During the wars taking place on the Italian Peninsula in 1848 and 1849, Prince Ferdinando commanded an army division.

He was the most acceptable candidate to Britain and the British Minister in Turin informed him they would recognise him as king as soon as he took possession of the throne.

When the Sicilian deputation arrived to offer him the throne, he was absent from Royal headquarters as he was commanding a division in the army.

After Sardinia's defeat by the forces of the Austrian Empire commanded by Joseph Radetzky von Radetz he felt compelled to decline the opportunity to become King of Sicily.

[2] During the Crimean War he was to be appointed to command the Kingdom of Sardinia's auxiliary corps but his declining health meant he could not take up the posting.