Massimo d'Azeglio
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 Chamber of Deputies of the Kingdom of Sardinia | |
| In office 8 May 1848 – 20 October 1853 | |
| Constituency | Strambino |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 24 October 1798 |
| Died | 15 January 1866 (aged 67) Turin, Italy |
| 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 | First Italian War of Independence |
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 succeeded by his rival Camillo Benso, Count of Cavour. A moderate liberal and member of the Moderate Party associated with the Historical Right, d'Azeglio hoped for a federal union between Italian states.
As Prime Minister, d'Azeglio 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, d'Azeglio attempted to solve the Roman Question through reconciliation between the Vatican and the new Italian Kingdom. His brother was Luigi Taparelli – Jesuit priest.