The need to strengthen the naval line, but at the same time to contain costs in relation to the appropriations, led to the planning, assigned to the inspector of the Genio Navale Giacinto Pullino, of battleships of displacement more limited than that of the "King Umberto", but with balanced characteristics.
Set in the two-year period 1893-1894 with a displacement of only 9800 t, speed of 18 nodes and main armament of four cannons from 254 / 40 mm and various secondary armament, they turned out to be good units of medium displacement even if at the entrance into service they proved to be inferior as features to contemporary foreign battleships so much that they were considered by various experts as a new type of large armored cruiser.
Source: Military Navy
