Background
Victor Emmanuel was the second son of King Victor Amadeus III of Sardinia and Maria Antonietta of Spain, daughter of King Philip V of Spain and Elisabeth Farnese.
Victor Emmanuel was the second son of King Victor Amadeus III of Sardinia and Maria Antonietta of Spain, daughter of King Philip V of Spain and Elisabeth Farnese.
Victor Emmanuel was known from birth as the Duke of Aosta. From 1792 to 1796, Aosta"s father had taken an active part in the struggle of the old powers against the French Revolutionary forces, but were defeated and forced to make peace. Charles Emmanuel and his family were forced to withdraw to Sardinia, which was the only part of his domains not conquered by the French.
Aosta took the throne on 4 June 1802 as Victor Emmanuel I. He ruled Sardinia from Cagliari for the next twelve years, during which time he constituted the Carabinieri, a Gendarmerie corps, still existing as one of the main branches of the military of Italy.
Victor Emmanuel could return to Turin only in 1814, his realm reconstituted by the Congress of Vienna with the addition of the territories of the former Republic of Genoa. The latter became the seat of the Sardinian Navy.
Victor Emanuel died in the Castle of Moncalieri. He is buried in the Basilica of Superga.
Titles and styles 24 July 1759 - 4 June 1802 - His Royal Highness The Duke of Aosta 4 June 1802 - 12 March 1821 - His Majesty The King of Sardinia 12 March 1821 - 10 January 1824 - His Majesty King Victor Emanuel of Sardinia.
