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1860 French annexation of Savoy
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Union of Savoy departments and Haute-Savoie
November 2024
thumb|400x400px|Chambériens brandishing French flags at the foot of the Château des Ducs when Savoie became part of France in 1860.
The term annexation of Savoy to France is used to describe the union of all of Savoy—including the future departments of Savoie and Haute-Savoie, which corresponded to the eponymous duchy—and the County of Nice, which was then an integral part of the Kingdom of Sardinia, with France (Second Empire) in 1860. This union is expressed in the French version of the Treaty of Turin.
Despite the country's history of occupation and annexation by various powers, including the French (from 1536 to 1559, from 1600 to 1601, 1689, and then from 1703 to 1713) and the Spaniards (from 1742 to 1748), the expression in question pertains to the "union" clause outlined in Article 1 of the Treaty of Turin of March 24, 1860. This clause concerns the joint rule of France and the Savoy during the Carolingian Empire. The expression is also used about the "union" clause in Article 1 of the Treaty of Turin of March 24, 1860,For a reading of the text of the Treaty of Turin (1860). which pertains to the historical fact that France and Savoy had been jointly ruled during the Carolingian Empire. This occurred on seven occasions: first, from 749; then, by France during the Revolution from 1792 to 1814; and finally, on five occasions by France between 1860 and 1947.
Terminology
Use of terms
The terminology employed to designate this period is variable, and four terms have become established in usage: "annexation", "union", "cession", and "attachment".
The words "annexation" and "union", preferred to "cession", were used during the 1860 debates by both supporters and opponents of union with the French Empire.Varaschin 2009 15–16 However, the term "union" appears in the text of the 1860 treaty. "Article One – His Majesty the King of Sardinia consents to the union of Savoy and the arrondissement of Nice." Indeed, it gives the impression that the populations consent to the decisions of the princes. Professor Luc Monnier, in his book L'Annexion de la Savoie à la France et la politique suisse (1932), notes: "They did not speak of annexing Nice and Savoy, but of consulting the wishes of these two provinces, a more elegant formula that respected propriety." Moreover, Count Cavour seems to have insisted on using the word "union" instead of "cession". The acceptance by the populations of this cession will be highlighted with the results of the April 1860 plebiscite, which marked the definition of the term in 19th-century Larousse: "the acquisition of a territory, a country, with the formally expressed adherence of the populations of that territory, that country".Larousse du xixe siècle 1 407 Annexion
The expression is frequently written with a capital "A", particularly in certain works. In his book, Histoire de la Savoie en images: images & récits, Christian Sorrel Christian Sorrel fr Christian Sorrel discusses using the capitalized "A" in the context of the region's history. He notes that the history of Savoy, on a large scale, is not exempt from these tensions, as evidenced by the ongoing debates surrounding the millennium of the dynasty, the Revolution, the Annexation, and the Resistance. These words, when capitalized, convey a sense of timelessness, stimulate the imagination, and rekindle passions, which can sometimes be contrived.Sorrel Christian Histoire de la Savoie en images 2006 6 fr
The term "union" was also employed during the fiftieth anniversary in 1910. However, during the centennial celebration in 1960, official documents used the term "attachment", which persists during the sesquicentennial celebrations.Lacharme 2001 Partie "II. Le débat mémoriel : la construction de la mémoire collective. A. La polémique sur les mots"For the cent-cinquantenaire, the 150 ans Pays de Savoie website archive only mentions the term rattachement in the joint editorial by the presidents of the General Councils of the two Savoie regions.Jeudy Jean-Marie https://books.google.com/books?id=pYnt7xNrKbUC&pg=PT423 Les mots pour dire la Savoie : et demain, j'aurai autre chose à vous raconter 2006 La Fontaine de Siloé 978-2-84206-315-3 Montmélian 422–423 fr https://web.archive.org/web/20230821181454/https://books.google.com/books?id=pYnt7xNrKbUC&pg=PT423#federation=archive.wikiwix.com&tab=url August 21, 2023 July 15, 2024 bot: unknown
Historians specializing in the theme from the Savoyard school of thought, such as Professors Jacques Lovie Jacques Lovie fr Jacques Lovie and Paul Guichonnet Paul Guichonnet fr Paul Guichonnet, employ the term "annexation." Italian authors, on the other hand, tend to use the term "cessione" ("cession"), which aligns more closely with the legal reality of the situation.
Local usages
The principal urban centers of Savoy have a thoroughfare designated as "Annexation Street." However, the designation is considerably more prevalent in the northern reaches of the regionIn Haute-Savoie, with Annecy and the towns near Switzerland such as Annemasse, Bons-en-Chablais, Rumilly, Sallanches, or Thonon-les-Bains. than in the south, where Chambéry, the erstwhile capital of the duchy, has renamed it "General-de-Gaulle Avenue".Viout 2001 63
History
Prelude: a secret agreement
left|thumb|Camille Benso, Count of Cavour, in official costume.
On July 21, 1858, Emperor Napoleon III and Camille Benso, Count of Cavour, President of the Council of the Kingdom of Piedmont-Sardinia, convened in secret at Plombières to deliberate the prospect of providing military and diplomatic assistance to the Kingdom of Piedmont-Sardinia in its conflict with the Austrian Empire. In return, they proposed the transfer of the Savoyard and Niçois territories to France. Subsequently, a treaty was signed in Turin on January 26, 1859, to formalize the Franco-Piedmontese alliance by Prince Napoleon Jérôme, who married Princess Clotilde of Savoy four days later.
However, on July 7, 1859, following the armistice of Villafranca, Napoleon III renounced Savoy, citing the failure to achieve the desired military objectives.Menabrea 2009 595 In their departure, the Savoyard population1 https://lelab.artsdelamarionnette.eu/?docid=62803 https://web.archive.org/web/20240715153401/https://lelab.artsdelamarionnette.eu/?docid=62803#federation=archive.wikiwix.com&tab=url July 15, 2024 fr July 15, 2024 bot: unknown greeted the French troops with enthusiasm for their support of the Italian cause. Witnessing the unraveling of his plans, Cavour was compelled to relinquish power, paving the way for the unpopular Urbano Rattazzi.
Debates on union with France
thumb|Victor Emmanuel II of Savoie.
From August 1859 to January 1860, Savoy was beset by uncertainty regarding its future. In response, liberals mobilized in favor of Savoy's attachment to their sovereigns. Concurrently, a pro-French annexationist party emerged, while in the north of the duchy, the idea of attachment to Switzerland arose.
On July 25, 1859, approximately twenty-five or thirty Savoyard individuals, lacking notable political or economic influence, primarily from Chambéry, led by Dr. Gaspard Dénarié Gaspard Dénarié fr Gaspard Dénarié and lawyer Charles Bertier,Menabrea 2009 339 editor-in-chief of the conservative newspaper Courrier des Alpes, presented an address to King Victor Emmanuel II of Savoy, requesting his consideration of the desires of the ducal province.
The very acts emanated from Your Government proclaim the foundation of an Italian nationality delineated by the Alps as well as by the race, customs, and language of those who are called to be part of it. The aforementioned conditions preclude Savoy from being considered Italian. Consequently, it is uncertain what the future holds for this region. We hope that Your Majesty, who has demonstrated a commitment to the Italian cause, will consider the interests of Savoy in a manner that aligns with its aspirations.Dardel G Et la Savoie devint française... 1960 Librairie Arthème Fayard 72–73 fr
The question words affirm a "Savoyard nationality," as the Revue des deux Mondes reported.Annuaire des deux mondes : histoire générale des divers États (Volume 9) 1860 222 fr This address was the subject of a petition throughout Savoy, marking the beginning of an opinion movement across the country, notably through the Savoyard, Turin, Geneva, and French press.
In the days that followed, on July 28, 1859, in Annecy, a group of approximately a dozen Savoyard deputies, all of whom identified as conservative Catholics, petitioned the government to address the material fate of the province of Savoy.Guichonnet 1982 127
The government of Urbano Rattazzi sought to mitigate the impact of the Courrier des Alpes by suspending its publication on August 3, 1859.Menabrea 2009 340 This was in response to the newspaper's call for the residents of Savoy to be granted the same nationality voting rights as those in central Italy. Following a period of suspension, the publication resumed on December 1.
thumb|Appeal from the Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne committee.
