Perfect fusion
Encyclopedia
The Perfect Fusion was the 1847 act of King Charles Albert of Savoy which abolished the administrative differences between the constituent countries of the Kingdom of Sardinia
, especially the governmental division between Sardinia
and the mainland.
Kingdom of Sardinia had become a possession of the House of Savoy
since 1720, and it had continued to be ruled as during the ages of the Spanish Empire
.
This situation became a problem for Sardinian notable people when liberal reforms began to be put in force in Turin
, and Sardinians started to look at their separate legal system as a handicap more than a privilege. King Charles Albert resolved the problem transforming his dominions in a single, centralized state.
A new legal system entered in force in Sardinia, and the last viceroy, Claudio Gabriele de Launay
, left Cagliari
on 4 March 1848. The island was divided into three provinces ruled by their prefect
s, as had happened in Piedmont
in 1815.
The effects of the fusion were to spur commercial development in Sardinia and, by 1861, according to William S. Craig, then the British
consul-general at Cagliari
, increase the island's importance.
Kingdom of Sardinia
The Kingdom of Sardinia consisted of the island of Sardinia first as a part of the Crown of Aragon and subsequently the Spanish Empire , and second as a part of the composite state of the House of Savoy . Its capital was originally Cagliari, in the south of the island, and later Turin, on the...
, especially the governmental division between Sardinia
Sardinia
Sardinia is the second-largest island in the Mediterranean Sea . It is an autonomous region of Italy, and the nearest land masses are the French island of Corsica, the Italian Peninsula, Sicily, Tunisia and the Spanish Balearic Islands.The name Sardinia is from the pre-Roman noun *sard[],...
and the mainland.
Kingdom of Sardinia had become a possession of the House of Savoy
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...
since 1720, and it had continued to be ruled as during the ages of the Spanish Empire
Spanish Empire
The Spanish Empire comprised territories and colonies administered directly by Spain in Europe, in America, Africa, Asia and Oceania. It originated during the Age of Exploration and was therefore one of the first global empires. At the time of Habsburgs, Spain reached the peak of its world power....
.
This situation became a problem for Sardinian notable people when liberal reforms began to be put in force 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...
, and Sardinians started to look at their separate legal system as a handicap more than a privilege. King Charles Albert resolved the problem transforming his dominions in a single, centralized state.
A new legal system entered in force in Sardinia, and the last viceroy, Claudio Gabriele de Launay
Claudio Gabriele de Launay
Claudio Gabriele de Launay was prime minister of the Kingdom of Sardinia from 27 March to 7 May 1849. Previously he had been the last Viceroy of Sardinia from 1843 to 1848.-References:...
, left Cagliari
Cagliari
Cagliari is the capital of the island of Sardinia, a region of Italy. Cagliari's Sardinian name Casteddu literally means castle. It has about 156,000 inhabitants, or about 480,000 including the outlying townships : Elmas, Assemini, Capoterra, Selargius, Sestu, Monserrato, Quartucciu, Quartu...
on 4 March 1848. The island was divided into three provinces ruled by their prefect
Prefect
Prefect is a magisterial title of varying definition....
s, as had happened in Piedmont
Piedmont
Piedmont is one of the 20 regions of Italy. It has an area of 25,402 square kilometres and a population of about 4.4 million. The capital of Piedmont is Turin. The main local language is Piedmontese. Occitan is also spoken by a minority in the Occitan Valleys situated in the Provinces of...
in 1815.
The effects of the fusion were to spur commercial development in Sardinia and, by 1861, according to William S. Craig, then the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
consul-general at Cagliari
Cagliari
Cagliari is the capital of the island of Sardinia, a region of Italy. Cagliari's Sardinian name Casteddu literally means castle. It has about 156,000 inhabitants, or about 480,000 including the outlying townships : Elmas, Assemini, Capoterra, Selargius, Sestu, Monserrato, Quartucciu, Quartu...
, increase the island's importance.