This article is about the specific polity Kingdom of Sardinia and therefore only includes events related to its territory and not to its possessions or colonies. If you are interested in the possession, this is the link to the article about the nation which includes all possessions as well as all the different incarnations of the nation.
If you are looking for the page with the statistics about this polity you can find it here:All Statistics
When the Habsburg ceded Sardinia to the Duke of Savoy in 1720, 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. After annexing most of the small kingdoms of the Italian peninsula, the Kingdom of Sardinia changed its name to the Kingdom of Italy.
Establishment
January 1721: The Kingdom of Sardinia - after the War of the Spanish Succession - by virtue of the Treaty of London of 1718 and the Treaty of The Hague of 1720 passed, in that last year, to Vittorio Amedeo II of Savoy, who associated the hereditary states of the formed by the Principality of Piedmont with the Duchy of Savoy, the County of Nice and Asti, the duchy of Aosta, the duchy of Monferrato, the lordship of Vercelli, the marquisate of Saluzzo and a part of the duchy of Milan (to these was added then the Duchy of Genoa, following the annexation of the Republic of Genoa decided by the Congress of Vienna). The denomination began to be used progressively to indicate all of the Savoy possessions even if formally the Kingdom of Sardinia continued to be limited to the island of the same name and be institutionally distinct from the so-called mainland states of the Savoy dynasty.
Chronology
Interactive Chronologies with maps are available in the section Changes Navigation
Was a major European conflict sparked by a Polish civil war over the succession to Augustus II of Poland.
1.1.French Invasion of northern Italy
Was the French invasion of northern Italy during the War of the Polish Succession.
September 1735: The Austrian main army withdrew through Mantua, leaving the region to the French.
1.2.Treaty of Vienna (1738)
Was the treaty that ended the War of the Polish Succession. Augustus III was officially confirmed as King of Poland.
November 1738: After the Treaty of Vienna in 1738, which concluded the War of the Polish Succession, the French evacuated the territories they had occupied.
November 1738: Charles Emmanuel III of Sardinia received territories in the western part of the Duchy of Milan west of the Ticino, including Novara and Tortona.
Was a European conflict caused by the succession to the Habsburg Domains. Maria Theresa succeeded her father Charles VI, and the opposition to female inheritance of the throne was a pretext for starting a war. It was a global conflict that saw fight in Europe, Asia, America and Africa.
2.1.Italian Theatre (War of the Austrian Succession)
Was the Italian theatre of the War of the Austrian Succession.
2.1.1.Invasion of Savoy
Was a French invasion of Savoy during the War of the Austrian Succession.
April 1743: The French entered Savoy and conquered it entirely.
September 1743: Sardinian king Carlo Emanuele managed to drive the invading Spaniards out of Savoy.
December 1743: King Charles Emmanuel III of Savoy was forced to retreat to Piedmont due to the rainy season and disease affecting his army. The Spanish forces took advantage of this situation to reoccupy the region of Savoy.
2.1.2.Franco-Spanish invasion of Northern Italy
Was a joint French and Spanish invasion of northern Italy during the War of the Austrian Succession.
April 1744: French and Spanish forces crossed the Var and advanced on Nice, which fell without a fight.
July 1744: On 18 July 1744, the Gallo-Spanish army engaged the Sardinian army in a desperate fight at Pietralunga. Following the battle, the Bourbon army took control of Casteldelfino in the Second Battle of Casteldelfino.
August 1744: The Gallo-Spanish (that is, the Spanish army supported by the French) occupied the fortress of Demonte (Forte della Consolata) on 17 August 1744, abandoned by the defenders for fear of an explosion of the magazine and then proceeded quickly towards Cuneo.
September 1744: French and Spanish siege of Cuneo (1744).
October 1744: End of the siege of Cuneo (1744).
September 1745: Battle of Bassignana (1745).
November 1745: During the War of the Austrian Succession, the allies led by Prince Charles of Lorraine and Count Traun decided to besiege the cities of Alessandria, Asti, and Valenza in 1745, instead of pursuing the enemy. This military strategy ultimately led to the territories falling under French and Spanish military occupation.
March 1746: The Franco-Spanish winter quarters of Asti were brusquely attacked by Charles Emmanuel III at the head of his army, which on March 7, 1746, showed up under Asti occupied by the enemy. The city was captured the same day and with it the French garrison of 6,000 men.