In August 1859, Count Cavour, who was on a period of rest in Switzerland, returned to the Kingdom of Sardinia via Savoy. He seized the opportunity to engage with prominent figures such as General Intendant Pietro Magenta,↑ Pietro Magenta (1807–1862) was a Piedmontese official. He ended his career as the vice-governor of Genoa. He was a commander of the Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus. While stationed in Chambéry, he strove to defend the idea that the duchy would never be abandoned. a democrat who had held the office in Chambéry since 1856 and was disliked by conservatives,Société savoisienne d'histoire et d'archéologie Mémoires et documents 1935 83 fr as well as anti-annexationists François Buloz, co-founder of the Revue des deux Mondes, and the liberal Albert Blanc, who published La Savoie et la Monarchie constitutionnelle. This visit was followed by that of the king's two young sons, but the reception remained polite, as noted by historians of the period, such as Henri Menabrea Henri Menabrea fr Henri Menabrea. However, the Revue des Deux Mondes, which was anti-annexationist, indicated that the reception given to these young princes had not been as cold as had been claimed, especially in the ultramontane papers of France. Mr. Albert Blanc had refuted this allegation in writing in which he had reduced the separatist movement of Savoy to its proper value.Annuaire des deux mondes : histoire générale des divers États (Volume 9) 1860 223 fr
In the period between December 1859 and January 1860, the government dispatched clandestine emissaries to ascertain the prevailing sentiment among the Savoyard populace regarding the proposed union with the French Empire. "All evidence leads to the conclusion that the Piedmontese regime is profoundly unpopular among the elites, the Church and the general population. The prospect of joining France, a prosperous and powerful country, represents a significant temptation for the Savoyards."Et la Savoie devint française ! https://www.ledauphine.com/et-la-savoie-devint-francaise--@/index.jspz?chaine=26&article=271798 https://web.archive.org/web/20100313070813/http://www.ledauphine.com/et-la-savoie-devint-francaise--@/index.jspz?chaine=26&article=271798#federation=archive.wikiwix.com&tab=url March 13, 2010 Le Dauphiné libéré fr July 15, 2024 bot: unknown
In Turin, Count Cavour returned to power on January 16, 1860, after six months of withdrawal, assuming the role of President of the Council. He was prepared to pursue the unification of Italy: "My task is more arduous and challenging than it was in the past. The objective of uniting the disparate elements that constitute Italy, of harmonizing the disparate regions of the country, presents as many difficulties as a war with Austria and the struggle for Rome."Hauser Henri Du libéralisme à l'impérialisme (1860–1878). Volume 17 de Peuples et civilisations Benaerts Pierre L'Huillier Fernand 1952 Presses universitaires de France 28 fr
The Swiss option
In February and March, petitions were circulated in the communes of Chablais and Faucigny,Guichonnet 1988 394 advocating for union with the Swiss Confederation. The petition stated: "A period of union with France spanned several years, and many still evoke a sense of nostalgia when contemplating that era. Since 1848, we have been closely allied with Piedmont. Nevertheless, despite our sympathies for either free Italy or France, other, more profound sympathies lead us to conclude that annexation to Switzerland is the optimal course of action. Indeed, such is our most fervent aspiration, rooted in our exclusive ties with Geneva, our commercial interests, and the myriad advantages that elude us elsewhere." This petition garnered 13,651 signatures across 60 communes of Faucigny, 23 of Chablais, and 13 surrounding Saint-Julien-en-Genevois (cited by Paul Guichonnet Paul Guichonnet fr Paul Guichonnet).It is also noted that some signatories have strange signatures: Messrs. Pain, Viande, Rotisseur, etc., or that some "idiots" affixed their signatures. Quoted from Monnier Luc L'annexion de la Savoie à la France et la politique suisse, 1860 1932 A. Jullien 98 frGuichonnet 1982 163
Those who advocated this solution included the attorneys Edgar Clerc-Biron and Joseph Bard,Joseph-Léandre Bard, born on September 3, 1818, in Bonneville, was a lawyer, and author of brochures on various questions of the period, indicated in the bibliography below. representing Bonneville, and Henri Faurax, representing Saint-Julien, as well as the surveyor Adolphe Bétemps, representing Thonon.Boisier 2003 157 Additionally, the idea was advanced in the Turin Chamber by the deputy Joseph-Agricola Chenal Joseph-Agricola Chenal fr Joseph-Agricola Chenal.His inclinations were also noted by the correspondent of the Journal de Genève in Turin: "(he) defends the Swiss cause with extraordinary perseverance. He is somewhat for Savoy what Garibaldi is for Nice. Unfortunately, everything related to the government only discourages these attempts. Messrs. Chenal and Garibaldi are represented by the ministerial world as extremists opposing inevitable necessities," quoted by Guichonnet 1982 234. However, the matter did not persist for an extended period. A limited number of newspapers outside the province disseminated the information. The Journal de Genève published the petition, and the Parisian newspaper La Patrie participated in the discourse by publishing a motion from Savoyards residing in the northern region of the duchy. The reaction of conservatives in favor of maintaining Savoyard unity was prompt, invoking the historical precedent of Bernese domination during the 16th century.
The prospect of a split of Northern Savoy prompted a response from some notable figures, including fifteen personalities from Chambéry. These included lawyer Charles Bertier, Dr. Gaspard Dénarié Gaspard Dénarié fr Gaspard Dénarié, Amédée Greyfié de Bellecombe Amédée Greyfié de Bellecombe fr Amédée Greyfié de Bellecombe, and deputies Gustave de Martinel Gustave de Martinel fr Gustave de Martinel, Timoléon Chapperon Timoléon Chapperon fr Timoléon Chapperon, and Louis Girod de Montfalcon Louis Girod fr Louis Girod de Montfalcon. De Montfalcon, among others, was supported by approximately forty individuals who published a Déclaration on February 15, 1860, denouncing the potential division of Savoy as a violation of its historical and cultural identity. They asserted that such a move would be detrimental to the region's pride and sense of national identity, and would be perceived as an insult to the deeply held values and aspirations of the Savoyard people. They would denounce any proposal for the fragmentation or division of the ancient Savoyard unity as a crime against the fatherland.de Saint-Genis Victor Flour https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k6576207s/f366.item.r Histoire de Savoie d'après les documents originaux depuis les origines les plus reculées jusqu'à l'annexion 1868 Bonne 3 354–355 fr https://web.archive.org/web/20240715153359/https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k6576207s/f366.item.r#federation=archive.wikiwix.com&tab=url July 15, 2024 July 15, 2024 bot: unknown Some of the signatories were present during the meeting with the Tuileries delegation.
On February 26, 1860, the French government rejected the notion of an autonomous Savoy.
thumb|350x350px|Sketch by M. Moulin, published in Le Monde Illustré, weekly newspaper, No. 155, March 31, 1860. Comment: "Reception of M. Amédée Greyfié de Bellecombe Greyfié de Bellecombe fr Amédée Greyfié de Bellecombe and the Savoy deputation by Their Imperial Majesties, in the Salon Louis XIV, at the Tuileries, Wednesday, March 21".
On March 1, 1860, Napoleon III proclaimed to the Legislative Body his intention to claim the gratuity agreed upon at Plombières, namely, the western slope of the Alps mountains,Beruard A Découvrir l'Histoire de la Savoie Châtel J Favre A Hudry Marius 1998 Centre de la Culture Savoyarde 978-2-9511379-1-2 156–157 fr comprising Nice and Savoy, in exchange for his support for Italian unity. On March 8, 1860, the divisional councils, convened in Chambéry, articulated a preference for the preservation of Savoy's territorial integrity, thereby rejecting the proposed partition of Savoy between Switzerland and France.
The treaty and the plebiscite
thumb|Medal celebrating the annexation of Savoy and the County of Nice.
On March 12, 1860, a clandestine preliminary convention was concluded in Turin, whereby the cession of Savoy and Nice to France was acknowledged. The principle of consulting the population was accepted.
