Editing Carabinieri (section)

=== Early history ===
Inspired by the French [[gendarmerie]], the corps was created by King [[Victor Emmanuel I of Sardinia]] with the aim of providing the [[Savoyard state]] of the [[Kingdom of Sardinia (1720–1861)|Kingdom of Sardinia]] with a police corps. After French soldiers had occupied [[Turin]] at the end of the 18th century and later abandoned it to the Kingdom of Sardinia, the Royal Carabinieri Corps was instituted under the Royal Patents of 13 July 1814.<ref name=cab /> The name is derived from the French word ''carabinier'', meaning "[[soldier]] armed with a [[carbine]]."<ref>{{cite web | title=Origin and meaning of carabinieri| website=Online Etymology Dictionary | url=https://www.etymonline.com/word/carabinieri | access-date=2019-08-29}}</ref>

The new force was divided into divisions on the scale of one division for each province. The divisions were further divided into companies and subdivided into lieutenancies, which commanded and coordinated the local police stations and were distributed throughout the national territory in direct contact with the public.<ref name=cab />
[[File:Carb1875.jpg|thumb|Photo of a carabiniere around 1875. The 'Medal of Italian Independence' is worn, indicating a veteran of the [[Risorgimento]] (The Wars for Italian Unification).]]
In 1868, the [[Cuirassiers Regiment (Italy)|Cuirassiers Regiment]] or ''Corazzieri'' was formed, initially as a cavalry escort of honour for the sovereign, and since 1946 for the President of the Republic.<ref name=cab /> The Italian unification saw the number of divisions increased,<ref name=cab /> and on 24 January 1861, the ''Carabinieri'' were appointed the "First Force" of the new national military organization.<ref name=cab />
[[File:0 Chapeau de la grande tenue des Carabiniers italiens.JPG|thumb|Carabinier's bicorne.]]
In May 1915, Italian troops marched to encompass [[South Tyrol]], a territory of their former allies [[Austria-Hungary]], in the [[Italian Campaign (World War I)|Italian front]] . The defenders had sufficient time to prepare strong fortifications there, and at the [[Karst Plateau]] to the east. The Italians, under the overall command of General [[Luigi Cadorna]], found themselves repeatedly repulsed in harsh fighting. The role of the Carabinieri was to act as [[barrier troops]], setting up machine gun posts to control the rear of the attacking regiments and prevent desertion.<ref>{{cite book|last=Thompson|first=Mark|title=The White War|year=2009|publisher=Faber|location=London|isbn=978-0-571-22334-3|page=227}}</ref>