March 1746: Sardinian forces retake Alessandria from the enemy.
March 1746: In 1746, during the War of the Austrian Succession, General Leutrum besieged Valenza in Italy. The town was captured by the Piedmontese forces before the French under Maillebois could arrive to assist. This victory helped the Kingdom of Sardinia gain control of the territory.
September 1746: The French army commanded by Maillebois engaged the Austrians in Rottofreddo on August 12, 1746. After the battle, Maillebois retreated from Piedmont-Savoy.
2.2.Treaty of Worms
On 13 September, Great Britain, Austria and the Kingdom of Sardinia agreed the Treaty of Worms, aimed at the expulsion of Spain from Italy. In return for Sardinian support in Lombardy, the Austrians ceded all their territories west of the Ticino River and Lake Maggiore, along with lands south of the Po River.
September 1743: On 13 September, Charles Emmanuel III of Sardinia, Maria Theresa and Britain agreed the Treaty of Worms, aimed at the expulsion of Spain from Italy. In return for Sardinian support in Lombardy, the Austrians ceded all their territories west of the Ticino River and Lake Maggiore, along with lands south of the Po River.
2.3.Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle
Was the treaty that ended the War of the Austrian Succession, following a congress assembled on 24 April 1748 at the Free Imperial City of Aachen.
October 1748: Bobbio became part of the domains of the House of Savoy in 1748 after the Wars of Succession and formed the Province of Bobbio.
Were a series of conflicts between France and several European monarchies between 1792 and 1815. They encompass first the French Revolutionary Wars against the newly declared French Republic and from 1803 onwards the Napoleonic Wars against First Consul and later Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte. They include the Coalition Wars as a subset: seven wars waged by various military alliances of great European powers, known as Coalitions, against Revolutionary France - later the First French Empire - and its allies.
January 1799: On December 10, 1798, the Piedmontese Republic was established in Turin, recognized by the French who had occupied the city.
3.1.War of the First Coalition
Were a series of wars between the Kingdom of France (later the French Republic) and several European Monarchies. The French Revolution had deteriorated the relations of France with the other European countries, that tried several times to invade France in order to crash the revolutionary government.
April 1796: The Republic of Alba was established in 1796 as a sister republic of the First French Republic. It was created during the French Revolutionary Wars and lasted only from April 26 to April 28 of that year. The territory of Alba was located in present-day Italy.
April 1796: The Republic of Alba was established by Napoleon Bonaparte after the French army conquered the region. It was a sister republic of the First French Republic and only existed for a brief period from 26 to 28 April 1796 before being annexed by the Kingdom of Sardinia.
October 1797: In 1797, the districts of Chiavenna, Valtellina, and Bormio, dependencies of the Three Leagues (an associate of the Confederation), revolted under the encouragement of France. They were quickly invaded and annexed to the Cisalpine Republic on 10 October 1797.
January 1799: In 1797, the districts of Chiavenna, Valtellina, and Bormio, dependencies of the Three Leagues (an associate of the Confederation), revolted under the encouragement of France. They were quickly invaded and annexed to the Cisalpine Republic on 10 October 1797.
3.1.1.Piedmontese front
Was the Piedmontese theatre of the War of the First Coalition.
September 1792: In 1792, during the French Revolution, the County of Nice was attacked and forced to surrender by the French revolutionary forces under the command of General Jacques Bernard d'Anselme. This resulted in the territory of Savoy and Nice being occupied by France.
January 1794: In 1794, during the French Revolutionary Wars, a French invasion of Piedmont led by General Jean-Charles Pichegru failed in the border regions. The territory ultimately went to the Kingdom of Sardinia, ruled by King Victor Amadeus III.
3.1.2.Italian theatre (War of the first coalition)
Was the Italian theatre of the War of the First Coalition.
November 1795: In northern Italy the victory at the Battle of Loano in November gives France access to the Italian peninsula.
April 1796: Napoleon defeated an Austro-Sardinian force at the Battle of Millesimo.
April 1796: Napoleon won at the Second Battle of Dego, driving the Austrians northeast, away from their Piedmontese allies.
April 1796: Battle of Mondovì.
May 1796: French forces occupy Lodi and Milan.