The duchy's divisional councils convened and resolved to dispatch a delegation of 41 Savoyards (nobles, bourgeois, and ministerial officers) in favor of annexation.The delegation led by Count Amédée Greyfié de Bellecombe Amédée Greyfié de Bellecombe fr Amédée Greyfié de Bellecombe included, for the province of Chambéry, the deputy of Aix Gustave de Martinel Gustave de Martinel fr Gustave de Martinel, the provincial councilors Louis Bérard, Maurice Blanc, Ernest de Boigne Ernest de Boigne fr Ernest de Boigne, Barons Frédéric d'Alexandry d'Orengiani Frédéric d'Alexandry d'Orengiani fr Frédéric d'Alexandry d'Orengiani, and Louis Girod de Montfalcon Louis Girod de Montfalcon fr Louis Girod de Montfalcon, as well as Charles Bertier, Alexis Falcoz, Pierre-Louis Besson, lawyer Antoine Bourbon, Dr. Dardel, Jacques Prosper Degaillon, Charles François, Jacques Prosper Degaillon, Félix Gruat, Pierre Viviand, Savey-Guerraz, and the major of the National Guard Vuagnat. The province of Annecy was represented by deputies Albert-Eugène Lachenal Albert-Eugène Lachenal fr Albert-Eugène Lachenal, Joseph Ginet (Rumilly), Hippolyte Pissard Hippolyte Pissard fr Hippolyte Pissard (Saint-Julien), and Jacques Replat Jacques Replat fr Jacques Replat (Annecy), accompanied by Claude-Marie Bastian Claude Bastian fr Claude-Marie Bastian (the former deputy of Saint-Julien), Dufour, Barons Scipion Ruphy Scipion Ruphy fr Scipion Ruphy (Annecy) and Jules Blanc (Faverges), François Bétrix (director of the Bank of Savoy), Dr. Descotes, Magnin, Masset, Alexis Rollier. Note that Chablais, which was rather favorable to a rapprochement with neighboring Switzerland, only sent Édouard Dessaix, Félix Jordan, François Ramel, and Gustave Folliet. Quoted by Boisier 2003 190. This delegation was to be led by Count Amédée Greyfié de Bellecombe Amédée Greyfié de Bellecombe fr Amédée Greyfié de BellecombeSee the Amédée Greyfié de Bellecombe article for the speech delivered by the Count. and would receive a solemn reception at the Tuileries from the Emperor on March 21, 1860.
On March 24, 1860, the signing and later publication of the Treaty of Annexation, also known as the Treaty of Turin, occurred. The initial three articles delineated the stipulations of this annexation. Primarily, the term "annexation" was not employed; instead, the document referred to a "union" (Article I). Consequently, the call for the consent of the Savoyards and the organization of a plebiscite was made. Secondly, the Neutralized area of Savoie zone of Northern Savoy fr Zone neutralisée de Savoie, which had been previously neutralized, was guaranteed. The zone of Northern Savoy, guaranteed by the Treaty of Turin of 1816, was maintained (art. II). Finally, a mixed commission was established to determine the borders of the two states, considering the configuration of the mountains and the necessity of defense (art. III).
In April 1860, French senator Armand Laity Armand Laity fr Armand Laity (from April 4 to 28) commenced preparations for the plebiscite.Monnier Luc L'annexion de la Savoie à France et la politique suisse, 1860 1932 A. Jullien 279 fr French emissaries traversed the regions of Chablais and Faucigny to ascertain the sentiments of the local populations. Concurrently, the advantages of annexation were espoused, including the abridgment of military service, the dissolution of customs with France, the influx of inexpensive commodities, the influx of capital, the more equitable distribution of taxation, and, most significantly, the unification of a nation with a common linguistic heritage for the Savoyards. On March 28, 1860, French troops arrived in Chambéry.In his letter of March 28, 1860, "The annexation of Savoy," archive published on April 2, the correspondent of the Times reflecting the British point of view on the Annexation, describes the events and ends his letter with: "This morning, at half past nine, the first detachment of the French army [...] arrived from Saint-Jean de Maurienne. Tomorrow, the same number of soldiers is expected, until the entire regiment has arrived. Although the first French troops were only passing through [...] in Savoy last Friday, and even though everyone knew that it was not just a passage, but that they intended to stay, until this morning, one could still believe, to some extent, this fiction [...]. Not anymore! Chambéry, the capital of Savoy, is occupied by the troops of His Majesty the Emperor of the French." In the letter dated March 29, he adds: "You can put a cross on the map of Southern Savoy; it has been French since yesterday."
left|thumb|Plaque commemorating the vote in the formal courtroom of the Chambéry courthouse Chambéry courthouse fr Palais de justice de Chambéry.
The plebiscite was conducted on April 22 and 23, 1860. It was the inaugural universal suffrage election in Savoy, and voters were tasked with answering the question, "Does Savoy desire reunification with France?" As a historian elucidates, for Napoleon III, the objective was not to ascertain the citizens' opinion but to demonstrate that his policy enjoyed popular support. "Every effort was made to ensure that the vote results would align with the Emperor's expectations." The voting conditions would not be considered completely democratic in the present era. The ballot boxes were in the hands of the same authorities who had issued the proclamations. "Controls were impossible","Universal Suffrage In Savoy," archive The Times, April 28, 1860, as well as "Suffrage Universel en Savoie," archive Journal de Genève, May 3, 1860, by the Times correspondent who speaks of a vote as "the bitterest of ironies made to popular suffrage. The ballot boxes were in the hands of the same authorities who issued the proclamations. Controls were impossible. Even travelers were suspected and harassed for fear that they might meddle. Any opposition was repressed by intimidation, and any freedom of action was suppressed. One cannot blame the opposition for giving up; the forces used against them were too great. As for the results of the vote, we have no worries; it will be as brilliant as in Nice." observed one historian. Churches held masses and sang "Domine salvum fac Imperatorem" (Lord, save the emperor).Judgment made by Dr. Truchet of Annecy, a pro-annexation activist, on June 8, 1860. Notwithstanding considerable conservative exertions, the historian Paul Guichonnet Paul Guichonnet fr Paul Guichonnet posited that the annexation was "primarily the work of the clergy."Baud Henri 1985 Le diocèse de Genève-Annecy Éditions Beauchesne Histoire des diocèses de France fr 19 223 978-2-701-01112-7 13051758 Dr. Truchet of Annecy posited that had the six hundred Savoyard priests opposed the annexation, the result would have been near unanimous support for the measure. Guichonnet observed that the Savoyard clergy exhibited a stance that was "antithetical to Cavour's secular and pro-Italian orientation, espoused by the aristocracy and clergy, and guiding the politically uneducated rural masses."Guichonnet Paul July 16, 1978 De l'idylle au désenchantement (1860–1870) Le Messager fr
On April 29, the Court of Appeal of Savoy Court of Appeal of Savoy fr Cour d'appel de Chambéry (Chambéry) formally announced the results of the plebiscite.
Plebiscite April 1860TerritoryDateRecorded Voters Favorable to annexationVoted "Yes and Free Zone” Against annexation Abstention Null (including pro-Swiss)ArmySavoy22/23 avril The unanimity is almost total. The votes cast for the concerned area numbered 47,774. They are complemented by 232 "Yes" ballots, and only 132 "No" and 35 null ballots. Quoted by Raymond Justinien La Haute-Savoie sous la IIIe République : histoire économique, sociale et politique, 1875–1940 1983 Seyssel 978-2-903528-25-6 44 fr235env. 60071 sur Sources: Adapted from Henri Ménabréa/Paul Guichonnet, op. cit..
thumb|Celebration in Chambéry of the annexation of Savoy to France.
In most polling stations, there were no ballots marked "no."Mollaret Guillaume April 2010 Il y a 150 ans, les Savoies et Nice devenaient françaises Le Figaro 2 fr 20432 On April 28, 1860, the correspondent in Geneva for the British newspaper The Times described the referendum as "the greatest farce ever played in the history of nations." Contemporary scholars have posited that "a truly democratic vote would have yielded the same result, with perhaps less glorious but much more credible figures."le Maire Olivier April 20, 2010 Dans les coulisses du plébiscite https://www.lexpress.fr/societe/region/rhone-alpes/dans-les-coulisses-du-plebiscite_884207.html https://archive.wikiwix.com/cache/index2.php?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.lexpress.fr%2Fregion%2Frhone-alpes%2Fdans-les-coulisses-du-plebiscite_884207.html#federation=archive.wikiwix.com&tab=url August 27, 2011 L'Express fr
On May 29, 1860, the Turin chamber ratified the treaty of cession of March 24 by a vote of 229 in favor, 33 against, with 25 abstentions, and the Senate by a vote of 92 in favor, 10 against.de Saint-Genis Victor Flour Histoire de Savoie d'après les documents originaux 1869 La révolution, 1713 à 1860 3 366 fr On June 12, France ratified the treaty, and on June 14, 1860, it officially assumed control of the territory following the treaty signing.Chronologie http://www.150ans-paysdesavoie.fr/fr/histoire/chronologie2.html https://web.archive.org/web/20120120003542/http://www.150ans-paysdesavoie.fr/fr/histoire/chronologie2.html#federation=archive.wikiwix.com&tab=url January 20, 2012 Le Dauphiné libéré fr July 15, 2024 dead The following day, an imperial decree established the two departments of Savoy and Haute-Savoie.
