Massimo d'Azeglio
Massimo Taparelli, Marquess of Azeglio (24 October 1798 – 15 January 1866), commonly called Massimo d'Azeglio (Italian: [ˈmassimo tapaˈrɛlli dadˈdzeʎʎo]), was a Piedmontese-Italian statesman, novelist, and painter. He was Prime Minister of Sardinia for almost three years until his rival Camillo Benso, Count of Cavour succeeded him. D'Azeglio was a moderate liberal who hoped for a federal union between Italian states.
Massimo d'Azeglio | |
|---|---|
Portrait of D'Azeglio by Francesco Gonin (1850) | |
| Senator of the Kingdom of Italy | |
| In office 20 October 1853 – 15 January 1866 | |
| Monarch | Victor Emmanuel II |
| Prime Minister of Sardinia | |
| In office 7 May 1849 – 4 November 1852 | |
| Monarch | Victor Emmanuel II |
| Preceded by | Claudio Gabriele de Launay |
| Succeeded by | The Count of Cavour |
| Member of the Sardinian Chamber of Deputies | |
| In office 8 May 1848 – 20 October 1853 | |
| Constituency | Strambino |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 24 October 1798 Turin, Kingdom of Sardinia |
| Died | 15 January 1866 (aged 67) Turin, Italy |
| Political party | Historical Right |
| Spouse |
Giulia Claudia Manzoni
(m. 1831; died 1834) |
| Children | Alessandra Taparelli |
| Parent(s) | Cesare Taparelli and Cristina Morozzo |
| Alma mater | University of Turin |
| Profession | Soldier, writer, painter |
| Military service | |
| Branch/service | Royal Sardinian Army |
| Years of service | 1815; 1848–1849 |
| Rank | Colonel |
| Unit | 2nd Cavalry Regiment |
| Battles/wars | 1st Italian War of Independence |
As Prime Minister, he consolidated the parliamentary system, getting the young King Victor Emmanuel II to accept his constitutional status, and worked hard for a peace treaty with Austria. Although himself a Roman Catholic, he introduced freedom of worship, supported public education, and sought to reduce the power of the clergy in local political affairs. As a senator, following the annexation of the United Provinces of Central Italy, Azeglio attempted to reconcile the Vatican with the new Italian Kingdom. His brother Luigi Taparelli d'Azeglio was a Jesuit priest.