Vittorio Emanuele, Count of Turin

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Prince Vittorio Emanuele Torino Giovanni Maria of Savoy, Infante of Spain, Count of Turin (November 24, 1870 – October 10, 1946) was a grandchild of King Victor Emmanuel II and a member of the House of Savoy. He was a cousin of Victor Emmanuel III.

[edit] Biography

He was born in Turin just before his father Prince Amadeo of Savoy, Duke of Aosta was about to leave for Spain where he had been elected king. His mother was Maria Victoria al Pozzo della Cisterna. With his fathers ascension to the Spanish throne he gained the additional title Infante of Spain.^[1]

Vittorio Emanuele challenged Prince Henri of Orléans to a duel after Henri described Italian soldiers being held captive in Ethiopia during the first First Italo–Ethiopian War as cowards. He received the consent of King Umberto I and the duel with swords lasting 26 minutes took place at 5:00 am on August 15 1897 in the Bois de Marechaux at Vancreeson. Both Prince Henri and Vittorio Emanuele were wounded with Henri receiving a serious wound to his right abdomen while Vittorio Emanuele was wounded in his right hand.^[2]

In April 1898 Vittorio Emanuele set out on a tour of world.^[3] His first stop was New York in the United States of America. After spending a day at the Newport Country Club he presented the club with a silver cup which is presented to the winner of the annual Count of Turin golf tournament.^[4] After his stay in America he visited China and Japan on the next leg of his world tour.^[5]

The Count of Turin pursued a career in the Royal Italian Army and became the Commander in Chief of the Italian Cavalry.^[6] He held this position during the First World War.^[7] Following the armistice he was awarded the Croix de guerre by France.^[8]

Vittorio Emanuele died in Brussels four months after the proclamation of the Italian Republic.^[9]

[edit] References