Swiss supporters
thumb|Petition from the inhabitants of Sciez (Chablais) to join Switzerland.
On March 28, 1860, an armed delegation from Switzerland, led by the secretary of the foreign office, Jules-César Ducommun Jules-César Ducommun fr Jules-César Ducommun, and composed of French anti-Bonapartist refugees, departed from Geneva to join the town of Bonneville. The delegation, which had assumed the guise of Northern Savoyards, supporters of annexation to Switzerland, attempted to galvanize the inhabitants by proclaiming, "Let us extend our arms to this Swiss homeland that our ancestors dreamed of and that must bring us well-being and freedom. Long live Switzerland, our new homeland. Long live the Federal Constitution proclaimed this day in Northern Savoy as the only fundamental law of the country."Colonna D'istria Robert Histoire de la Savoie 2002 France-Empire 2-7048-0943-7 127 fr
thumb|Projet de réunion à la Suisse du Chablais et du Faucigny, on a map of neutralized Savois territory (assimilated to Switzerland in the event of war), 1863.
In Bonneville, the elections for the Turin parliament resulted in a resounding victory for the pro-French deputies. In response, the furious inhabitants hastily removed the Swiss flags and posters erected by the refugees. Consequently, the city authorities, seeking to circumvent a potential scandal, promptly invited the Genevans to return home at their earliest convenience.Cerisier Leguay Leguay 2005 128
thumb|Projet de rattachement du Chablais et du Faucigny à la Suisse en tant que nouveaux cantons / 40 km [=0.035 m]. – Winterthur: J. Wurster, [ca 1860].
On the following day, March 29, 1860, the radical Geneva deputy John Perrier, who was known as Perrier-le-Rouge and had previously worked as a goldsmith, accompanied by an armed Swiss delegation, went to Thonon-les-Bains intending to incite an uprising. However, upon their arrival, they were met with insults and jeers from the local inhabitants. They sought refuge in Évian-les-Bains but were subsequently expelled and removed from the premises aboard the vessel designated "Italy," which was bound for Lausanne. The authorities of Chambéry and Annecy denounced the "maneuvers of all kinds in the city of Geneva and outside, aimed at detaching the provinces of Chablais, Faucigny, and even part of Annecy from the old Savoyard family." Upon his return to Switzerland, John Perrier was arrested. He was imprisoned in Geneva for 67 days before being released without conviction.Favrod Justin 2014 Quand Perrier fit une folie http://passesimple.ch/Extrait0.php Passé Simple, Mensuel romand d'histoire et d'archéologie fr https://web.archive.org/web/20180115184551/http://passesimple.ch/Extrait0.php#federation=archive.wikiwix.com&tab=url January 15, 2018 July 15, 2024 bot: unknown
Swiss neutrality dispute
Article 92 of the Final Act of the Congress of Vienna of 9 June 1815, clarified by Article 3 of the Treaty of Paris of 20 November 1815, granted Switzerland the right to occupy the northern Savoy provinces of Chablais and Faucigny in wartime to protect its neutrality. Additionally, three free trade zones were established: the French zone around Gex, based on Article 1 of the Treaty of Paris of 20 November 1815, covering 396 km²; the Sardinian or Savoyard zone, based on Article 3 of the Treaty of Turin of 16 March 1816, covering 151 km²; and the small area of Saint-Gingolph, established by the Sardinian Chamber of Accounts on 9 September 1829. These measures ensured Geneva’s economic and defensive viability after joining the Swiss Confederation in 1815.Stöckli Rita https://hls-dhs-dss.ch/de/articles/007072/2011-02-18/ Savoyerhandel Historisches Lexikon der Schweiz 2011 Basel German Savoy Trade 2025-09-13Stöckli Rita https://hls-dhs-dss.ch/de/articles/007072/2011-02-18/ Savoyerhandel Historisches Lexikon der Schweiz 2011 Basel German Savoy Trade 2025-09-13
In early 1860, the Swiss ambassador in Paris, Johann Konrad Kern, negotiated to annex Upper Savoy to Switzerland. The French Foreign Minister stated that, in the event of the uncertain annexation, which required a vote by the Savoyards, the Emperor, sympathetic to Switzerland, would cede Chablais and Faucigny as Swiss territory. Federal Councillor Jakob Stämpfli, Federal President in 1859 and Head of the Military Department in 1860, distrusted this statement and demanded written guarantees. The radical wing of the Liberals, to which he belonged, launched a campaign for the military occupation and annexation of Upper Savoy. Opinions diverged on whether military action or tolerance of territorial negotiations better upheld neutrality, both in public and within the government, where Federal Councillor Friedrich Frey-Herosé advocated a non-military solution. Public willingness for war was lower than during the Neuchâtel Affair, which had seen a popular movement to counter Prussian intervention.Bouquet Jean-Jacques https://hls-dhs-dss.ch/de/articles/007073/2009-04-23/ Chablais Historisches Lexikon der Schweiz 2009 Basel German 2025-09-13
The Federal Council convened the Federal Assembly for an extraordinary session on 29 March, requesting authorisation to use "all necessary means" to maintain the status quo until an agreement was reached, with the proviso that the Assembly be reconvened before further military mobilisation. The National Council and Council of States approved the motion on 3–4 April, after committees chaired by moderate liberals Alfred Escher and Jakob Dubs met with six of the seven Federal Councillors, who assured no military faits accomplis and a continued pursuit of diplomacy with France. Jakob Stämpfli alone refused this assurance. On 30 March, 150 guerrilla fighters, including Genevans and Savoyards, hijacked a steamboat and landed in Évian. They were promptly escorted back by regular Swiss forces.Règlement sur les zones franches Free Zone Regulations https://www.ge.ch/ 2025-09-07 Système d'information législatif du Grand Conseil (SIL Genève) French
A Swiss historian noted:Overall, cooler-headed representatives of commerce and industry from eastern Switzerland dealt the Federal Council a resounding defeat. Had they not intervened, Switzerland would have faced war with France and Sardinia without allies, entering the conflict divided. Switzerland had the right to occupy Savoy temporarily during wartime for neutrality, but not in peacetime, and lacked sovereign rights there. Prohibiting Sardinia from selling the land and preventing France from taking possession was untenable, especially as Napoleon had agreed to accept the servitude. Incorporating Upper Savoy into Switzerland would have bolstered neutrality by securing the Lake Geneva basin, but this opportunity was lost.Neutralität Neutrality https://www.eda.admin.ch/ 2025-09-07 Schweizerische Eidgenossenschaft, Eidgenössisches Departement für auswärtige Angelegenheiten (EDA) GermanBitterness in Switzerland persisted, with many accusing Napoleon III of breaking his word and manipulating the election. The government intensified active service to prevent further provocations by Swiss and Savoyard irregulars. In autumn 1860, Friedrich Frey-Herosé narrowly won re-election. In Zurich, an election initiative led by Gottfried Keller opposed the followers of Alfred Escher and Jakob Dubs in the National Council, but it failed. On 9 November 1870, during the Franco-Prussian War, the Federal Council considered occupying northern Savoy militarily. Although international law permitted this for defensive purposes if neutrality was violated, Alfred Escher emphasized in Parliament that such action was unwarranted, and the proposal was rejected. Switzerland did not recognise the annexation, leaving the Savoy question unresolved. It was discussed at the Versailles Peace Conference in 1919, when the free trade zone was abolished, and brought before the International Court of Justice in The Hague several times until 1932.Guichonnet Paul Histoire de l'Annexion de la Savoie à la France La Fontaine de Siloé 1998 978-2-84206-113-5 Montmélian History of the Annexation of Savoy to France
Savoy under the Second Empire
thumb|Napoleon III Emperor (by Nadar)
thumb|-Well, my little Savoyard, what have you done with your white mouse?...'-But here she is, Madame... she's French now, and has taken up the national colors! (by Cham – 1860).
