The Cuirassiers Regiment ( Italian : Reggimento corazzieri ) is a Carabinieri cavalry regiment acting as guard of honour of the President of the Italian Republic . Their motto is Virtus in periculis firmior .
92-584: From 1948 to 1965, the regiment was officially called Squadrone Carabinieri Guardie (Squadron of Carabineer Guards); from 1965 to 1990, Comando Carabinieri Guardie del Presidente della Repubblica (Carabineer Command of the Guards of the President of the Republic); and from 1990 to 1992, Reggimento Carabinieri Guardie della Repubblica (Carabineer Regiment of the Guards of the Republic). The first examples of
184-538: A British cavalry squadron - of 80 carabinieri; each wearing a black dragoon helmet with crest and a black breastplate with a cross on the chest, white suede trousers and white gauntlets, high boots and silver spurs. The armour was worn above the Carabiniere uniform and epaulettes. The division was subsequently formed on the occasion of the wedding between Princess Margherita of Savoy and Prince Umberto I of Italy . Since then it had been never been disbanded. Members of
276-507: A clause stripping the Savoys of their wealth on exile. Emanuele Filiberto acknowledged that his fiancée, whose pregnancy was revealed at the time of the couple's engagement, belonged to a more leftist milieu than his own, a fact which initially displeased his father. Judicially separated since 1976, civilly divorced in 1982, and their marriage religiously annulled in 1987, Amedeo of Aosta's first wife, Princess Claude d'Orléans, revealed that she
368-755: A constitution known as the Statuto Albertino to Piedmont-Sardinia , which remained the basis of the Kingdom's legal system even after Italian unification was achieved and the Kingdom of Sardinia became the Kingdom of Italy in 1861. The Kingdom of Italy was the first Italian state to include the Italian Peninsula since the fall of the Roman Empire . But when Victor Emmanuel was crowned King of Italy in 1861, his realm did not include
460-652: A decree of the 9th President of Italy Oscar Luigi Scalfaro , the name "Cuirassiers Regiment" ( Reggimento Corazzieri ) was officially reinstated. When the Carabinieri were separated from the Army proper to become a branch of the Armed Forces on its own right in 2000, the Cuirassiers were retained as a specialist formation. No longer would the Army assign officers to this service on secondment. In February 2006,
552-457: A division of Archers and Esquires for the security of members of House of Savoy are dated back to the 15th century, but only during the dukedom of Emmanuel Philibert (1553–1580) a "Guard of Honor of the Prince" ( Guardia d'Onore del Principe ) was established with about fifty army-men led by a captain. This guard made its first appearance during the battle of St. Quentin in 1557. The division
644-541: A double-breasted version. On special occasions such as guard mounting ceremonies or ceremonies within the Quirinal, helmets with chinstraps and horse hair crests are worn. During particular honour services, such as the Italian Republic Day on 2 June, the distinctive cuirasses of the regiment are issued. A plainer service uniform without breast plates and helmet is reserved for other occasions A decree of
736-576: A firearm during the incident. On 16 June 2006, Vittorio Emanuele was arrested in Varenna and imprisoned in Potenza on charges of corruption and recruitment of prostitutes for clients of the Casinò di Campione of Campione d'Italia . After several days, Vittorio Emanuele was released and placed under house arrest instead. He was released from house arrest on 20 July but was required to remain within
828-462: A large ballroom; the project was eventually halted due to excessive expenses. This room was used as a dining room by the Savoy family. The enfilade of the tapestries room, of the mirrors room and of the great hall of banquets was conceived in the Savoy era for the court galas which were held once a month, on the third Thursday of the month. Arriving from the staircase of honour, you first came across
920-798: A result of the War of the Quadruple Alliance . On the mainland, the dynasty continued its expansionist policies as well. Through advantageous alliances during the War of the Polish Succession and War of the Austrian Succession , Charles Emmanuel III gained new lands at the expense of the Austrian-controlled Duchy of Milan . In 1792, Piedmont-Sardinia joined the First Coalition against
1012-473: A television interview, Emanuele Filiberto also requested that Roman landmarks such as the Quirinale palace and Villa Ada should be returned to the Savoy family. The Italian prime minister’s office has released a statement stating that the Savoys are not owed any damages and suggesting that Italy may demand damages from the Savoys for their collusion with Benito Mussolini . The Italian constitution contains
SECTION 10
#17327725319411104-569: A villa in the Quirinal gardens, where a mosaic, part of the old floor has been found. The palace, located on the Via del Quirinale and facing onto the Piazza del Quirinale , was built in 1583 by Pope Gregory XIII as a papal summer residence. The Pope, who wanted to find a location which was far away from the humidity and stench coming from the River Tiber and likewise the unhealthy conditions of
