Editing Charles Albert of Sardinia (section)

=== Opposition to "Young Italy" ===
[[File:First meeting between Giuseppe Garibaldi.jpg|thumb|The meeting of [[Giuseppe Mazzini|Mazzini]] and [[Giuseppe Garibaldi|Garibaldi]] at the headquarters of "Young Italy" in Marseille 1833. Both of them plotted against Charles Albert and his kingdom and were condemned to death ''in absentia''.]]
At the time of Charles Albert's ascent to the throne in 1831, there were riots in Rome, the [[carbonari]] revolt of [[Ciro Menotti]] in Modena, and an insurrection in [[Bologna]] and [[Parma]] which led to the flight of [[Francis IV, Duke of Modena|Francis IV]] and [[Marie Louise, Duchess of Parma|Marie Louise]]. Austria was able to restore order and Charles Albert decided that his alliance with the Habsburgs was essential. The Kingdom of Sardinia was also troubled by the plots of revolutionaries in these years, and even by an attempted invasion. In April 1833, in Genoa, two low-ranking officers were arrested for a scuffle and it was discovered that they belonged to [[Giuseppe Mazzini]]'s [[Young Italy (historical)|Young Italy]]. They supplied various names and investigations were expanded to other garrisons. Charles Albert, who considered Mazzini's association the "most terrible and bloody", ordered the investigation to continue until it got to the bottom of the matter, acting in accordance with the law but with the utmost severity.<ref>{{harvnb|Bertoldi|pp=187–191}}</ref>

In the end, twelve people were executed by firing squad, and two committed suicide in jail. Twenty-one were condemned to death but could not be executed because they had escaped or, like Mazzini, had been abroad the whole time. Charles Albert granted no pardons, and the ambassadors of France and Britain in Turin protested at court about the severity of the punishment and the lack of any mercy. The King of Sardinia showed his gratitude to the investigators by granting honours to those who had played a leading role in the repression.<ref>{{harvnb|Bertoldi|pp=192–194}}</ref>

Since the insurrections had failed, Mazzini began to plan a military expedition. In 1834, he attempted to organize a force in [[Switzerland]], which would attack [[Savoy]] (then part of the [[Savoyard state]]) and the population would simultaneously rise against the king. But information about this plan was leaked and Charles Albert arranged an ambush.<ref>He wrote to Francis IV of Modena in November 1833, "I am tired of the state of anxiety that "Young Italy" keeps me in, with its repeated threats of invasion, doubting that there is anything its members won't do... given that the Great Powers have decided not to eliminate the evil at the root, I ordered a secure agent, about six weeks ago, to encourage the heads of "Young Italy" to organize a movement against me, letting them think that a major in the [[Fenestrelle Fort]] shared their views. Then they arrived there in great numbers with [[Gerolamo Ramorino|Ramorino]], Mazzini, [Carlo] Bianco [di Saint Jorioz], and their other major leaders: ... the possibility of going there myself with considerable forces in a few hours, induces me to attempt this trick in order to capture their major leaders..."</ref> The invasion, undertaken on 2 February 1834, failed completely. This was partly due to disorganization, and partially to Swiss efforts to prevent Mazzini's expedition. Only a few conspirators attacked a barracks in [[Les Échelles]]. Two of them were captured and executed by firing squad. [[Carabinieri|Carabiniere]] {{ill|Giovanni Battista Scapaccino|it}} was killed in the process, and to honour him Charles Albert instituted the first gold medal in Italian history. Meanwhile, [[Giuseppe Garibaldi]], who was preparing to lead a rising in the city, received a report that it was all over and fled. He was condemned to death ''in absentia''.<ref>{{harvnb|Bertoldi|pp=194–198}}</ref>