It is on behalf of the emperor that I welcome you into the great French family, which is happy and proud to open its ranks to you. Merged with ours, your interests will henceforth be the constant concern of the sovereign who has elevated the glory and prosperity of France so high. Declaration by Armand Laity, posted after the proclamation of the plebiscite results.Guichonnet 1988 595
To commemorate the event, a series of traditional celebrations were held in the rural and urban communities of Savoy over several days. From August 27 to September 5, the French emperor, accompanied by Empress Eugénie, undertook a triumphant journey through the recently annexed French province.Chronologie http://www.150ans-paysdesavoie.fr/fr/histoire/chronologie2.html https://web.archive.org/web/20120120003542/http://www.150ans-paysdesavoie.fr/fr/histoire/chronologie2.html#federation=archive.wikiwix.com&tab=url January 20, 2012 150 years of the Pays de Savoie website. fr July 15, 2024 dead The imperial couple was greeted in Chambéry, Annecy, Thonon, Chamonix, Évian-les-Bains, Sallanches, Aix-les-Bains, and Bonneville with military parades, regional costume parades, organized balls, and lake promenades. On September 3, 1860, the Empress proceeded to the Bossons glacier and the Montenvers passed on a mule, subsequently continuing to the Mer de Glace.Lovie 1967
The new administration
The Savoyard province was subdivided into two departments, each comprising multiple districts. In 1860, the province population was 542,535, with 267,496 residing in Haute-Savoie and 275,039 in Savoy.
79% of the population lived in agriculture,
80.8% of Haute-Savoie's inhabitants lived in localities with fewer than 2,000 souls,
84.5% of Savoy's inhabitants lived in localities with fewer than 2,000 souls.
Hippolyte Dieu Hippolyte Dieu fr Hippolyte Dieu, who had previously served as secretary of the provisional government of 1848 and as the inaugural prefect of the Savoy region, was the prefect of Chambéry. He was responsible for managing the financial affairs of the two departments. He was a pragmatic individual who directed that circulars be sent to the municipalities to explain the new institutions before meeting with municipal councilors and implementing French laws.
Gustave-Léonard Pompon-Levainville Gustave-Léonard Pompon-Levainville fr Gustave-Léonard Pompon-Levainville, the prefect of Haute-Savoie, promptly relinquished his post at the prefecture of Annecy to Anselme Pétetin Anselme Pétetin fr Anselme Pétetin (first class) from Haute-Savoie.Amoudry Michel Quel avenir pour la Savoie ? 2003 Éditions Cabedita 2-882-95368-2 Espace et horizon fr 417458002
The new ecclesiastical organization
thumb|Bishop Alexis Billiet.
Furthermore, the Church was obliged to comply with French ecclesiastical legislation, including the number of dioceses and the maintenance of civil status registers. On March 30, 1860, Bishop Billiet penned a missive to the emperor, in which he stated:
Sire, the clergy of Savoy has always considered it a duty to set an example of loyalty to its sovereign. Its disposition on this point has not changed. Since the cession made by King Victor-Emmanuel became certain, it has been very honored to be annexed to this France where the most sincere and enlightened Catholicism in the world reigns. I would, however, venture to state to Your Majesty two things that might cause some concern: the presumed reduction of dioceses and civil marriage opposed to the purity of Catholic morality. It would even be desirable for our current civil status legislation to be maintained at least provisionally, and I can assure Your Majesty that the registers are generally better kept by the educated priests than they will be by sometimes ignorant mayors. Letter from Bishop Alexis Billiet to Emperor Napoleon III.Lovie 1967 132
A transitional regime was permitted to acknowledge the legitimacy of civil marriage and the maintenance of civil status registers until the demise of the current holders. Four prelates were designated to the archdiocese of Chambéry and the bishoprics of Annecy, Moûtiers, and Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne. Bishop Alexis Billiet was elevated to the rank of Cardinal to circumvent potential disputes that might arise from the abolition of six feast days, including that of Saint Francis de Sales.
At the behest of the King of Sardinia, Napoleon III consented to establish a religious office at Hautecombe Abbey, operating under the aegis of the Archdiocese of Chambéry. This tradition, initiated by Charles-Félix of Savoy, served to commemorate the princes of the erstwhile royal family of Savoy. The religion of the Order of the Consolata of Turin was supplanted by the Cistercian Order of Sénanque (Vaucluse).Cahiers d'Histoire (Revue) 1969 83–85
The new military organization
The Savoy Brigade of the Sardinian army was disbanded, and a significant number of officers opted for Piedmont. Some, who remained loyal to the Sardinian king, chose to retain their advantages and traditions. These included General Luigi Federico Menabrea and Admiral Simone Arturo Saint-Bon, who is regarded as the founder of the Italian ironclad navy.The "Admiral Saint-Bon" prize is an award given to institutions that preserve the memory of the Savoyard sacrifice.
Those Savoyard soldiers who elected to serve in the French military were assembled in the 103rd line infantry regiment, stationed in Sathonay, near Lyon, and Châlons-sur-Marne. Some Savoyards were transferred by lottery to the 22nd military division, based in Grenoble. Of these, over 10% were draft dodgers. In contrast to the Piedmontese military service, which lasted 11 years, the French service lasted only seven years.
The new justice
Since the reunification of Savoy in 1860, the guillotine has been employed on only one occasion in Savoy and Haute-Savoie, with the courts increasingly favoring penal servitude for criminal cases, particularly following the enactment of the 1888 penal code. Before the annexation, the Sardinian authorities appointed magistrates aligned with their policy preferences to positions within the public prosecutors' offices and courts. Charles-Albert Millevoye, attorney general and former prosecutor of Nancy, was dispatched by the French administration to reorganize the nascent institutions. He retained the local magistrates but undertook a comprehensive reorganization of the public prosecutors' offices. With the June 12, 1860, decree, French penal and criminal procedure laws became applicable in Savoy. Before the annexation, the high jurisdiction was composed of three chambers:
A civil chamber,
A chamber of appeal for the correctional police,
An indictment chamber.
The initial configuration of the legislative body involved the consolidation of the first two chambers, resulting in a single chamber for some time. The courts of first instance were established in Chambéry, Albertville, Moûtiers, and Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne, with a single judge presiding over each district. These developments were met with resistance from the legal profession and the magistrates in place, who collectively opposed the new French institutions.Bossy Anne-Marie Les Grandes Affaires Criminelles de Savoie 2007 Editions de Borée 978-2844945037 fr
The Court of Appeal of Chambéry was maintained and remains the sole appellate court in France, along with the Council of state.Buttin Anne 1983 Le souverain Sénat de Savoie L'Histoire en Savoie fr 69
The new economic life
Industry
Before the annexation of 1860, the region's heavy industry was virtually non-existent. The industry typical of any mountainous province was that of Savoy, which was therefore ill-suited to large-scale industrial development. Instead, the focus was on local activities. Nevertheless, some mining areas employed approximately twenty workers each in Saint-Georges-des-Hurtières in Maurienne, Randens, Argentine, and Peisey-Macôt, with the vast majority of production being sold to Piedmont. On November 30, 1863, the Cluses watchmaking school was designated a state school by decree. Agricultural machinery and wire from Sallanches gained some reputation.Cahiers d'histoire, Volumes 18–19 1969 Comité historique du centre-est, Centre national de la recherche scientifique (France), Université de Clermont-Ferrand.I., Université des sciences sociales de Grenoble, Université de Lyon II 219 fr Industrial installations in the Faucigny province, powered by traditional hydraulic force, were listed in a survey conducted by deputy Charles-Marie-Joseph Despine Charles-Marie-Joseph Despine fr Charles-Marie-Joseph Despine (1792–1856) before his death. The survey, which was recorded and exploited in 1860, included 162 sawmills, 39 hammer mills and forges, 11 nail factories, and other similar facilities. However, wool-spinning mills were not included in the survey.Paquier Serge L'eau à Genève et dans la région Rhône-Alpes : xixe – xxe siècles 2007 L'Harmattan 978-2-296-04482-1 45 fr
In the municipalities of Modane, Saint-Michel-de-Maurienne, and Bozel, the exploitation of anthracite yielded a total of over 6,000 tons of ore in 1861. The cities of Chambéry, Annecy, and Aix-les-Bains used lignite as an energy source, and over 2,300 businesses employed hydraulic energy, primarily on a private basis. Some artisanal industries were forced to cease operations, such as the 67 nail workshops in the Bauges, which employed 380 individuals and exported 140 tons of nails. Seven years later, only 18 local businesses with approximately a hundred employees remained.
