Event Details |
Sa Die de Sa Sardigna
10/ 2/Apri
Sa Die de Sa Sardigna
The various events connected to the festival, are organized throughout the island every year on April 28th to recall the “Sardinian Vespers”, that is the popular revolt of 28 April 1794, when the Piedmont governors were thrown away from Cagliari and viceroy Balbiano, after the Turin government’s refusal to meet the island’s request. The Sardinian people were asking for a reserve in the military and civil jobs, and greater autonomy in the decision of the local running class. The Piedmontese government refused to accept any request, therefore the town middle-class, with the help of the rest of the population, set off the insurrection.
The rebellion had already started during the 1780s and continued during the ‘90s throughout the island. There were economic and political reasons. Behind the popular discontent was the fact that Sardinia had been involved in the war of revolutionary France against the European countries, and consequently against Piedmont.
In 1793, a French fleet had tried to seize the island, landing at Carloforte and later in Cagliari. The Sards resisted strongly with every available means, in defence of their land and of the Piemontese people who then dominated Sardinia. Such resistance had impressed the French, therefore a certain recognition was expected, especially some form of reward from the Sabaudian government due to the loyalty showed to the Crown.
The spark which ignited the rebellion was the capture of two political leaders, Cagliari’s attorneys Vincenzo Cabras and Efisio Pintor, ordered by the viceroy. On April 28th 1794, the enranged people decided to send away viceroy Balbiano together with all Piedmontese people, who were forced to embark on ships during the month of May, and sent back home. Urged by the incidents in Cagliari, the towns of Alghero and Sassari did the same.