May 1796: On 28 April, the Piedmontese signed an armistice at with the French at Cherasco. On 18 May they signed a peace treaty in Paris, ceding Savoy and Nice and allowing the French bases to be used against Austria.
January 1797: The Duchy of Milan remained an Austrian possession until 1796, when a French army under Napoleon Bonaparte conquered it, and it ceased to exist a year later as a result of the Treaty of Campo Formio, when Austria ceded it to the new Cisalpine Republic.
July 1797: The 1797 Republic of Aste was a Jacobin municipality fruit of the political events that led, between June and July of that same year, to the proclamation of popular self-government in the city of Asti.
3.1.3.Treaty of Campo Formio
Was a treaty between France and Austria that ended the War of the First Coalition.
January 1798: The Treaty of Campo Formio was signed on 17 October 1797 (26 Vendémiaire VI). The treaty transferred the Austrian Netherlands to France. The territories of Venice were partitioned, most were acquired by Austria. Austria recognized the Cisalpine Republic and the newly created Ligurian Republic. Extension of the borders of France up to the Rhine, the Nette, and the Roer.
3.2.War of the Second Coalition
Was the second war that saw revolutionary France against most of the European monarchies, led by Britain, Austria, and Russia, and including the Ottoman Empire, Portugal, Naples, and various German monarchies. Prussia did not join this coalition, and Spain supported France.
June 1800: During the Siege of Genoa, the Austrian forces led by General Michael von Melas besieged and captured the city, which was defended by the French under General André Masséna. This event was part of the Second Coalition, a military alliance against France during the Napoleonic Wars.
January 1801: On June 20, 1799, Austro-Russian troops reconquer Turin and restore Charles-Emmanuel IV to his throne.
January 1801: In 1797, the districts of Chiavenna, Valtellina, and Bormio, dependencies of the Three Leagues (an associate of the Confederation), revolted under the encouragement of France. They were quickly invaded and annexed to the Cisalpine Republic on 10 October 1797.
3.2.1.Suvorov Italian campaign
Was a military campaign led by Russian general Alexander Suvorov against France that took place in Italy.
June 1799: The Russian army led by Suvorov moved on to Turin, having defeated Moreau yet again at Marengo.
June 1799: On June 20, 1799, Austro-Russian troops reconquer Turin and restore Charles-Emmanuel IV to his throne.
3.3.War of the Sixth Coalition
Was a war between France and a a coalition of Austria, Prussia, Russia, Spain, the United Kingdom, Portugal, Sweden, and a number of German States. The coalition emerged after the decimation of the French army in the French invasion of Russia. The coalition ultimately invaded France and forced Napoleon to abdicate and go into exile.
3.3.1.Treaty of Paris (1814)
Was the treaty that ended the war between France and the Sixth Coalition, part of the Napoleonic Wars.
May 1814: By the Treaty of Paris, May 30, 1814, the House of Savoy was restored to its rights.
3.4.Congress of Vienna
Was a series of international diplomatic meetings after the end of the Napoleonic wars whose aim was a long-term peace plan for Europe. It redraw the borders of Europe and partially restored the Monarchies of the pre-revolutionary period.
February 1815: Geona was eventually annexed by the Kingdom of Sardinia in 1815.
Was a series of conflicts that led to the unification of the Italian Peninsula into the Kingdom of Italy. It includes the three wars considered the three independency wars of Italy, in addition to a series of military operations like the Expedition of the Thousand and the Sardinian military campaign in Central Italy.
4.1.First Italian War of Independence
Was the first of the three traditional Italian Wars of Independence. It was fought by the Kingdom of Sardinia against the Austrian Empire but it did not led to any territorial modification.
4.1.1.Pedmontese Front (First Italian War of Independence)
Was the Piedmontese front of the First Italian War of Independence.
4.2.Second Italian War of Independence
Was the second of the three traditional Italian Wars of Independence. It was fought by the Kingdom of Sardinia and the Kingdom of France against the Austrian Empire. It resulted in the Sardinian annexion of Austrian ruled Lombardy, as well as the annexion of several Italian polities in Central Italy.
May 1859: The advance on Turin in 1859 was led by Austrian General Ludwig von Benedek, who commanded the 7th Army Corps. The occupation of Vercelli was part of Austria-Hungary's military campaign during the Second Italian War of Independence.