Agriculture
The isolation and lack of capital that characterized the region of Savoy resulted in a delay in the growth of agriculture. Despite this, local competitions were organized with the support of the newspapers Le Savoyard and Le Propagateur. Over time, exchanges were established with the French market, which led to the Tarine cows gaining recognition at the Lyon exhibition in 1861 and the Moulins competition in 1862.
The designation of the Tarine breed, initially proposed at the Moûtiers competition in 1863, was subsequently recognized by the relevant authorities in 1864. This recognition led to an increase in the sale of this livestock, valued for its resilience and high milk production. New techniques gradually supplanted the mules of Faucigny and small farms of less than five hectares. The conservation of the Waters and Forests of Chambéry and Annecy has been in effect since January 1861, with the advent of "forest ranger" officials. The cultivation of vines on small, heterogeneous plots yielded low yields, with vineyards producing fine wines such as "Roussette," "Mondeuse," or "Persan."
Transport
The Mont-Cenis railway tunnel was inaugurated in 1857 by King Victor Emmanuel II of Savoy. Construction was completed in 1871,Narrow gauge railway of the "Fell" type, where the locomotive is pulled by a central rail and a system of rollers. at the advent of the Third Republic. The Mont-Cenis railway tunnel became an essential link for the transportation of goods and passengers between Italy and France, including trains carrying automobiles. Until the opening of the Fréjus road tunnel in 1982, the Mont-Cenis pass was the primary route between Savoy and Italy.
Additional railway sections were constructed, connecting Grenoble to Montmélian in August 1864 and Aix-les-Bains to Annecy in July 1866.
Archives
thumb|One of the lithographs depicting the town of Chambéry, commissioned by Emperor Napoleon III.
During the 1860 annexation, the Sardinian government relocated many historical documents from Chambéry Castle to Turin. These included feudal titles, estate registers, and ecclesiastical inventories. Following a claim by the French government, Italy returned these documents in 1950. The archives of the former Duchy of Savoy are now stored in the departmental archives of Savoy and Haute-Savoie.de Saint-Genis Victor Flour istoire de Savoie d'après les documents originaux 1869 24–28 fr
To demonstrate to the Parisian bourgeoisie the newly attached provinces of Savoy, Napoleon III commissioned approximately thirty color lithographs portraying the landscapes and towns of the region.Archives départementales de la Savoie – Patrick Stoppiglia Nice et Savoie, sites pittoresques, monuments, description et histoire http://www.savoie.fr/archives73/expo_nice_et_savoie/index.htm October 19, 2009 savoie.fr https://web.archive.org/web/20160303170645/http://www.savoie.fr/archives73/expo_nice_et_savoie/index.htm 2016-03-03 fr
Celebrations
Fiftieth anniversary in 1910
thumb|Plaque commemorating the 50th anniversary of the annexation of Savoie, on the façade of Chambéry town hall.
Festivities in the region marked the fiftieth anniversary of the annexation of Savoy.Viout 2001 57–66Troncy Antoine La Savoie 1900–1920 Troncy Laurence 2001 Editions de Borée 2-84494-040-4 Mémoire d'hier fr 144 et seq fr
In March, a delegation of mayors from the region of Savoy was received at the Élysée Palace at the invitation of the president of the French Republic, Armand Fallières. On September 3, he visited Savoy, accompanied by Minister of Education Gaston Doumergue and General Brun, minister of war. They were greeted in Chambéry by Antoine Perrier Antoine Perrier fr Antoine Perrier, Vice President of the Senate and President of the General Council of Savoy General Council of Savoy fr Conseil départemental de la Savoie, and the List of mayors of Chambéry city's mayor fr Liste des maires de Chambéry, Dr. Ernest Veyrat. On September 4, 1910, the president proceeded to the city of Aix-les-Bains and used the Mont-Revard railway Mont-Revard cog railway fr Chemin de fer du Mont-Revard.Fouger François 2005 L'importance des sociétés de chemin de fer dans le développement de la première station de ski française, le Mont-Revard http://www.insitu.culture.fr/article.xsp?numero=&id_article=d3-1090 In Situ, revue des patrimoines fr https://archive.wikiwix.com/cache/index2.php?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insitu.culture.fr%2Farticle.xsp%3Fnumero%3D%26id_article%3Dd3-1090#federation=archive.wikiwix.com&tab=url September 23, 2022 January 3, 2021 He also made an excursion to Chamonix to view Mont Blanc.
On April 3, 1867, the Société Philanthropique SavoisienneJonnard Martine L'Histoire en Savoie 1983 Société savoisienne d'histoire et d'archéologie Montmélian 31–32 fr Migrants et émigrés and the Union des Allobroges held a celebratory event at the Trocadéro in Paris,Germain Michel Annecy et son lac autrefois Jond Gilbert 2000 La Fontaine de Siloé 2-84206-140-3 La chronique de l'autrefois fr attended by 6,000 individuals.Zeldin Theodore Histoire des passions françaises, 1848-1945 : orgueil et intelligence (Volume 1 ) 1994 Payot 978-2-228-88762-5 Paris 506 fr
Centenary in 1960
In 1960, the centenary of the annexation was commemorated in Savoy and Paris. On this occasion, there was a notable shift in semantics, whereby the event was no longer referred to as the Annexation, but rather the Attachment.
To organize the centenary of Savoy's attachment to France, the two Savoyard departments established a committee comprising local personalities. This committee was headed by Antoine Borrel Antoine Borrel fr Antoine Borrel, a former minister and the committee's honorary president, and Louis Martel (politician, 1899–1961) Louis Martel fr Louis Martel (homme politique, 1899–1961), a former deputy and the committee's president.They are associated with the general commissioner of this committee, Maurice Faure (1900–1988), regional director of Customs, president of the Literary and Artistic Home of Chambéry and the Academy of Savoy, and placed under the patronage of the prefects Maurice Grimaud, for Savoy, and Raymond Jacquet, for Haute-Savoie, as well as the presidents of the general councils of Savoy, Jules Bianco, and the senator Arthur Lavy Arthur Lavy fr Arthur Lavy, president of that of Haute-Savoie.
The festivities encompassed a multitude of formal and informal gatherings across both jurisdictions.www.sabaudia.org http://www.sabaudia.org/v2/chronologie.php https://web.archive.org/web/20120723123728/http://www.sabaudia.org/v2/chronologie.php#federation=archive.wikiwix.com&tab=url July 23, 2012 fr July 15, 2024 bot: unknown Almanach du Vieux Savoyard 1961 frLacharme 2001Viout 2001 217–249 In commemoration of the Christmas season of 1959, a Christmas tree was presented to the Paris City Hall.
Nevertheless, the most noteworthy events pertained to the pivotal episodes of the 1860 annexation. On March 24, 1960, the anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Turin, the ringing of church bells in Savoy commenced at noon. On the following day, two commemorative postage stamps were released.See the French stamps 1960 stamps issued in 1960 in France fr Timbres de France 1960 and the link below. From March 26 to 28, mayors from the region of Savoy visited Paris, where they were received by Prime Minister Michel Debré.Sorrel 2006a 454–455 From April 8 to 12, the 85th National Congress of Learned Societies was held in Chambéry and Annecy. On April 12, the recently renovated Annecy Castle served as the venue for a gathering of members of List of Savoyard learned societies Savoyard learned societies fr Liste de sociétés savantes de Savoie. In celebration of the "plebiscite" on April 22 and 23, a series of festivities were held, accompanied by the bells ringing in various Savoyard parishes. On April 29, the date of publication of the plebiscite results, local newspapers published reproductions of the results. A solemn audience was held in the presence of the minister of justice, Edmond Michelet. In Chambéry, a reading of the April 29, 1860, decree was conducted.
To commemorate the treaty ratification on June 12, Sunday was designated a "national holiday" by the authorities, and the bells were rung once more. A commemorative plaque was affixed to the Chambéry City Hall. On June 26, the streets of Chambéry hosted a historical parade with 500 participants, dedicated to Béatrice of Savoie.Viout 2001 233–235 Throughout the following summer, numerous popular festivals continued the centenary theme, sometimes with illuminations like the one on July 1 at the Nivolet cross.
Ultimately, the festivities concluded with the visit of General de Gaulle, President of the French Republic, to Savoy from October 8 to 10.Viout 2001 237–245
The economic region of the Alpes, which was established in 1956 by the two departments of Savoie and Isère, was subsequently incorporated into the Rhône-Alpes region.