1196-697: A year later. On 12 June 1946, the Kingdom of Italy formally came to an end as Umberto transferred his powers to Prime Minister Alcide de Gasperi and called for the Italian people to support the new republic. He then went into exile in Portugal , never to return; he died in 1983. Under the Constitution of the Italian Republic , the republican form of government cannot be changed by constitutional amendment , thus forbidding any attempt to restore
1288-525: A year, public opinion pushed for a referendum to decide between retaining the monarchy or becoming a republic. On 9 May 1946, in a last-ditch attempt to save the monarchy, Victor Emmanuel formally abdicated in favour of his son, who became Umberto II . It did not work; the Italian constitutional referendum, 1946 was won by republicans with 54% of the vote. Victor Emmanuel went into exile in Egypt , dying there
1380-560: Is the largest chapel in the building, built with the same size and shape as the Sistine Chapel so that the same ceremonial could be repeated both in the Vatican and in the Quirinal. Four popes were elected here. Today the chapel hosts concerts and religious ceremonies. It is one among the rooms formerly part of the papal private apartments, today hosting informal meetings of the president of the republic on occasion. The Yellow Room
1472-494: Is uncertain, as contemporary documents make no mention of his father. His family was traditionally believed to have come from Saxony, but more recent investigations have pointed to the County of Vienne , where both Humbert and his relatives held extensive possessions, as a more plausible origin. Though Sabaudia was originally a poor county, later counts were diplomatically skilled, and gained control over strategic mountain passes in
1564-762: The Alps . Two of Humbert's sons were commendatory abbots at the Abbey of St. Maurice, Agaunum , on the River Rhone east of Lake Geneva , and Saint Maurice is still the patron of the House of Savoy. Humbert's son, Otto of Savoy succeeded to the title in 1051 after the death of his elder brother Amadeus I of Savoy . Otto married the Marchioness Adelaide of Turin, bringing the Marquessate of Susa , with
1656-503: The Congress of Vienna . In the meantime, nationalist figures such as Giuseppe Mazzini were influencing popular opinion. Mazzini believed that Italian unification could only be achieved through a popular uprising, but after the failure of the 1848 revolutions , the Italian nationalists began to look to the Kingdom of Sardinia and its prime minister Count Cavour as leaders of the unification movement. In 1848, Charles Albert conceded
1748-1043: The First World War ended, the Treaty of Versailles fell short of what had been promised in the London Pact to Italy. As the economic conditions in Italy worsened after the war, popular resentment and along with it the seeds of Italian fascism began to grow and resulted in the March on Rome by Benito Mussolini . General Pietro Badoglio advised King Victor Emmanuel III that he could easily sweep Mussolini and his rag-tag Blackshirt army to one side, but Victor Emmanuel decided to tolerate Mussolini and appointed him as prime minister on 28 October 1922. The king remained silent as Mussolini engaged in one abuse of power after another from 1924 onward, and did not intervene in 1925-26 when Mussolini dropped all pretense of democracy. By
1840-540: The French First Republic . It was beaten in 1796 by Napoleon and forced to conclude the disadvantageous Treaty of Paris (1796) , giving the French army free passage through Piedmont. In 1798, Joubert occupied Turin and forced Charles Emmanuel IV to abdicate and leave for the island of Sardinia. Eventually, in 1814 the kingdom was restored and enlarged with the addition of the former Republic of Genoa by
1932-617: The House of Habsburg , in the hope of recovering his lands. He served Philip II as Governor of the Netherlands from 1555 to 1559. In this capacity, he led the Spanish invasion of northern France and won a victory at St. Quentin in 1557. He took advantage of various squabbles in Europe to slowly regain territory from both the French and the Spanish, including the city of Turin. He moved
SECTION 20
#17327725319412024-552: The Italian campaigns of the French Revolutionary Wars and following the occupation of Piedmont, King Charles Emmanuel IV of Sardinia left the Kingdom in 1798 with only a few guards and took refuge briefly in Sardinia and Spain, until his return to Rome where he abdicated in favour of his brother Victor Emmanuel I on 4 June 1802. Thus, most of the Guards were transferred to the French government which formed
2116-474: The Kingdom of Spain during the 19th century. The Savoyard kings of Italy were: Victor Emmanuel II , Umberto I , Victor Emmanuel III , and Umberto II . Umberto II reigned for only a few weeks, as the last king of Italy, before being deposed following the institutional referendum of 1946 ; after which the Italian Republic was proclaimed. The name derives from the historical region of Savoy in
