Victor Amadeus II of Sardinia

Victor Amadeus II (b.May 14 1666-d.October 31 1732) was the Duke of Savoy (1675-1720, 1730-1732). His mother Marie Jeanne Baptiste was the regent from 1675 to 1684. He first became king of Sicily (1713-1718), he was forced to exchange this title and instead became king of Sardinia (1720-1730).

Internal Reforms

Victor Amadeus II undertook sweeping administrative reforms within Savoy-Piedmont. In 1696 he established a system of intendents, based on the French model, responsible for collecting taxes and law enforcement. In 1697 he began a land survey which was largely completed by 1711, the Perequazione, to examine the land holdings and privileges of the Church and nobility. In 1717 he reformed the secretariat system in Turin establishing individual secretaries for war, internal affairs and foreign affairs. From the 1670s he also had a new administrative zone built in Turin, around the ducal palace. This zone included a military academy, the ministry of war, a mint and a customs house, this work was still ongoing upon his death.

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Victor Amadeus also undertook a number of military reforms. In 1690 he established a select militia within his territories, he later overhauled the militia system in 1714 and strictly codified it. From 1713 he also began to establish his own navy based on the limited Sicilian naval forces he had been granted.

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