Charles-Albert of Sardinia

Training of the future king

His/her father was regarded as a noble liberal, opponent with his cousin the titular king. In 1800, it nevertheless is off-set in France by Napoleon Bonaparte then main of the north of Italy. Charles-Albert is put in pension at Geneva, at Vaucher, a disciple of Jean-Jacques Rousseau, then with the College of Bourges and finally with Paris, where it is touched by the revolutionary ideas. He there draws liberal ideas and impassions himself for the independence of the Italy. Named second lieutenant of the dragon S by Napoleon I {{er}} in 1814, it is withdrawn in the fields of its family after the Congrès of Vienna which recognizes it as hereditary prince of Sardinia in the absence of legitimate descendants of the elder branch of the Maison of Savoy.

In 1817, it marries Marie-Therese of Tuscany (girl of the large-duke Ferdinand III of Tuscany), with which it has three children:

Victor-Emmanuel II (1820 - 1878) which succeeds to him,
Marie-Christine (1826 - 1827), and
Ferdinand (1822 - 1855), duke of Genoa, father of the future queen Marguerite (in the honor of which was baptized a receipt of Pizza: Margherita).

It orders artillery of king de Sardaigne when the insurrection of 1821 bursts. He plays a part of first importance when following the abdication of Victor-Emmanuel Ier of Sardinia, he becomes regent (March 13rd 1821) instead of the new king, Charles-Felix, then with Modena. He proclaims at once a constitution, inspired by that of the the Cortes of Spain of 1812, and institutes a provisional Junte; but, as of (March 21st), it is forced to withdraw itself in front of the Austrian intervention.

Exiled in Tuscan, it remains a long time in disgrace. In 1823, to make forget its liberal actions, it takes part in the Expédition of Spain, intended to reduce the rebellion of the Spanish liberals. It is named in 1829 viceroy of Sardinia.

The king

Succeeding the king Charles-Felix of Sardinia deceased without posterity in 1831, it operates useful reforms, creates a Council of State, reconstitutes the provincial councils. It makes write a complete code of civil and criminal laws (inspired of the Napoleonean codes) and reorganizes the army.

In October 1847, it decides the publicity of the legal debates and the creation of a court of appeal.

From now on the registry office is responsibility for the communes. The municipal councils are elected and of the provincial assemblies are made of notable selected which manage the provinces under the authority of the royal intendants.

He encourages agriculture. Industry develops (raw silk manufactures, of wool with Biella, cotton, chemicals in Turin. In 1848, the railroad connects Turin to Montcallieri.

In 1846, it strongly lowers the customs duties. He encourages sciences.

In Savoy in 1836, it makes join together the boroughs of Conflans and the Hospital in only one city, which takes the name of Albertville in its honor.

It abolishes the feudal system, all measurements which make it pleasant to the national party and modernizes the kingdom.

But, it is shown much less favorable to the cause of the Liberté: in 1831, it refuses to hear Mazzini which requires of him to be put at the head of the movement of unification of the Italy. It makes repress with strength (about fifteen executions) risings of Chambéry, of Turin, Genoa and Alexandria. In 1834, the republican Garibaldi is proscribed.

However, after the Revolution of February 1848, returning to the ideas of its youth, it abolishes the absolute monarchy. It grants on its subjects the March 4th 1848, the Statut albertin , Constitution of the Sardinian Kingdom, marked by the liberal and democratic ideas: share capacity between the king and two assemblies, one named by the king, the other elected by the vote censitaire (system copied from the French constitution of 1830). This constitution remains (formally) into force until the Italian Constitution of 1948. It adopts the Tricolor (that of the République cisalpine) and names Cesare Balbo like Prime Minister.

He openly embraces the cause of the independence and the unit of the Italy and supports his weapons the insurgent people of Lombardy, of Venezia, duchies of Parma and Modena.

He obtains initially brilliances success, beats the Austrians with Pastrengo (April 30th 1848), with Goito (May 30th), with Rivoli (June 10th), with Sommacampagna (July 24th), removes Pizzighettone, Peschiera; but, badly assisted by the troops lombardes, it is in its beaten turn with San-Donato and Custozza by the marshal Radetzky (August 4th), is seen forced to evacuate Milan precipitately, where it misses being made prisoner, and must request an armistice with Salasco (Piedmont) on August 9th, 1848.

Yielding to the requirements democrats, victorious elections of January 1849, it imprudently starts again the war with the expiry of the armistice (March 14th, 1849); but it tests nothing any more but reverses: March 21st it loses, in spite of wonders of value, the battle of Novare. March 23rd he abdicates in favor of his son Victor-Emmanuel II, which signs on March 24th the armistice of Vignale. He expatriate, and dies on July 28th, 1849, with Oporto with the Portugal, following a long illness.

Of this deeply religious prince, one could say: “ It fought as hero, it lived as a monk and died as a martyr. ” It encouraged the letters and sciences, and published in its expenses the Monumenta historiss fatherlands , Turin, 1838, etc `

See too

Partial sources

Baron Alphonse Balleydier, Turin and Charles-Albert , 1848
Charles-Albert Costa de Beauregard, a Heir apparent, the youth of king Charles-Albert (1888); Prolog of a reign, the youth of king Charles-Albert (1889); Epilog of a reign. Milan, Novare and Oporto, last years of king Charles-Albert (1890)

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