2208-638: The Lateran Palace , chose the Quirinal hill as it was one of the most suitable places in Rome. On the site, there was already a small villa owned by the Carafa family and rented to Luigi d'Este . The Pope commissioned the architect Ottaviano Mascherino to build a palace with porticoed parallel wings and an internal courtyard by incorporating the Carafa villa, the original nucleus of the palace, later known as
2300-591: The Supreme Order of the Most Holy Annunciation and the Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus , alleging that memberships in the orders had been sold to unworthy candidates, a newfound practice they could not abide. In 1941, in the fascist puppet state Independent State of Croatia , Prince Aimone, Duke of Aosta , grandson of Amadeo I of Spain , was formally named as the king under
2392-604: The Venetia region (subject to Habsburg governance), Lazio (with Rome), Umbria , Marche and Romagna (with the Papal town of Bologna ). Yet the House of Savoy continued to rule Italy for several decades, through the Italian Independence wars as Italian unification proceeded and even as the First World War raged on in the early 20th century. In April 1655, based on (perhaps false) reports of resistance by
2484-615: The Waldensians , a Protestant religious minority, to a plan to resettle them in remote mountain valleys, Charles Emmanuel II ordered their general massacre . The massacre was so brutal it aroused indignation throughout Europe. Oliver Cromwell , then ruler in England, began petitioning on behalf of the Waldensians, writing letters, raising contributions, calling a general fast in England, and threatening to send military forces to
2576-515: The official residence and workplace for the presidents of the Italian Republic . Still, some have declined the Colle residence and kept their usual Roman residence: for example, Sandro Pertini preferred his old flat near the Trevi Fountain . The palace's façade was designed by Domenico Fontana . Its Great Chapel was designed by Carlo Maderno . It contains frescos by Guido Reni , but
2668-536: The "Carabinieri Guards Squadron of HM the King" ( Squadrone Carabinieri Guardie del Re ), also known as "Cuirassiers Squadron" ( Squadrone Corazzieri ), with the task to protect the Royal family, were placed on permanent public duties readiness. Separate from the Carabinieri proper, they were and still are a unique specialist formation of this force. In 1871, following the transfer of the Kingdom capital from Florence to Rome,
2760-747: The Albanian crown as well in 1939, but lost Ethiopia two years later, in 1941. However, as Mussolini and the Axis powers failed in the Second World War in 1943, several members of the Italian court began putting out feelers to the Allies, who in turn let it be known that Mussolini had to go. After Mussolini received a vote of no confidence from the Fascist Grand Council on 24 July, Victor Emmanuel dismissed him from office, relinquished
2852-644: The Alpine region between what is now France and Italy. Over time, the House of Savoy expanded its territory and influence through judicious marriages and international diplomacy. From rule of a region on the French–Italian border, by the time of its deposition the dynasty's realm grew to include nearly all of the Italian Peninsula. The house descended from Humbert I , Count of Sabaudia (Umberto I "Biancamano"), (1003–1047 or 1048). The ancestry of Humbert
Cuirassiers Regiment (Italy) - Misplaced Pages Continue
2944-643: The Carabinieri, which were established as an Army Corps with the Royal Decree on the 24 of January 1861. On their basis the Cuirassier Unit was established on 7 February 1868 in Florence (the Italian capital at the time). It was formed by carabinieri on horseback reassigned to the force from Carabinieri Legions assigned in Florence , Milan and Bologna . They were organized into a company - today
3036-631: The Consistory room, today the Great hall of banquets, at the time used as papal private apartments. This was the throne room of the papal palace, where ambassadors and dignitaries were received and public audiences were held. The royal guards stood here during the Savoy period. Today, the room serves for public audiences, receptions, and solemn ceremonies held by the Presidency of the Republic. It
3128-574: The Cuirassiers took part in the flag-raising ceremony of the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin . In June 2017, the first black Cuirassier in the history of the unit commenced duty during the visit of Pope Francis to President Sergio Mattarella . The members of the Regiment, which are a specialized force of the Carabinieri , are distinguished by their uniforms and strict requirements needed to join
3220-1176: The Duchy of Aosta , Prince of Chieri , Dronero , Crescentino , Riva di Chieri e Banna, Busca , Bene , Brà , Duke of Genoa , Monferrat , Aosta , Duke of Chablais , Genevois , Duke of Piacenza , Marquis of Saluzzo (Saluces), Ivrea , Susa , del Maro, Oristano , Cesana , Savona , Tarantasia , Borgomanero e Cureggio , Caselle , Rivoli , Pianezza , Govone , Salussola , Racconigi con Tegerone, Migliabruna e Motturone, Cavallermaggiore , Marene , Modane e Lanslebourg , Livorno Ferraris , Santhià Agliè , Centallo e Demonte , Desana , Ghemme , Vigone , Count of Barge , Villafranca , Ginevra , Nizza , Tenda , Romont , Asti , Alessandria , del Goceano , Novara , Tortona , Bobbio , Soissons , Sant'Antioco , Pollenzo , Roccabruna , Tricerro , Bairo , Ozegna , delle Apertole, Baron of Vaud e del Faucigni , Lord of Vercelli , Pinerolo , della Lomellina , della Valle Sesia , del marchesato di Ceva , Overlord of Monaco , Roccabruna and 11/12th of Menton , Noble patrician of Venice , patrician of Ferrara . These titles were used during
