Anti-Feudal Revolts
Sardinia was at the time ruled by the Piedmontese House of Savoy. The House of Savoy was granted control of the Kingdom of Sardinia in 1718 with the Treaty of London that followed the War of the Spanish Succession: although assuming the role of King of Sardinia with this treaty, Victor Amadeus II of Savoy moved the capital of the Kingdom to Turin in mainland Italy where the parliament was also based: the parliament and government of the Kingdom was composed exclusively of men from the mainland. Indeed, similarly to other colonial domains, Sardinia was governed by a viceroy appointed by the king and only men from the mainland were appointed in the main roles of the Sardinian administration, excluding native Sardinians from any active role in government. After receiving the title of King of Sardinia Victor Amadeus II of Savoy sent his lieutenant, Baron de Saint-Rémy, to assume the role of viceroy of Sardinia. The new viceroy asked the Sardinian parliament, the "Stamenti", to swear to observe the laws and privileges of the nobility that had been granted by the Spanish governments that ruled the Kingdom of Sardinia before the Savoy. The acceptance of long-standing laws and privileges by the Sardinian parliament also implied the continuation of the feudal system that had been introduced by the Spanish with the conquest of Sardinia in the 15th Century. This was particularly controversial because in many other regions of Europe feudalism had disappeared well before the 18th century.
Feudalism had an extremely negative influence on the economy and social structure of Sardinia. It penalised the main economic activity in Sardinia, agriculture. At that time, in fact, the island was divided into fiefdoms and domains under the rule of the nobility. In these domains, taxes for farmers were very high, and annuities were due to the archbishops of Cagliari and Oristano, as well as those due to the major landowners like the Marquis Alagon of Villasor, the Marquis of Thiesi and many others. Only 7 cities (Castelsardo, Sassari, Alghero, Bosa, Oristano, Iglesias and Cagliari) were exempted from paying feudal duties (a tradition established by the Spaniards, who granted these towns to be ruled directly by the King and not by the nobility).
As a consequence of the feudal system, which prevented economic mobility and entrepreneurship, town and cities were sparsely inhabited at the time, while most of the population lived in rural areas where they were hassled with harsh feudal taxation: farmers were paid a fifth of what other workers were paid. For vassals (farmers that worked the land of the landowner), taxes were innumerable: every head of the family, in addition to other charges, was to pay a fine.
After the French Revolution, French armies moved war to different countries in Europe, trying to spread their revolutionary ideas. In 1793, a French fleet carrying soldiers moved toward the Gulf of Cagliari. The French wanted to conquer Sardinia in order to use it as a base for attacks to mainland Italy. After bombing Cagliari from the sea, the French divisions landed on the beach of Quartu, near Cagliari, and from there, moved toward the town on foot. The house of Savoy who rule the Kingdom of Sardinia, were unable at the time to provide for the defence of Sardinia, being involved in other wars against the French in mainland Europe, so the Sardinians organised their own defence against the invading French divisions. Eventually the French were defeated and repelled (although some historians claim that the French defeat was mainly caused by errors and "friendly fire").
Having defended the Kingdom of Sardinia and ultimately the standing of the House of Savoy from the French republicans, the Sardinian nobility met in their Sardinian parliament, the Stamenti, and issued five requests to the Savoy ruler, known as the "five requests". These requests were:
- The re-introduction of an assembly of Sardinians (Corti Generali) to meet every ten years (the House of Savoy rulers had not summoned this assembly since 1720, infringing a practice that was given for granted during the Spanish domination);
- Ratification of the privileges, laws and customs of Sardinia;
- They asked all public offices in Sardinia to be given to native Sardinians;
- The establishment of a Ministry of Sardinian Affairs in the capital Turin (although the Kingdom was Sardinian by name, the House of Savoy ruled from the territories they held in mainland Italy and made Turin, in Piedmont, the capital of the kingdom);
- Establishment of a Council of State, with the role of giving advice and guidance to the King in important decisions for the Kingdom.
These requests were just moderate concessions that the Sardinian nobility thought they deserved for demonstrating loyalty to the House of Savoy. As it can be seen, the requests were hardly revolutionary and only aimed at giving a more active role to the Sardinian nobility in the administration of the region. Nonetheless, the House of Savoy rejected all of these requests. This caused dissatisfaction in all Sardinian classes, not only in the nobility. Furthermore, rulers of Sardinia, who came from mainland Italy, interpreted the response to the five requests as an indication that the House of Savoy was deeply suspicious of the Sardinian nobility that had issued the five requests. The Italian ruling class thus started to persecute the most prominent Sardinians that participated in the issuing of the five requests. This, in turn, created increasing discontent in the Sardinians from all classes, which mounted into open hostility when the authorities tried to capture two Sardinians that had been more vocal during the issuing of the five requests. One of these Sardinians managed to escape and the anger at his persecution sparked an open revolt by the population of Cagliari on 28 April 1794. During this revolt, the mob chased and killed The General Intendant Jerome Pitzolo (6 July) and the General Gavino Paliaccio, Marquis of Planargia (22 July). These are the days of "s'acciappa" ("the chase" referring to the fact that all Piedmontese were hunted and chased across the city). Eventually, all 514 Piedmontese and Italian officials were rounded up, including Viceroy Balbiano Vincent, and expelled from Cagliari on a boat. The example was followed by other cities and the revolt spread throughout Sardinia. The island was governed by a provisional Royal Audience during this revolutionary period. Since the year 1997 the rebellion of the 28 April has been celebrated in Cagliari as "Sa die de sa Sardigna" (in Sardinian: the Sardinian day).
Read more about this topic: Giovanni Maria Angioy, Biography