Prayer Booklets: Elegy for King Charles Albert and a Prayer for the Success of His Son, King Victor Emmanuel [2]. ...

Prayer Booklets: Elegy for King Charles Albert and a Prayer for the Success of His Son, King Victor Emmanuel [2]. Italy, 1849, 1866

* Elegy upon the death of the king of Sardinia, written to be recited by a choir of children in the great synagogue in Torino: "LaMnatzeach al machalat l'anot upon the death of the dear King Carlo Alberto," by Rabbi Hillel Cantori, Torino, 1849. 

 

Specifications: [4] leaves including cover leaves, paper. 15x23 cm. Hebrew and Italian on facing pages. 

 

Unique Features: The elegy before us praises the king for the judicial system which he organized and for his wars: "His chair is founded on justice ... he called for freedom, established a constitution, all were equal in it ... hero! He fought against a brazen nation ...." The elegy ends with shattering cry upon the King's death and a prayer for the success of his son, King Victor.

 

Background: Charles Albert, king of Sardinia (1798-1849), who reigned from 1831 onward, established a new constitution and went out to war to unify Italy in 1848. As a result of a decisive military defeat by the Austrians in 1849, he was forced to abdicate and died in exile in Portugal in that same year.  

 

* Prayer for the success of the Italian armies. Livorno, 1866.

 

Specifications: [6] leaves, paper. 15x21 cm. Hebrew and Italian on facing pages. Blue cover paper.

 

Unique Features: Patriotic prayer for the success of the Italian armies, and for the success of the King of Italy, who were fighting a heroic war to free all of greater Italy from foreigners in the name of freedom and liberty. "Then the men of war girded their loins and arose like one entity ... led by their king ... and they are currently fighting to expel the enemy from the entire country and to reinstate the glory of Italy as in previous years ... and Victor Emmanuel, who was chosen by the Italian people to reign over them, will rise up like a lion to defeat his enemies. May he accomplish and be successful in everything he does, and not return until he has expelled the foreigners from the entire country of Italy ...." The prayer is based on an earlier version from 1859.

 

Background: Victor Emmanuel II (1820-1878) - king of Sardinia from 1849 who took action to unify Italy and was appointed as the first king of the united kingdom of Italy beginning in 1861.

 

Condition: Both booklets are in fine condition. Fold mark along the entire length of the booklet.