3312-571: The Ethiopian and Albanian crowns, and appointed Pietro Badoglio as prime minister. On 8 September the new government announced it had signed an armistice with the Allies five days earlier. However, Victor Emmanuel made another blunder when he and his government fled south to Brindisi , leaving his army without orders. As the Allies and the Resistance gradually chased the Nazis and Fascists off
3404-404: The French defeat in 1814 and the subsequent European Restoration . The palace extends for an area of 110,500 square meters and is the eleventh-largest palace in the world . The current site of the palace has been in use since ancient Roman times, as excavations in the gardens testify. On this hill, the Romans built temples for several deities, from Flora to Quirinus , after whom the hill
3496-501: The Grace of God , King of Sardinia , Cyprus , Jerusalem , Armenia , Duke of Savoy, Montferrat , Chablais , Aosta and Genevois , Prince of Piedmont and Oneglia , Marquis (of the Holy Roman Empire ) in Italy, of Saluzzo , Susa , Ivrea , Ceva , Maro, Oristano , Sezana , Count of Maurienne , Nice , Tende , Asti , Alessandria , Goceano , Baron of Vaud and Faucigny , Lord of Vercelli , Pinerolo , Tarentaise , Lumellino , Val di Sesia , Prince and perpetual Vicar of
3588-428: The Gregorian building. That project was not fully completed due to the Pope's death in 1585. However, it is still recognisable in the north part of the courtyard, especially in the double loggia facade, topped by the panoramic Torre dei Venti (tower of the winds) or Torrino. To the latter, a bell tower was added according to a project by Carlo Maderno and Francesco Borromini . Pope Paul V (r. 1605–1621) commissioned
3680-461: The Holy Roman Empire in Italy. Victor Emmanuel II , by the Grace of God and the Will of the Nation, King of Italy , King of Sardinia , Cyprus , Jerusalem , Armenia , Duke of Savoy , Count of Maurienne , Marquis (of the Holy Roman Empire ) in Italy; Prince of Piedmont , Carignano , Oneglia , Poirino , Trino ; Prince and Perpetual vicar of the Holy Roman Empire; Prince of Carmagnola , Montmellian with Arbin and Francin, Prince bailiff of
3772-431: The King's Carabinieri Guards Squadron were absorbed as a constituent unit under the Carabinieri Legion of Rome and moved to the Quirinal Palace where they were barracked for many years. Cuirassiers were deployed in the World War I in order to escort the King in military operations in the frontlines. Many Cuirassiers also joined the Italian resistance movement after the Badoglio Proclamation of 8 September 1943 and
Cuirassiers Regiment (Italy) - Misplaced Pages Continue
3864-619: The Kingdom ceased to exist in 1946, King Umberto II did not abdicate his role as fons honorum over the two dynastic orders over which the family has long held sovereignty and grand mastership. Today, following the dispute, both Prince Emanuele Filiberto and Prince Aimone claim to be hereditary Sovereign and Grand Master of the following orders of the House of Savoy: In addition to these, Vittorio Emanuele claims sovereignty over two more orders: In February 2006, all three of Vittorio Emanuele 's sisters ( Princess Maria Pia , Princess Maria Gabriella , and Princess Maria Beatrice ) resigned from
3956-427: The President of the Republic of 24 December 1986 granted arms to the Cuirassiers. The shield is divided vertically party per pale : on the dexter side, an escutcheon Gules bearing the letters "RI" (for Repubblica Italiana ) on the breast of an eagle displayed Sable (emblem of the Royal House of Savoy ) on a field party per pall of Azure (for Turin), Argent (for Florence) and Gules (for Rome), representing
4048-429: The President of the Republic, Cuirassiers have to be able to manage promptly many delicate operations characterized by a large public presence and by the need to ensure a discreet, but always effective, protection. Cuirassiers wear full-dress uniforms which were established in 1878, with some variations according to rank. Lance corporals and brigadiers wear single-breasted tunics, while warrant officers and officers have
4140-421: The Presidential standard. In 2002, the coat of arms was modified to reflect the restoration of elements of the 1935 arms of the Caribinieri on its becoming a separate branch of the Italian Armed Forces . House of Savoy The House of Savoy ( Italian : Casa Savoia ) is an Italian royal house (formally a dynasty ) that was established in 1003 in the historical Savoy region. Through gradual expansions
4232-479: The Quirinal on 11 May 1948, when the second president of Italy Luigi Einaudi reestablished the "Squadron of Carabineer Guards" ( Squadrone Carabinieri Guardie ) with the historical dress uniforms of 1876 on their basis. In 1961 the squadron was reflagged into a larger "Squadrons Group" ( Gruppo squadroni ) and it was renamed "Carabineer Command of the Guards of the President of the Republic" ( Comando Carabinieri Guardie del Presidente della Repubblica ) in 1965. With
