(254)

Ferdinando di Savoia
1st Duca di Genova
(1822–55)

Other names: Ferdinando Maria Alberto Amedeo Filiberto Vincenzo

Biographical

1st Duca di Savoia 1831–55†
Knight of the Order of the Holy Annunciation [Italy]
Bailee Grand Cross of the Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus [Italy]
Knight of the Order of the Iron Crown [Austria]
Knight of the Order of the Saint Andrew [Russia]
Knight of the Order of Saint Hubert [Bavaria]

Senator of the Kingdom of Sardinia
Admiral
Major of the Casale brigade 1835
Captain of the Casale brigade 1834
Lieutenant of the Casale brigade 1833

Named after his grandfather, the Grand Duke of Tuscany, Ferdinando was born during the exile of his parents (his father was involved in the riots of 1821). The family moved to Racconigi in 1824 where his father was kept in almost complete confinement for ten years, and Ferdinando received his education from tutors and governors appointed by King Carlo Felice. Ferdinando was created duke of Genoa in 1831, and he also inherited the castle of Agliè, which was to become the summer residence of the dukes of Genoa. He began his military career in 1833, joining the Casale brigade. He began to study mineralogy and took part in frequent alpine excursions. In 1838, he was transferred to the artillery corps, and completed studies at the Royal Arsenal artillery school. His education was complete in 1841, and was now an artillery colonel. Tsar Nicholas I of Russia favoured a marriage alliance between his daughter, Olga, and Ferdinand. Ferdinand was eager to marry her, but the marriage did not proceed as his father had insisted that she convert to Catholicism before the marriage. This left Ferdinand with feelings of bitterness towards his father, and for many years, he refused to marry. At the start of the first war of independence in 1848, Ferdinando was entrusted with the command of the Savoyard artillery. When Sicily proclaimed its independence from the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies in April that year, Ferdinando was considered a candidate for the Sicilian throne. Queen Victoria declared that Britain would recognise him as king of Sicily, and in July he was elected by the Sicilian parliament 'King of the Sicilians'. He announced that he would ascend the throne as 'King Alberto Amedeo', however, due to the lack of support from England, protestations from Naples, and criticism from France, Ferdinando finally refused the crown. In 1850 Ferdinando finally married, and in In 1853 he was appointed head of the Piedmontese contingent in the Crimean War, declined the post. due to poor health. He died two years later.

Place of birth: Florence
Place of marriage: Dresden
Place of death: Turin
Place of burial: Basilica of Superga

Son of King Carlo Alberto of Sardinia and Maria Teresa, Princess of Tuscany (Habsburg). He married Marie Elisabeth, Princess of Saxony (Wettin) in 1850, and had issue.

© 2024 The Universal Compendium