermo was brief but marked by attempts at administrative reform. However, geopolitical pressures from the Quadruple Alliance, particularly from Austria under Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor, forced him to exchange Sicily for the less strategically coveted island of Sardinia in 1720, becoming the first King of Sardinia.

Later reign and abdication

As King of Sardinia, he focused on consolidating his mainland territories, centralizing administration, and reforming the military and legal systems based on the model of Louis XIV's France. In a surprising move, he abdicated in 1730 in favor of his son, Charles Emmanuel III. He attempted to retract his abdication the following year, leading to his arrest and confinement by his successor.

Marriages and issue

In 1684, he married Anne Marie d'Orléans, niece of Louis XIV, strengthening ties with France. Their children included Maria Adelaide of Savoy, who married Louis, Duke of Burgundy, and Maria Luisa of Savoy, who became Queen of Spain as wife of Philip V. After Anne Marie's death, he contracted a morganatic marriage in 1730 to his longtime mistress, Anna Canalis di Cumiana, whom he created Marchioness of Spigno.

Death and legacy

Victor Amadeus II died at the Castle of Rivoli in 1732. He was interred in the Basilica of Superga, which he had commissioned. His political acumen secured a royal title and expanded territories, including the acquisition of Sardinia and parts of Milan. His administrative reforms strengthened the state, paving the way for the Kingdom of Sardinia to later lead the Risorgimento and become the nucleus of a unified Italy.

Category:1666 births Category:1732 deaths Category:House of Savoy Category:Kings of Sardinia Category:Dukes of Savoy