The custom of the Vendetta is frequently practiced, though not to the same extent as in Corsica. • IEstory.—Saedinia, at first called by the Greeks /chnusa and Sandatiotis (from its resemblance to a human foot-print), and afterward Sirdu by the 'Romans, was colo nized at a very early period. The first really historical event is its conquest. about 480 D.C., by the Carthaginians, who, during their occupation, rendered the island a cele brated corn-producing country. They were forced to abandon it to the Romans (238 B.c.). who gradually subdued the rebellious natives, and made it a province of the republic; but on three several occasions formidable outbreaks required the presence of a consul with a large army to restore the authority of Home. From this time it was held as at subject province, and on account of its value as the "granary of Home," was care fully protected from invasion. It fell into the hands of the Vandals and other bar barians. and was recovered by the eastern empire in 534 A.D., but was finally separated front the Homan empire by the Saracens They were driven out in their turn by the Pistil's, one of whose deputy-e•overnors, being supported by the Genoese, oLtained the erection of Sardinia into a kingdom (1154) by Frederick I. The popes. had long
claimed a right of suzerainty over the island, gave it, iu 1296, to James 11. of Aragon; and it continued in the possession of Spain till 1708, when it was taken possession of by the British. and by the peace of. Utrecht (1713) it was yielded to Austria. In 1730 Aus tria gave it to the duke of Savoy in exchange for Sicily, and it has since that time .formed apart of the dominions of the house of Savoy. When Sardinia Came to the house of Savoy, two-thkds of it belonged to barons of Spanish descent, and the most of the remainder to the clergy, who also levied a tithe on the whole produce;' • for a century afterward it was shamefully neglected by the govern merit:.. However, iu 1836 and 1837, patrimonial rights and compulsory labor were abblishect; and in 1838 and 1847 the peasants were freed from the rest of the vexatious imposts whh which they were burdened. In 1847 the vice-royalty was abolished, arid Sardinia incorporated with the Sardinian kingdom (q.v.). It i at present divided into two provinces or eapos—Cagliari in the s., containing 5,236 English sq.m., with a pop. of (1871) 393,208: and Sassari in the n., containing Englidi sq.m., with a pop. of (1871) 243.452. Cagliari is the capital.