Ferdinand, 1st Duke of Genoa

Infobox Person
name = Prince Ferdinand, Duke of Genoa


image_size = 150px
birth_date = birth date|1822|11|15|df=y
birth_place = Florence
death_date = death date and age|1855|2|10|1822|11|15|df=y
death_place = Turin
title = Prince of Savoy, Duke of Genoa
spouse = Princess Elizabeth of Saxony
parents = Charles Albert of Sardinia and Maria Teresa of Tuscany

Prince Ferdinand Maria Alberto Amedeo Filiberto Vincenzo of Savoy, Duke of Genoa (15 November, 1822 – 10 February 1855) was the founder of the Genoa branch of the House of Savoy

Biography

Ferdinand was born in Florence the second son of Charles Albert, Prince of Carignan and Maria Teresa of Tuscany. His father was the head of the House of Savoy-Carignan a cadet branch of the House of Savoy. The senior line of the house became extinct in 1831 and his father succeeded as King of Sardinia. With the ascension of his father he was created Duke of Genoa.

During the wars taking place on the Italian peninsula in 1848 and 1849, Ferdinand commanded an army division. After peace was restored in Italy he was appointed general commandment of the artillery and set about making improvements.cite book | title = The Gentleman's Magazine | publisher = 1855 | pages = 303 ]

As a result of the Sicilian revolution of independence he was a candidate for the throne. He was the most acceptable candidate to Britain and the British Minister in Turin informed him they would recognise him as king as soon as he took possession of the throne. On 11 July 1848 the national assembly of Sicily unanimously voted to offer him the throne. When the Sicilian deputation arrived to offer him the throne, he was absent from Royal headquarters as he was commanding a division in the army. After Sardinia's defeat to the forces of the Austrian Empire commanded by Joseph Radetzky von Radetz he felt compelled to decline the opportunity to become King of Sicily. [cite book | last = Littell | first = Eliakim | coauthors = Robert S Littell | title = The Living Age | publisher = Living Age Co. | publisher = 1860 | pages = 215, 216 ]

During the Crimean war he was to be appointed to command the Kingdom of Sardinia's auxiliary corps but his declining health meant he could not take up the posting.

His health did not recover and he died in Turin at the age thirty two. His one year old son Thomas succeeded to the title Duke of Genoa.

Marriage and children

Ferdinand married Princess Elizabeth of Saxony on 22 April 1850 in Dresden. They had two children:
* Princess Margherita of Savoy (1851-1926)
* Prince Thomas of Savoy, Duke of Genoa (1854-1931)

Ancestry

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1= 1. Ferdinand, 1st Duke of Genoa
2= 2. Charles Albert of Sardinia
3= 3. Maria Theresa of Tuscany
4= 4. Charles Emmanuel, Prince of Carignan
5= 5. Princess Maria Christina of Saxony
6= 6. Ferdinand III, Grand Duke of Tuscany
7= 7. Princess Luisa of the Two Sicilies
8= 8. Victor Amadeus II, Prince of Carignan
9= 9. Josepha of Lorraine-Brionne
10= 10. Carl Christian Joseph of Saxony, Duke of Courland
11= 11. Franziska von Corvin-Krasinski
12= 12. Leopold II, Holy Roman Emperor
13= 13. Maria Louisa of Spain
14= 14. Ferdinand I of the Two Sicilies
15= 15. Marie Caroline of Austria
16= 16. Louis Victor, Prince of Carignan
17= 17. Princess Christine Henriette of Hesse-Rheinfels-Rotenburg
18= 18. Louis III, Duke of Lorraine-Brionne
19= 19. Louise of Rohan
20= 20. Augustus III of Poland
21= 21. Maria Josepha of Austria
22= 22. Stanislaus von Corvin-Krasinski, Count Krasinski
23= 23. Anna Humiecka
24= 24. Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
25= 25. Maria Theresa of Austria
26= 26. Charles III of Spain
27= 27. Maria Amalia of Saxony
28= 28. Charles III of Spain (= 26)
29= 29. Maria Amalia of Saxony (= 27)
30= 30. Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor (= 24)
31= 31. Maria Theresa of Austria (= 25)

References