4324-478: The Regiment (with a final exam). Among the regiment there are snipers, martial artists, experts of personal defence and paratroopers. Cuirassiers must manage with expertise their vast range of equipment, known as "bottino" ("booty"), and they are trained to ride perfectly Irish Sport Horses and drive Moto Guzzi California cruisers , a means of complementary or alternative transport in daily services but also in many ceremonial services. Being in charge to escort
4416-495: The Regiment. A Cuirassier has to be at least 190 cm tall, with a "harmonious" body, a strong resistance and athletic preparation, important qualities for the long shifts during which he must stand with austere immobility in every condition. Moreover, candidates have to have an undisputed personal and familiar morality and it is necessary to have excellent disciplinary and service records, demonstrated by at least six months of territorial service and as many months of traineeship in
4508-399: The Savoy-Aosta branch led by Aimone. As of 2022, the House of Savoy has been in the process of trying to reclaim family jewels which have been owned by the Italian government since the abolition of the monarchy. Vittorio Emanuele died in February 2024. The House of Savoy has held two dynastic orders since 1362 which were brought into the Kingdom of Italy as national orders. Although
4600-459: The Spanish Succession Victor Amadeus switched sides to assist the Habsburgs and, via the Treaty of Utrecht , they rewarded him with large pieces of land in northeastern Italy and a Crown in Sicily. Savoy rule over Sicily lasted only seven years (1713–20). The crown of Sicily, the prestige of being kings at last, and the wealth of Palermo helped strengthen the House of Savoy further. In 1720, they were forced to exchange Sicily for Sardinia as
4692-467: The Squadron of Piedmontese Carabineers ( Squadrone Carabinieri Piemontesi ). Exiled for over a decade, Victor Emmanuel I of Sardinia regain possession of his territories only on 20 May 1814, restoring the institutions existing before the Napoleonic rule. The corps of the Body Guards was re-established with the same dimension it originally had. On the following 13 July, the King established the "Corps of Royal Carabinieri" ( Corpo dei Carabinieri Reali ) with
SECTION 50
#17327725319414784-500: The capital cities in which the regiment had served; on the sinister side, the arms of the Corps of Caribineers to which the regiment belongs. The shield is surmounted by an eight-turreted mural crown (five turrets are visible) and supported by two lions Or, bearing the flag of Italy (dexter) and presidential standard (sinister). The Latin motto Virtus in periculis firmior means “Courage becomes stronger in danger”. Minor changes were made in 1990 and in 1992, following changes to
4876-401: The capital of the duchy from Chambéry to Turin. The 17th century brought about economic development to the Turin area and the House of Savoy took part in and benefitted from that. Charles Emmanuel II developed the port of Nice and built a road through the Alps towards France. And through skillful political manoeuvres territorial expansion continued. In the early 18th century in the War of
4968-401: The capital of the new Italian state. The palace became the official royal residence of the Kings of Italy, though some of these, notably King Victor Emmanuel III (reigned 1900–1946) actually lived in a private residence elsewhere ( Villa Savoia ), leaving the Quirinal to be used simply as a suite of offices and for state functions. The monarchy was abolished in 1946 and the palace became
5060-460: The completion of the work on the main building of the palace. The palace was also used as the location for papal conclaves in 1823 , 1829 , 1831 , and 1846 . It served as a papal residence and housed the central offices responsible for the civil government of the Papal States until 1870. In September 1870, what was left of the Papal States was occupied militarily and annexed to the Kingdom of Italy . Some five months later, in 1871, Rome became
5152-456: The decree of the President of the Republic n. 671 of 12 September 1978, the Command was presented its Standard in gratitude for services rendered to the Presidency and maintaining the traditions of Italian cavalry and those prior guards formations of the monarchial era. In 1990, the Group was transformed anew into the "Carabineer Regiment of the Guards of the Republic" ( Reggimento Carabinieri Guardie della Repubblica ) and on 24 December 1992, with
5244-435: The end of 1928, the king's right to remove Mussolini from office was, at least theoretically, the only check on his power. Later, the King's failure, in the face of mounting evidence, to move against the Mussolini regime's abuses of power led to much criticism and had dire future consequences for Italy and for the monarchy itself. Italy conquered Ethiopia in 1936 and Victor Emmanuel was crowned as Emperor of Ethiopia. He added
