Vittorio Emanuele, Count of Turin
Encyclopedia
Prince Vittorio Emanuele of Savoy-Aosta, Infante of Spain, Count of Turin (24 November 1870 – 10 October 1946) was a grandchild of King Victor Emmanuel II and a member of the House of Savoy
. He was a cousin of Victor Emmanuel III.
just before his father Prince Amadeo of Savoy, Duke of Aosta was about to leave for Spain
where he had been elected king. His mother was Maria Victoria al Pozzo della Cisterna. With his fathers ascension to the Spanish throne he gained the additional title Infante of Spain.
to a duel, after Henri described, in several articles on Le Figaro
, the Italian soldiers being held captive in Ethiopia
during the first First Italo–Ethiopian War as cowards. The dispute was widely echoed in Italy and Europe. It was agreed on the use of the sword as weapon of choice, as the Italians thought that the duel with pistols, favorite by the French, was worthy of betrayed husbands, not of princes of royal blood.
The duel with swords, directed by the Count Leontieff and the Count Avogadro, lasting 26 minutes took place at 5:00 am on 15 August 1897 in the Bois de Marechaux at Vaucresson
, France. Vittorio Emanuele defeated Prince Henri after 5 reprises. The "Monseigneur" Henri received a serious wound to his right abdomen, and the doctors of both parties considered the injury serious enough to put him in a state of obvious inferiority, causing the end of the duel and making the Count of Turin famous in Europe.
The public response for the Count Vittorio Emanuele of Savoy-Aosta in Italy was triumphant. In Turin
His Majesty the King Umberto I welcomed him saying, "I want to be the first to congratulate you with all my heart on the example you set and the success you scored".
in the United States of America. After spending a day at the Newport Country Club
he presented the club with a silver cup which is presented to the winner of the annual Count of Turin golf tournament. After his stay in America he visited China and Japan on the next leg of his world tour.
The Count of Turin pursued a career in the Royal Italian Army
and became the Commander in Chief of the Italian Cavalry. He held this position during the First World War. Following the armistice he was awarded the Croix de guerre
by France.
Vittorio Emanuele died in Brussels
four months after the proclamation of the Italian Republic
.
House of Savoy
The House of Savoy was formed in the early 11th century in the historical Savoy region. Through gradual expansion, it grew from ruling a small county in that region to eventually rule the Kingdom of Italy from 1861 until the end of World War II, king of Croatia and King of Armenia...
. He was a cousin of Victor Emmanuel III.
Early life
He was born in TurinTurin
Turin is a city and major business and cultural centre in northern Italy, capital of the Piedmont region, located mainly on the left bank of the Po River and surrounded by the Alpine arch. The population of the city proper is 909,193 while the population of the urban area is estimated by Eurostat...
just before his father Prince Amadeo of Savoy, Duke of Aosta was about to leave for Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
where he had been elected king. His mother was Maria Victoria al Pozzo della Cisterna. With his fathers ascension to the Spanish throne he gained the additional title Infante of Spain.
The duel
In 1897 Vittorio Emanuele challenged Prince Henri of OrléansHenri, Prince of Orléans
Prince Henri of Orléans was the eldest son surviving to adulthood of Prince Robert, Duke of Chartres and Princess Françoise of Orléans.-Biography:Henri was born at Ham, London....
to a duel, after Henri described, in several articles on Le Figaro
Le Figaro
Le Figaro is a French daily newspaper founded in 1826 and published in Paris. It is one of three French newspapers of record, with Le Monde and Libération, and is the oldest newspaper in France. It is also the second-largest national newspaper in France after Le Parisien and before Le Monde, but...
, the Italian soldiers being held captive in Ethiopia
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
during the first First Italo–Ethiopian War as cowards. The dispute was widely echoed in Italy and Europe. It was agreed on the use of the sword as weapon of choice, as the Italians thought that the duel with pistols, favorite by the French, was worthy of betrayed husbands, not of princes of royal blood.
