# Alfonso La Marmora

> Italian general and statesman (1804-1878)

**Wikidata**: [Q471272](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q471272)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfonso_Ferrero_La_Marmora)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/alfonso-la-marmora

## Summary
Alfonso La Marmora was an Italian general and statesman who played a pivotal role in the unification of Italy. He served as Prime Minister of both the Kingdom of Sardinia and the Kingdom of Italy, held numerous cabinet positions including Minister of War and Foreign Affairs, and was instrumental in military campaigns during the Italian Risorgimento.

## Biography
- Born: November 18, 1804 in Turin
- Nationality: Kingdom of Sardinia (until 1861), Kingdom of Italy (from 1861)
- Education: Royal Academy of Turin (until 1822)
- Known for: Military leadership and political service during Italian unification
- Employer(s): Kingdom of Sardinia, Kingdom of Italy, Royal Sardinian Army
- Field(s): Military leadership, politics, diplomacy

## Contributions
Alfonso La Marmora served as Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Sardinia from July 19, 1859, to January 21, 1860. He later became Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Italy from September 28, 1864, to June 20, 1866. He held multiple cabinet positions including Minister of War of the Kingdom of Sardinia (1848-1849, 1849-1855, 1855-1860), Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Sardinia (1851), Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Italy (1864-1866), Minister of the Navy of the Kingdom of Italy (1864), and Minister without portfolio of the Kingdom of Italy (1866-1867). He participated in the First Italian War of Independence and was a member of the Chamber of Deputies of the Kingdom of Sardinia (1st through 7th legislatures) and the Chamber of Deputies of the Kingdom of Italy (8th through 12th legislatures).

## FAQs
**What military positions did Alfonso La Marmora hold?**
La Marmora served as General of the army in the Royal Sardinian Army and participated in the First Italian War of Independence. His military career spanned decades, culminating in the highest rank attainable in the Italian armed forces.

**What political offices did Alfonso La Marmora hold?**
La Marmora served as Prime Minister of both the Kingdom of Sardinia (1859-1860) and the Kingdom of Italy (1864-1866). He also held numerous cabinet positions including Minister of War, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister of the Navy, and Minister without portfolio. Additionally, he was a member of parliament across multiple legislatures in both the Kingdom of Sardinia and the Kingdom of Italy.

**What awards and honors did Alfonso La Marmora receive?**
La Marmora was decorated with numerous honors including the Knight Grand Cross of the Military Order of Savoy (1855), Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour, Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus, Knight Commander of the Order of Saint Joseph, Order of the Most Holy Annunciation, Sardinian Crimea Medal, Médaille militaire, Commemorative medal of the 1859 Italian Campaign, 1st class Order of the Medjidie, and Knight of the Order of St. Alexander Nevsky.

**What family members were notable contemporaries of Alfonso La Marmora?**
La Marmora had several siblings who also achieved prominence in Italian affairs, including Carlo Emanuele La Marmora, Alberto della Marmora, and Alessandro Ferrero La Marmora, all of whom contributed to Italian politics and military service during the period of unification.

**What political party was associated with Alfonso La Marmora?**
La Marmora was a member of the Historical Right political party, which was a conservative political faction in Italy during the 19th century that supported the monarchical government and played a significant role in the early years of the unified Kingdom of Italy.

## Why They Matter
Alfonso La Marmora was instrumental in the Italian unification process, serving in key leadership positions during the transition from the Kingdom of Sardinia to the Kingdom of Italy. His military expertise helped shape Italy's early defense capabilities, while his political service as Prime Minister and cabinet member established important precedents for governance in the newly unified state. La Marmora's career spanned the critical years of Italian unification, making him a central figure in the Risorgimento movement that created modern Italy.

## Notable For
- Serving as Prime Minister of both the Kingdom of Sardinia and the Kingdom of Italy
- Holding the position of Minister of War multiple times during critical periods of Italian unification
- Being a decorated military officer with the rank of General of the army
- Participating in the First Italian War of Independence
- Receiving numerous honors including the Knight Grand Cross of the Military Order of Savoy and Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour
- Serving as a member of parliament across 12 different legislative terms in both the Kingdom of Sardinia and Kingdom of Italy
- Being a member of the Historical Right political party
- Being born into the House of Ferrero della Marmora family
- Receiving the Sardinian Crimea Medal for military service
- Being buried at San Sebastiano

## Body
### Early Life and Education
Alfonso Ferrero della Marmora was born on November 18, 1804, in Turin, then part of the Kingdom of Sardinia. He was educated at the Royal Academy of Turin, completing his studies in 1822. Born into the House of Ferrero della Marmora, he came from a distinguished family with several siblings who would also become notable figures in Italian history, including Carlo Emanuele La Marmora, Alberto della Marmora, and Alessandro Ferrero La Marmora.