5336-431: The escape of King Victor Emmanuel III of Italy , leaving them without any operational roles. On 13 June 1946, the last King, Umberto II of Italy , was exiled after the proclamation of the Republic and he freed the Cuirassiers from their oath to the Monarchy. The division was then renamed as the "3rd Mounted Carabineer Squadron" ( 3° Squadrone Carabinieri a Cavallo ) and members wore new uniforms. The squadron returned to
5428-449: The face. Some of the activities of members of the House of Savoy have evoked media coverage disappointing to Italian royalists. In November 1991, after thirteen years of legal proceedings, the Paris Assize Court acquitted Vittorio Emanuele of the fatal wounding and unintentional homicide in August 1978 of Dirk Hamer (who was shot and killed while asleep on a yacht off Cavallo) , finding him guilty only of unauthorised possession of
5520-442: The family grew in power, first ruling a small Alpine county northwest of Italy and later gaining absolute rule of the Kingdom of Sicily . During the years 1713 to 1720, they were handed the island of Sardinia and would exercise direct rule from then onward. Through its junior branch of Savoy-Carignano , the House of Savoy led the Italian unification in 1861, and ruled the Kingdom of Italy until 1946. They also briefly ruled
5612-412: The garden "romantic" in the second half of the eighteenth century, preserving at that time the elegant Coffee House built by Ferdinando Fuga as reception room of Benedict XIV Lambertini , decorated by paintings of Pompeo Batoni and Giovanni Paolo Pannini . Within the Quirinal gardens lies the famous water organ built between 1997 and 1999 by Barthélemy Formentelli based on the characteristics of
SECTION 60
#17327725319415704-408: The great Hall of banquets, followed by the mirrors room and by the tapestries room. The tapestries room, in particular, was used as a conversation room. It is the smaller chapel of the palace. In the Savoy era, it was deconsecrated and used by servants to wash dishes since it was close to the zodiac room. This room was used by the Savoy as a ballroom. Here today are held audiences of the president of
5796-459: The leadership of the House of Savoy was contested by two cousins: Vittorio Emanuele, Prince of Naples , who used to claim the title of King of Italy, and Prince Amedeo, Duke of Aosta , who claimed the title of Duke of Savoy. Their rivalry has not always been peaceful — on 21 May 2004, following a dinner held by King Juan Carlos I of Spain on the eve of the wedding of his son Felipe, Prince of Asturias , Vittorio Emanuele punched Amedeo twice in
5888-467: The medal of Great Official of Savoy Military Order, greatly outraging a large part of the public opinion. As a result, Umberto I was assassinated in July 1900 in Monza by Gaetano Bresci , the brother of one of the women massacred in the crowd, who had traveled back to Italy from the United States for the assassination. The king had previously been the target of failed assassination attempts by anarchists Giovanni Passannante and Pietro Acciarito . When
5980-407: The monarchs or foreign heads of state visiting the president of the republic. The palace, in its totality, has 1,200 rooms. The rooms of the palace housed in the main building are: The shape of the staircase was very useful during the papal period since the double-crossed ramp allowed to reach the two main rooms of the papal palace directly: the Throne room, today the Great hall of cuirassiers, and
6072-424: The monarchy short of adoption of an entirely new constitution. The constitution also forbade male descendants of the House of Savoy from entering Italy. This provision was removed in 2002 but as part of the deal to be allowed back into Italy, Vittorio Emanuele , the last claimant to the House of Savoy, renounced all claims to the throne. He died in 2024. The Residences of the Royal House of Savoy in Turin and
6164-407: The most famous fresco is the Blessing Christ by Melozzo da Forlì , placed over the stairs. The palace grounds include a famous set of gardens laid out in the 17th century. The palace is composed of the main building, which is built around the majestic courtyard, with the most beautiful halls and rooms of the complex environments that serve as representative of the Presidency of the Republic, while
6256-449: The name Tomislav II , but never ruled in practice as he remained residing in Italy, and formally abdicated in 1943 when Italy ended participation with the Axis Powers . In 1396, the title and privileges of the final king of the Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia , Levon V , were transferred to James I , his cousin and king of Cyprus. The title of King of Armenia was thus united with the titles of King of Cyprus and King of Jerusalem. The title
6348-406: The name derives from the precious cabinets displayed here. This extraordinary masterpiece of the architect Ottaviano Mascarino is the original staircase of the Gregorian building. The ramp winds up to aspirate to culminate in a skylight. In the Savoy era, we risked losing this masterpiece as well as all the other rooms of the Gregorian building: some princes wanted it to be destroyed to make room for