150th anniversary in 2010
In commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the annexation, the local authorities of Savoy and Haute-Savoie, in collaboration with learned societies and associations, organized a series of historical conferences, university colloquia, exhibitions, and other events to reach other departments. Additionally, a commemorative website was established for the two departments.
Some events, including the carnival, the Chambéry Exhibition Centre Savoy Fair fr Parc des expositions de Chambéry, the Saint-Vincent festival, the mountain trades festival, and the Bel-Air art festival Bel-Air festival fr Rencontres artistiques de Bel-Air,November 11, 2009 Un an de commémoration à Chambéry http://www.la-vie-nouvelle.fr/actualite/viewArticle.php?idArticle=1246 https://web.archive.org/web/20140820022911/http://www.la-vie-nouvelle.fr/actualite/viewArticle.php?idArticle=1246#federation=archive.wikiwix.com&tab=url August 20, 2014 La Vie nouvelle fr July 15, 2024 dead adopted the theme of the annexation. Concerts were performed by the Orchestre des Pays de Savoie in some locations in the region.
On March 8, the Assembly of the Pays de Savoie (APS) convened with the presence of Senate President (France) Senate President fr Président du Sénat (France) Gérard Larcher and National Assembly President Bernard Accoyer, who also serves as the mayor of Annecy-le-Vieux.
On March 29, La Poste issued a commemorative stamp for the "Attachment of Savoy to France – Treaty of Turin 1860."March 26, 2010 La Poste édite un timbre pour le 150e anniversaire du traité de Turin http://www.ledauphine.com/savoie/2010/03/26/savoie-la-poste-edite-un-timbre-pour-le-150e-anniversaire-du-traite-de-turin https://web.archive.org/web/20240715153402/https://www.ledauphine.com/savoie/2010/03/26/savoie-la-poste-edite-un-timbre-pour-le-150e-anniversaire-du-traite-de-turin#federation=archive.wikiwix.com&tab=url July 15, 2024 Le Dauphiné libéré fr July 15, 2024 bot: unknown
On April 21, President Nicolas Sarkozy participated in the plebiscite celebration in Chambéry.April 22, 2010 Nicolas Sarkozy vient célébrer la Savoie française https://www.ledauphine.com/1860-2010-le-president-de-la-republique-commemore-aujourd-hui-nicolas-sarkozy-vient-@/index.jspz?article=292357 https://web.archive.org/web/20100529104230/http://www.ledauphine.com/1860-2010-le-president-de-la-republique-commemore-aujourd-hui-nicolas-sarkozy-vient-@/index.jspz?article=292357#federation=archive.wikiwix.com&tab=url May 29, 2010 Le Dauphiné libéré fr July 15, 2024 bot: unknown
On June 12, all the bells of the churches of the Pays de Savoie rang at noon to celebrate the June 12, 1860, union with France.
On July 14, the French national holiday, the 10th stage of the Tour de France started from the Savoyard capital.
In this year of celebration, on June 6, 2010, Deputy Yves Nicolin posed a question regarding "the significant legal, political, and institutional risks posed by the annexation treaty of Savoy: Whether the annexation treaty of Savoy of March 24, 1860, was registered with the United Nations Secretariat and, if not, what measures the government is taking to address the subsequent legal issues."Question n°76121 d'Yves Nicolin et réponse du ministère des Affaires étrangères http://questions.assemblee-nationale.fr/q13/13-76121QE.htm https://web.archive.org/web/20240828141238/https://questions.assemblee-nationale.fr/q13/13-76121QE.htm#federation=archive.wikiwix.com&tab=url August 28, 2024 National Assembly website. fr July 15, 2024 bot: unknown The Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs responded a few days later, on the 15th. The Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs has confirmed that the aforementioned treaty remains in force. Although the Treaty of Turin of March 26, 1860, is required to be registered with the United Nations Secretariat under Article 44 of the Treaty of Paris of February 10, 1947, the absence of such registration has no bearing on the treaty's existence or validity. This response differs from the argument put forth by Jean de Pingon, the founder of the Savoie League, which was subsequently adopted by Fabrice Bonnard.March 25, 2010 La France hors la loi La Vie Nouvelle frJune 19, 2010 Il m'a dit : t'es pas cap ?! http://www.lavoixdesallobroges.org/politique/234-yves-nicolin-explique-le-pourquoi-de-sa-question-au-gouvernement https://web.archive.org/web/20171002022322/http://www.lavoixdesallobroges.org/politique/234-yves-nicolin-explique-le-pourquoi-de-sa-question-au-gouvernement#federation=archive.wikiwix.com&tab=url October 2, 2017 La voix des Allobroges fr July 15, 2024 dead October 1, 2010 La Savoie : une colonie comme les autres ? Vidéo https://www.lavoixdesallobroges.org/politique/281-rencontres-avec-fabrice-bonnard-et-jean-francois-peronnier https://web.archive.org/web/20171002070411/http://www.lavoixdesallobroges.org/politique/281-rencontres-avec-fabrice-bonnard-et-jean-francois-peronnier#federation=archive.wikiwix.com&tab=url October 2, 2017 La voix des Allobroges fr July 15, 2024 bot: unknown June 6, 2011 Conférence Fabrice Bonnard YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74eNOHy3sTo https://web.archive.org/web/20241214194034/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74eNOHy3sTo#federation=archive.wikiwix.com&tab=url December 14, 2024 fr July 15, 2024 bot: unknown
The annexation in nationalist discourse
Savoyard nationalism
After the centenary celebrations, many Savoyards were reportedly disappointed with the scale and scope of the festivities. Some mayors who had traveled to Paris expected to be received by President de Gaulle, but this did not happen. However, he did visit Chambéry in October 1960.Sorrel 2006a 454 In 1965, the Club des Savoyards de Savoie Club des Savoyards de Savoie fr Club des Savoyards de Savoie, the inaugural significant identity and regionalist movement in Savoy, was established. This identity dynamic reached its zenith during the deliberations surrounding the establishment of new communities in 1972, which culminated in the formation of the Savoy Region Movement and the discourse surrounding the potential creation of a Savoyard region. This could be attributed to the disillusionment of certain individuals or to the pride that these festivities instilled in Savoyards, which provided an opportunity to reaffirm a distinct identity within the broader French context.
More recently, the Savoy League has gained momentum in contesting the Treaty of Turin of 1860, challenging the annexation. This movement is sometimes referred to as "disannexionist."On the homepage of the first site of the Savoyard League, it is stated: "Savoy is one of the oldest nations in Europe. It was attached to France in 1860 by a treaty of annexation. France has not respected the clauses of this annexation treaty (neutral zone and free zone). The Savoyard League, created in 1994, became within less than a year the main force of proposal in Savoy. It has restored the history to the Savoyard People and based its audience on the demonstration of the nullity of the 1860 annexation treaty." On notre.savoie.free.fr http://notre.savoie.free.fr/defaultv2_f.htm https://web.archive.org/web/20240416022653/http://notre.savoie.free.fr/defaultv2_f.htm#federation=archive.wikiwix.com&tab=url April 16, 2024 July 15, 2024 bot: unknown In October 2020, a demonstration was held which claimed that the 1860 treaty had been invalid since 1940.Pueyo Thomas October 5, 2020 En Savoie, des indépendantistes proclament la création d'un Etat souverain https://www.leparisien.fr/societe/la-savoie-declare-l-independance-05-10-2020-8396952.php https://web.archive.org/web/20201009234019/https://www.leparisien.fr/societe/la-savoie-declare-l-independance-05-10-2020-8396952.php#federation=archive.wikiwix.com&tab=url October 9, 2020 October 13, 2020 Le Parisien fr bot: unknown
See also
Italy
Treaty of Turin (1860)
Neutralized Zone of Savoy
Related articles about neighboring countries
View of Italy: the Unification of Italy, the House of Savoy's policy of unifying the Italian peninsula, Italian irredentism in Savoy.
View of France: the Second Empire.