May 1859: In 1859, during the Second Italian War of Independence, the Austrian 2nd Army, led by Field Marshal Ferencz Gyulai, halted their advance and concentrated near Mortara in response to the growing threat posed by the French and Piedmontese forces.
May 1859: Battle of Montebello (1859).
May 1859: Battle of Palestro.
March 1860: The Duchy of Parma is annexed to the Kingdom of Sardinia through the plebiscite.
March 1860: On March 24, 1860, the Treaty of Turin was signed by which the Kingdom of Sardinia, recognizing the provisions of the alliance treaty to France, ceding the region of Savoy and the city of Nice.
4.2.1.Peace of Villafranca
Was an armistice that ended the Second War of Italian Independence. Italy annexed Lombardy from Austria, but had to cede Savoy and Nice to France.
July 1859: Armistice of Villafranca: Austria-Hungary ceded Lombard to the Kingdom of Sardinia (nominally, it was ceded to France which then transferred the region to Sardinia). Austrian and Savoy troops also left militarly occupied territories.
4.3.Proclamation of the Kingdom of Italy
Was the formal act that sanctioned the birth of the unified Kingdom of Italy. It happened with a normative act of the Kingdom of Sardinia - the law 17 March 1861, n. 4761 - with which Victor Emmanuel II of Savoy assumed for himself and for his successors the title of King of Italy.
March 1861: Formal act that sanctioned the birth of the unified Kingdom of Italy. It happened with a normative act of the Kingdom of Sardinia - the law 17 March 1861, n. 4761 - with which Victor Emmanuel II of Savoy assumed for himself and for his successors the title of King of Italy.
January 1724: The Duchy of Savoy buys the March of Spigno for 350.000 florines.
January 1729: The Duchy of Savoy buys the Principality of Seborga.
January 1735: The Duchy of Savoy conquers Guastalla.
January 1736: Zuccarello and the Balestrino territory are submitted to the Kingdom of Sardinia.
January 1736: The Duchy of Savoy conquers Balestrino, Carrosio and Novara.
January 1737: The Duchy of Savoy conquers Tassarolo.
January 1739: Austria conquers Guastalla.
January 1742: Masserano old to the Savoy family.
January 1744: Bagnaria is annected to the Kingdom of Sardinia.
January 1747: Albenga is occupied by the Duchy of Savoy.
January 1748: In 1747, Albenga, a territory in Italy, returned to the control of the Republic of Genoa.
January 1754: The Duchy of Savoy conquers Montemarzino.
January 1768: The Duchy of Savoy conquers Riviera San Giulio.
January 1771: According to the Treaty of The Hague, the County of Loano is ceded to the Duchy of Savoia.
May 1849: Mentone and Roccabruna are annexed to Italy after a plebiscite.
February 1861: The two cities of Mentone and Roccabruna, after a plebiscite piloted by the Piedmontese government and by France, passed to the latter on February 2, 1861.
Disestablishment
February 1861: The two cities of Mentone and Roccabruna, after a plebiscite piloted by the Piedmontese government and by France, passed to the latter on February 2, 1861.
March 1861: Formal act that sanctioned the birth of the unified Kingdom of Italy. It happened with a normative act of the Kingdom of Sardinia - the law 17 March 1861, n. 4761 - with which Victor Emmanuel II of Savoy assumed for himself and for his successors the title of King of Italy.
Selected Sources
Articles secrets et convention additionelle du traité de Campo Formio. Retrieved on March, 24th 2024 on https://books.google.de/books?id=SStJAAAAcAAJ&dq=Trait%C3%A9%20de%20paix%20de%20Campo%20Formio&hl=de&pg=PA1#v=onepage&q=Trait%C3%A9%20de%20paix%20de%20Campo%20Formio&f=false
Droysen, G. (1886): Historischer Handatlas, Bielefeld and Leipzig (Germany), p. 48
Frieden von Campoformio. Retrieved on March, 24th 2014 on https://books.google.de/books?id=UbGMtENHaBIC&pg=PA9#v=onepage&q&f=false
Köbler, G. (2014) Historische Enzyklopädie der Länder der Deutschen, Munich (Germany), p. 281
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Kingdom of Sardinia