6440-587: The neighbourhood are protected as a World Heritage Site . Although the titles and distinctions of the Italian royal family are not legally recognised by the Italian Republic, the remaining members of the House of Savoy, like dynasties of other abolished monarchies , still use some of the various titles they acquired over the millennium of their reign prior to the republic's establishment, including Duke of Savoy; "Prince of Naples", previously conferred by Joseph Bonaparte to be hereditary on his children and grandchildren; Prince of Piedmont ; and Duke of Aosta . Before,
6532-419: The occasional tasks of “escorting royals” (initially belonging to the Body Guards), along with the law enforcement and public security purposes according to the Royal Licences ( Patenti Reali ). Reforms of Charles Albert of Sardinia (1834-1849) reduced the personnel and competences of Body Guards while giving a greater relevance to the Carabinieri, who were also designated to form a mounted squadron of honour for
6624-570: The offices and apartments of the head of state are housed in the Fuga building at the end of the Manica lunga , the long building on the side of Quirinal street ( via del Quirinale in Italian). On the piano nobile of the Manica lunga lie the opulent imperial apartments, which were specially arranged, decorated and furnished for two visits of Kaiser Wilhelm II (in 1888 and 1893) and which now houses
6716-512: The outskirts of Rome, some 25 km from the centre of the city. It is located on the Quirinal Hill , the highest of the seven hills of Rome in an area colloquially called Monte Cavallo. It has served as the residence for thirty popes , four kings of Italy and twelve presidents of the Italian Republic. The Quirinal Palace was selected by Napoleon to be his residence par excellence as emperor . However, he never stayed there because of
6808-414: The parents of sons Umberto and Amedeo born, respectively, in 2009 and 2011. In 2019, Vittorio Emanuele issued a formal decree that modified the medieval law restricting succession to male heirs to place his granddaughter, Vittoria Cristina Chiara Adelaide Marie , in the line of succession. Prince Aimone declared the change illegitimate, meaning the title will remain in male succession and will transfer to
6900-505: The peninsula, it became apparent that Victor Emmanuel was too tainted by his earlier support of Mussolini to have any postwar role. Accordingly, Victor Emmanuel transferred most of his powers to his son, Crown Prince Umberto, in April 1944. Rome was liberated two months later, and Victor Emmanuel transferred his remaining powers to Umberto and named him Lieutenant General of the Realm . Within
6992-414: The previous nineteenth-century organ. The organ is fed by a waterfall with a jump of 18 meters and has a single keyboard of 41 notes with a first short octave , without pedalboard . Overall, the Quirinal gardens extend over 4 hectares (10 acres). By means of a trap door located in the gardens, entry can be gained to the archaeological excavations that have unearthed the remains of the original temple to
7084-600: The republic with few participants and the oath of the Judges of the Constitutional Court . In the papal era, this room was used as the consistory room where the Cardinal's College met. From the Savoy period onwards, banquets and state dinners have been held here. Today, the new government is also sworn in here. Here the president of the republic meets the entourage of visiting foreign dignitaries. The name of
7176-646: The rescue. The massacre prompted John Milton 's famous sonnet , " On the Late Massacre in Piedmont ". In 1898, the Bava Beccaris massacre in Milan involved the use of cannons against unarmed protesters (including women and the elderly) during riots over the rising price of bread. King Umberto I of the House of Savoy congratulated General Fiorenzo Bava Beccaris for the massacre and decorated him with
7268-413: The room derives from the tapestries on display, made on Agnolo Bronzino's own design. The Quirinal Gardens, famous for the privileged position that makes them almost an "island" elevated above Rome, were, over the centuries, changed depending on the tastes and needs of the papal court. The current arrangement complements the garden "formal" seventeenth century facing the original core of the building with
7360-464: The territory of the Republic. When incarcerated in June 2006, Vittorio Emanuele was recorded admitting with regard to the killing of Dirk Hamer that "I was in the wrong, [...] but I must say I fooled them [the French judges]", leading to a call from Hamer's sister Birgit for Vittorio Emanuele to be retried in Italy for the killing. After a long legal fight, Birgit Hamer obtained the full video. The story
7452-967: The time Amadeus VIII came to power in the late 14th century, the House of Savoy had gone through a series of gradual territorial expansions and he was elevated by the Holy Roman Emperor Sigismund to the Duke of Savoy in 1416. In 1494, Charles VIII of France passed through Savoy on his way to Italy and Naples, which initiated the Italian War of 1494–98 . During the outbreak of the Italian war of 1521–1526 , Emperor Charles V stationed imperial troops in Savoy. In 1536, Francis I of France invaded Savoy and Piedmont, taking Turin by April of that year. Charles III , Duke of Savoy, fled to Vercelli. When Emmanuel Philibert came to power in 1553 most of his family's territories were in French hands, so he offered to serve France's leading enemy