### Military Career
La Marmora embarked on a military career with the Royal Sardinian Army, where he achieved the rank of General of the army. He participated in the First Italian War of Independence (1848-1849), a conflict that was part of the broader Italian unification movement known as the Risorgimento. His military service was recognized with several awards, including the Knight Grand Cross of the Military Order of Savoy (awarded November 28, 1855) and the Sardinian Crimea Medal (established June 6, 1856). He also received international recognition for his military contributions, including the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour, the Médaille militaire, the 1st class Order of the Medjidie, and the Knight of the Order of St. Alexander Nevsky.

### Political Career
La Marmora's political career was extensive and spanned the transition from the Kingdom of Sardinia to the Kingdom of Italy. He served as a member of the Chamber of Deputies of the Kingdom of Sardinia for seven consecutive legislative terms (1st through 7th legislatures) between 1848 and 1860. After Italian unification, he continued his parliamentary service in the Chamber of Deputies of the Kingdom Italy for five more legislative terms (8th through 12th legislatures) from 1861 to 1876.

His cabinet appointments included:
- Minister of War of the Kingdom of Sardinia (October 28, 1848 - December 16, 1848)
- Minister of War of the Kingdom of Sardinia (February 3, 1849 - February 9, 1849)
- Minister of War of the Kingdom of Sardinia (November 3, 1849 - April 1, 1855)
- Minister of War of the Kingdom of Sardinia (January 16, 1856 - January 21, 1860)
- Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Sardinia (July 12, 1851 - September 15, 1851, serving as acting minister)
- Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Italy (September 28, 1864 - June 20, 1866)
- Minister of the Navy of the Kingdom of Italy (September 28, 1864 - December 25, 1864)
- Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Sardinia (July 19, 1859 - January 21, 1860)
- Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Italy (September 28, 1864 - June 20, 1866)
- Minister without portfolio of the Kingdom of Italy (June 20, 1866 - April 10, 1867)

### Religious and Family Life
La Marmora was a member of the Catholic Church, reflecting the religious affiliation of most Italian political figures of his era. His full birth name was Alfonso Ferrero della Marmora, though he is commonly known as Alfonso La Marmora or Alfonso Ferrero La Marmora. He died on January 5, 1878, in Florence and was buried at San Sebastiano.

### Awards and Honors
La Marmora received numerous awards and honors throughout his career, both national and international:
- Knight Grand Cross of the Military Order of Savoy (1855)
- Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour (French)
- Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus
- Knight Commander of the Order of Saint Joseph
- Order of the Most Holy Annunciation
- Sardinian Crimea Medal (1856)
- Médaille militaire (French)
- Commemorative medal of the 1859 Italian Campaign (1859)
- 1st class, Order of the Medjidie
- Knight of the Order of St. Alexander Nevsky

### Political Party and Ideology
La Marmora was associated with the Historical Right political party, which represented conservative political forces in 19th-century Italy. This party supported the monarchical government and played a significant role in the early governance of the unified Kingdom of Italy.

### Legacy and Historical Context
La Marmora's career spanned one of the most transformative periods in Italian history, from the Kingdom of Sardinia to the newly unified Kingdom of Italy. His service as Prime Minister and cabinet minister occurred during critical years of Italian unification, making him a central figure in the political and military development of modern Italy. His contributions helped establish important institutional precedents that would influence Italian governance for decades after his death.

## References

1. storia.camera.it
2. International Standard Name Identifier
3. Virtual International Authority File
4. OPAC SBN
5. Encyclopædia Britannica Online
6. Brockhaus Enzyklopädie
7. Croatian Encyclopedia
8. BnF authorities
9. Freebase
10. CONOR.SI
11. Dizionario Biografico degli Italiani
12. Treccani's Enciclopedia on line
13. Dizionario di Storia
14. National Library of Israel Names and Subjects Authority File