View of the Swiss Confederation: the Switzerland as a federal state
Notes
References
Bibliography
General works
Sorrel Christian Histoire de la Savoie en images : images & récits 2006a La Fontaine de Siloé 2-842-06347-3 Les Savoisiennes fr
Cerisier Emmanuel Thérèse Leguay et Jean-Pierre Leguay, Histoire de la Savoie Leguay Thérèse Leguay Jean-Pierre 2005 Éditions Jean-paul Gisserot 2-877-47804-1 Paris fr
Boisier Régine Adrien : fils de paysan, appelé l'aristo 2003 La Fontaine de Siloé 2-842-06213-2 fr
Delaloye Gérard Un Léman suisse : la Suisse, le Chablais et la neutralisation de la Savoie (1476-1932) 2002 Éditions Cabedita 2-882-95345-3 Archives vivantes fr
Viout Jean-Olivier Chambéry au fil d'un siècle : 1900-2000 2001 La Fontaine de Siloé 2-842-06154-3 Les Savoisiennes fr
Mayeur Jean-Marie La Savoie Sorrel Christian Hilaire Yves-Marie 1996 Beauchesne 2-701-01330-5 8 Paris fr
Edighoffer Roland La Savoie 1992 PUF 978-2-130-44838-9 Que sais-je? fr
Guichonnet Paul Histoire de la Savoie 1988 Univers de la France et des pays francophones. Série Histoire des provinces fr
Cahiers d'Histoire (Revue) La Savoie. Des origines à nos jours 1969 PUF Lyon fr
Menabrea Henri Histoire de la Savoie La Fontaine de Siloé 2009 9782842064280 fr 1933
Works on the Annexation
Guichonnet Paul Comment la Savoie se rallia à la France 1960 SILP La Savoie française fr
Guichonnet Paul Histoire de l'annexion de la Savoie à la France et ses dossiers secrets 1982 Éditions Horvath 978-2-71710-235-2 Roanne fr
Guichonnet Paul Histoire de l'Annexion de la Savoie à la France. Les véritables dossiers secrets de l'Annexion 1998 La Fontaine de Siloé 978-2-84206-113-5 Les Savoisiennes fr
Guichonnet Paul Chemins d'histoire alpine 1997 Mélanges dédiés à la mémoire de Roger Devos Annecy 383–402 fr Le plébiscite d'annexion de la Savoie (1860) Une relecture critique
Dardel Geneviève Et la Savoie devint française... 1960 Librairie Arthème Fayard Paris fr
1960 Revue de Savoie Centenaire 1860–1960 fr 1–2
Coll Mémorial de Savoie. Le Livre du Centenaire 1860–1960, publié sous les auspices du Comité d'organisation des fêtes du Centenaire du Rattachement de la Savoie à la France 1959 Presse des Imprimeries Réunies de Chambéry fr
Lovie Jacques La Savoie dans la vie française de 1860 à 1875 1967 Presses universitaires de France fr Paris
Mareschal François L'annexion de la Savoie à la France. Le grand artisan du rattachement de la Savoie à la France, un noble Savoyard : Greyfié de Bellecombe 1957 Imprimerie Allier fr
Monnier Luc L'annexion de la Savoie à France et la politique suisse, 1860 1932 A. Jullien fr
Sorrel Christian https://books.openedition.org/enc/325?lang=fr Se donner à la France ? Les rattachements pacifiques de territoires à la France (xive – xixe siècle) 2013 Publications de l’École nationale des chartes 978-2-35723-031-6 Études et rencontres Paris 105–121 fr Deux « réunions » pour un destin français : la Savoie de 1792 à 1860 https://web.archive.org/web/20241214191155/https://books.openedition.org/enc/325?lang=fr#federation=archive.wikiwix.com&tab=url December 14, 2024 July 15, 2024 bot: unknown
Sorrel Christian La Savoie et l'Europe, 1860–2010 : dictionnaire historique de l'Annexion 2009 La Fontaine de Siloé 978-2-842-06471-6 Les Savoisiennes Montmélian fr
Varaschin Denis Aux sources de l'histoire de l'annexion de la Savoie 2009 Peter Lang 978-9-052-01570-5 fr
Post-Annexation works
Bard Joseph La vraie solution de la question de Savoie 1871 Geneva fr
Bard Joseph Le Chablais et le Faucigny ou La Savoie neutralisée 1860 Geneva
Bard Joseph Histoire de l'annexion de la Savoie 1860 Bonnant Geneva
Engels Friedrich Écrits militaires. Violence et constitution des états européens modernes 1970 Karl Marx, Friedrich Engels, éditions L'Herne 449–490 fr La Savoie, Nice et le Rhin
Pétetin Anselme https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k58158616 De l'annexion de la Savoie 1859 Achille Bourdilliat Paris fr https://web.archive.org/web/20240715153400/https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k58158616#federation=archive.wikiwix.com&tab=url July 15, 2024 July 15, 2024 bot: unknown
Book on protest
de Pingon Jean Savoie française. Histoire d'un pays annexé 1996 Editions Cabédita 978-2-88295-184-7 Archives vivantes Yens-sur-Morges 204 fr 41454888
External links
Entry in a dictionary or general encyclopedia: Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse http://www.hls-dhs-dss.ch/textes/f/F006641.php https://archive.wikiwix.com/cache/index2.php?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.hls-dhs-dss.ch%2Ftextes%2Ff%2FF006641.php#federation=archive.wikiwix.com&tab=url July 12, 2024 fr
Institutional
May 3, 2010 L'Annexion de la Savoie en 1860 http://www.justice.gouv.fr/histoire-et-patrimoine-10050/la-justice-dans-lhistoire-10288/lannexion-de-la-savoie-en-1860-22400.html May 17, 2015 www.justice.gouv.fr https://web.archive.org/web/20150318013014/http://www.justice.gouv.fr/histoire-et-patrimoine-10050/la-justice-dans-lhistoire-10288/lannexion-de-la-savoie-en-1860-22400.html 2015-03-18 fr
Palluel-Guillard André La Savoie de 1815 à 1860 https://www.sabaudia.org/ https://web.archive.org/web/20121228092456/http://www.sabaudia.org/#federation=archive.wikiwix.com&tab=url December 28, 2012 November 4, 2011 www.sabaudia.org fr bot: unknown
Collectif January 15, 2015 Savoie https://hls-dhs-dss.ch/fr/articles/006641/2015-01-15/ https://web.archive.org/web/20240715153359/https://hls-dhs-dss.ch/fr/articles/006641/2015-01-15/#federation=archive.wikiwix.com&tab=url July 15, 2024 Historical Dictionary of Switzerland fr bot: unknown
Others
Lacharme Amandine 2001 La Savoie au miroir du Centenaire de son Rattachement à la France : mémoire de fin d'étude soutenu à l'Institut d'étude politique de Lyon http://doc-iep.univ-lyon2.fr/Ressources/Documents/Etudiants/Memoires/MFE2001/lacharmea/these.html December 4, 2011 iep.univ-lyon2.fr fr
Cerri Alain 150 ans de l'Annexion de la Savoie http://150ans.savoie.info/ https://web.archive.org/web/20120101120513/http://150ans.savoie.info/#federation=archive.wikiwix.com&tab=url January 1, 2012 November 4, 2011 fr bot: unknown
Roche-Galopini Gisèle 2001 1860. La ré-union de la Savoie à la France https://1851.fr/apres/savoie/ https://web.archive.org/web/20191118165128/https://1851.fr/apres/savoie/#federation=archive.wikiwix.com&tab=url November 18, 2019 November 4, 2011 Association 1851 pour la mémoire des résistances républicaines fr bot: unknown
Cerri Alain Histoire de la Savoie. Journal de bord d'une Annexion, d'un rattachement, d'une réunion http://alain.cerri.free.fr/index7.html https://web.archive.org/web/20130126071148/http://alain.cerri.free.fr/index7.html#federation=archive.wikiwix.com&tab=url January 26, 2013 November 4, 2011 fr bot: unknown
Contests
Ligue savoisienne 2002 L'annexion n'est pas légitime http://notre.savoie.free.fr/pro1_f.htm https://web.archive.org/web/20120204060853/http://notre.savoie.free.fr/pro1_f.htm#federation=archive.wikiwix.com&tab=url February 4, 2012 December 4, 2011 notre.savoie.free.fr bot: unknown
Etat de Savoie Le Plébiscite de 1860 https://etat-de-savoie.com/presentation/le-plebiscite-de-1860/ https://web.archive.org/web/20240715153400/https://etat-de-savoie.com/presentation/le-plebiscite-de-1860/#federation=archive.wikiwix.com&tab=url July 15, 2024 etat-de-savoie.com bot: unknown
Savoy
Category:History of Savoy
Category:Savoyard state
Category:Italian unification