7544-604: The towns of Turin and Pinerolo, into the House of Savoy's possession. They once had claims on the modern canton of Vaud , where they occupied the Château of Chillon in Switzerland , but their access to it was cut by Geneva during the Protestant Reformation , after which it was conquered by Bern . Piedmont was later joined with Sabaudia, and the name evolved into "Savoy" ( Italian : Savoia ). By
7636-621: The unified Kingdom of Italy which lasted from 1860–1946. Quirinal Palace The Quirinal Palace ( Italian : Palazzo del Quirinale [paˈlattso del kwiriˈnaːle] ) is a historic building in Rome , Italy , one of the three current official residences of the President of the Italian Republic , together with Villa Rosebery in Naples and the Tenuta di Castelporziano, an estate on
7728-734: The wedding of the Crown Prince Victor Emmanuel II with the Archduchess Adelaide of Austria in 1842. The Body Guards took part to the First Italian War of Independence alongside the Carabinieri in order to protect the King. The Body Guards were formally dissolved in 1867, although during the previous twenty years only one company had continued to perform security services exclusively at the Royal Palace of Turin . They were absorbed by
7820-506: The “Company of His Highness's Cuirasses” ( Compagnia Corazze di Sua Altezza ) used to wear the monogram of the King on their breastplates, which were similar to those previously worn by other units. The brand new unit had one captain commanding, 4 officers, 9 NCOs and 69 troopers alongside a trumpeter comprising it. In 1870, "Royal Guards Companies of the Palace" ( Compagnie Guardie Reali del Palazzo ) - which were Army units - were disbanded and
7912-498: Was aware that her husband fathered a child by another woman during their marriage. Aosta acknowledged paternity of another child, born out-of-wedlock in 2006 during his second marriage, but agreed to contribute financially to the child's care only after being directed to do so by court order. The patrilineal lineage of the House of Savoy was reduced to four males between 1996 and 2009. In 2008, Aimone of Savoy-Aosta married Princess Olga of Greece , his second cousin, and they became
8004-510: Was broken in the press by aristocratic journalist Beatrice Borromeo , who also wrote the preface for a book on the murder Delitto senza castigo by Birgit Hamer. Vittorio Emanuele sued the newspaper for defamation, claiming the video had been manipulated. In 2015, a court judgement ruled in favor of the newspaper. In 2007, lawyers representing Vittorio Emanuele and his son Emanuele Filiberto of Savoy wrote to Italian President Giorgio Napolitano seeking damages for their years in exile. During
8096-806: Was held to the modern day by the House of Savoy. Male-line, legitimate, non-morganatic members of the house who either lived to adulthood, or who held a title as a child, are included. Heads of the house are in bold. VITTORIO AMEDEO III, per la grazia di Dio Re di Sardegna, Cipro, Gerusalemme e Armenia; Duca di Savoia, Monferrato, Chablais, Aosta e Genevese; Principe di Piemonte ed Oneglia; Marchese in Italia, di Saluzzo, Susa, Ivrea, Ceva, Maro, Oristano, Sezana; Conte di Moriana, Nizza, Tenda, Asti, Alessandria, Goceano; Barone di Vaud e di Faucigny; Signore di Vercelli, Pinerolo, Tarantasia, Lumellino, Val di Sesia; Principe e Vicario perpetuo del Sacro Romano Impero in Italia. The English translation is: Victor Amadeus III , by
8188-458: Was named. During the reign of Constantine the Great , the last complex of Roman baths was built here, as the statues of the twins Castor and Pollux taming the horses decorating the fountain in the square testify. The Quirinal, being the highest hill in Rome, was much sought after and became a popular location for the Roman patricians , who built luxurious villas there. An example is the remains of
8280-479: Was once part of a seventy-meter long gallery built by Pope Alexander VII, later ordered split by Napoleon to serve as Empress's private residence. It features magnificent yellow fabrics lined to the walls, hence the name of the room. In modern times, under the republic, the Napoleonic decorations were mostly removed, revealing the original ornaments. This room hosted the throne during the Savoy reign. This room
8372-480: Was subsequently expanded until in 1630 it had about 400 men, divided into 4 companies. Under the reign of Victor Amadeus II of Sardinia (1675–1730), the security units and ceremonial guards were merged into the "Body Guards" ( Guardie del Corpo ), which was subdivided into four companies. Since then, few changes had been made to the uniforms or to the composition of the unit, which has performed normal operational functions as well as serving in war campaigns. During
8464-409: Was used to receive dignitaries before the ceremonies, a purpose it still fulfills. This room is one of the latest Savoy's interventions opened in the 1940s by dismantling rooms of the private papal apartments. The name derives from the tapestries on the walls representing the twelve labors of Hercules. This room was also opened by dismantling rooms of the papal private apartment. It is a passage room;
#940059