The duel with swords, directed by the Count Leontieff and the Count Avogadro, lasting 26 minutes took place at 5:00 am on 15 August 1897 in the Bois de Marechaux at Vaucresson
Vaucresson
Vaucresson is a commune in the western suburbs of Paris, France. It is in the Hauts-de-Seine department from the center of Paris.The people who live in the commune are called Vaucressonais. Vaucresson contains abundant parkland; 22 of its 308 hectares are classed as natural zones...
, France. Vittorio Emanuele defeated Prince Henri after 5 reprises. The "Monseigneur" Henri received a serious wound to his right abdomen, and the doctors of both parties considered the injury serious enough to put him in a state of obvious inferiority, causing the end of the duel and making the Count of Turin famous in Europe.
The public response for the Count Vittorio Emanuele of Savoy-Aosta in Italy was triumphant. In Turin
Turin
Turin is a city and major business and cultural centre in northern Italy, capital of the Piedmont region, located mainly on the left bank of the Po River and surrounded by the Alpine arch. The population of the city proper is 909,193 while the population of the urban area is estimated by Eurostat...
His Majesty the King Umberto I welcomed him saying, "I want to be the first to congratulate you with all my heart on the example you set and the success you scored".
Later years
In April 1898 Vittorio Emanuele set out on a tour of world. His first stop was New YorkNew York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
in the United States of America. After spending a day at the Newport Country Club
Newport Country Club
Newport Country Club, founded in 1893, is a historic private golf club in Newport, Rhode Island in the United States that hosted both the first U.S. Amateur Championship and the first U.S...
he presented the club with a silver cup which is presented to the winner of the annual Count of Turin golf tournament. After his stay in America he visited China and Japan on the next leg of his world tour.
The Count of Turin pursued a career in the Royal Italian Army
Royal Italian Army
The Regio Esercito was the army of the Kingdom of Italy from the unification of Italy in 1861 to the birth of the Italian Republic in 1946...
and became the Commander in Chief of the Italian Cavalry. He held this position during the First World War. Following the armistice he was awarded the Croix de guerre
Croix de guerre 1914-1918 (France)
The Croix de guerre 1914–1918 is a French military decoration.-Creation:Soon after the outbreak of World War I, French military officials felt that a new military award had to be created...
by France.
Vittorio Emanuele died in Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
four months after the proclamation of the Italian Republic
Birth of the Italian Republic
The Italian constitutional referendum which officially took place on 2 June 1946, is a key event of Italian contemporary history. Until 1946, Italy was a kingdom ruled by the House of Savoy, kings of Italy since the Risorgimento and previously rulers of Savoy...
.
Ancestry
Honours and awards
- Supreme Knight of the Order of the Most Holy AnnunciationOrder of the Most Holy AnnunciationThe Supreme Order of the Most Holy Annunciation is an order of chivalry, or knighthood, originating in mediæval Italy. It eventually was the pinnacle of the honours system in the Kingdom of Italy, which ceased to be a national order when the kingdom became a republic in 1946...
- Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Saints Maurice and LazarusOrder of Saints Maurice and LazarusThe Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus is an order of chivalry awarded by the House of Savoy, the heads of which were formerly Kings of Italy...
- Grand Officer of the Military Order of Savoy
- Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Crown of ItalyOrder of the Crown of ItalyThe Order of the Crown of Italy was founded as a national order in 1868 by King Vittorio Emanuele II, to commemorate the unification of Italy in 1861...
- Knight of the Civil Order of SavoyCivil Order of SavoyThe Civil Order of Savoy was founded as an order of knighthood in 1831 by the King of Sardinia, Charles Albert, Duke of Savoy. The intention was to reward those virtues not belonging to the existing Military Order of Savoy, founded by Vittorio Emanuele I in 1815. The order has one degree, that of...
- Knight of Honour and Devotion of the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of Malta
- Croix de guerre 1914-1918 (France)Croix de guerre 1914-1918 (France)The Croix de guerre 1914–1918 is a French military decoration.-Creation:Soon after the outbreak of World War I, French military officials felt that a new military award had to be created...