Efisio Cugia

Efisio Cugia di Sant'Orsola (27 April 1818 in Cagliari – 13 February 1872 in Rome) was an Italian general and politician.

Military career Born into a family of Sardinian nobility, he embarked on a military career. After completing his studies at the :it: Accademia Reale di Torino, he was appointed Second Lieutenant in the artillery. In 1848 he participated in the first Italian War of Independence and on May 30, in the battle of Goito, he was wounded, which earned him a silver medal of military valor. He went on to earn a second at the battle of Novara.

General in 1860, he was chosen as chief of staff of the army corps; appointed on 12 December of the same year as director for war affairs in southern Italy, relinquishing this post to Genova Giovanni Thaon di Revel when Vittorio Emanuele II, assigned him instead the position of extraordinary commissioner in Sicily, which he held until 21 August 1862.

In 1866 he commanded the VIII Division at the Battle of Custoza as a lieutenant general. Subsequently, up to his death in 1872, Cugia held the office of first aide-de-camp to the then crown prince, and later king, Umberto I.

He was Prefect of Palermo, in charge of infantry and cavalry weapons during the ministry led by Manfredo Fanti.

He then served as Minister of War in the second Ricasoli government from 22 August 1866.

Cugia died in Rome on 13 February 1872. He was buried in the family chapel in the monumental cemetery of Bonaria in Cagliari.

Honours