Massimo d'Azeglio
Massimo d' Azeglio Taparelli ( Massimo Taparelli, Marquis d' Azeglio, born October 24, 1798 in Turin, † January 15, 1866 in Turin ) was an Italian writer, painter and politician.
Azeglio was especially romantic writers in the succession Alessandro Manzoni, he was also married to one of his daughters. D' Azeglio was known for historical novels and romantic inspired paintings.
The beginning of his political activity was a trip that he at the instigation of his cousin Cesare Balbo through the Romagna undertook in 1845 to inform himself about the states of the country. In his travelogue, he published a year later, he criticized the papal administrative authorities, but warned of a revolution and called for liberal reforms. Following the appointment of Pope Pius IX. he hoped for a united Italy under its domination. During the siege of Novara, he was severely wounded.
King Victor Emmanuel II appointed d' Azeglio as Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Piedmont-Sardinia and asked him to form a cabinet. His domestic policy was aimed at building a liberal polity, while he had to fight back outward against the claims of Austria to Italy. After he had fallen into sharp, even personal disputes in the Cabinet with his ministerial colleagues Camillo Benso di Cavour, he resigned from the Cabinet in 1852 and turned increasingly to painting until 1859. Only shortly before the preliminary peace of Villafranca Azeglio was again entrusted with political matters.
Azeglio moved in his last years to Cannero on Lake Maggiore. There, he created his famous memoirs (I miei ricordi ).