Azeglio, Massimo Taparelli, Marchese d' (redirected from Massimo d'Azeglio)

Azeglio, Massimo Taparelli, marchese d' (mäs`sēmō täpärĕl`lē märkā`zā dädzā`lyō), 1798–1866, Italian premier and author, b. Turin. He studied painting, then turned to literature and wrote two historical novels. In 1845 he became a leader of the movement for national liberation. He urged a more unified policy but strongly opposed secret conspiracies and violent outbreaks. In his pamphlets he denounced the papal government and condemned Austria's ruthless repression of Italian liberals. He influenced King Charles Albert of Sardinia to take the lead in the struggle and fought (1848) against Austria, being wounded at Vicenza. In 1849 the new king, Victor Emmanuel II, made him premier, a post he held until 1852, when he was succeeded by the more radical Cavour. His autobiography throws much light on the Risorgimento.

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Azeglio, Massimo Taparelli, Marchese d’ 

Born Oct. 24, 1798, in Turin; died Jan. 15, 1866, in Turin. Italian writer, artist, and political figure.

As a writer, Azeglio belonged to the romantic movement, continuing the line of historical novels begun with A. Manzoni’s The Betrothed. Among Azeglio’s most popular novels were The Tournament at Barletta, or Ettore Fieramosca (1833; Russ. trans., 1847, 1865, 1874, 1934, 1963) and Niccolò de Lapi (1841; Russ. trans., 1865), both of which fostered the growth of national self-awareness. In the 1840’s Azeglio, together with Balbo and Gioberti, was an ideologist and leader of the liberal wing in the Italian national liberation and unification movement. He came out against revolutionary methods of struggle, proposing the unification of Italy “from above,” under the leadership of the Savoy dynasty.

The idea of Italian unity was the basis of Azeglio’s work The Latest Events in Romagna (1846). In 1847 he published his Project for a National Program, which became the political credo for moderate Italian liberals. From 1849 to 1852, Azeglio was prime minister and minister of foreign affairs of Piedmont.

WORKS

Racconti, leggende, ricordi. Turin, 1918.

REFERENCES

Friche, V. M. Ital’ianskaia literatura XIX v. Moscow, 1916.
Vaccalluzzo, N. M. d’Azeglio. Rome, 1925.
Vismara, A. Bibliografia du M. d’Azeglio. Milan, 1878.