Editing Charles Albert of Sardinia (section)

== Exile (1849) ==
[[File:Carlo Alberto in Oporto by Puccinelli.jpg|thumb|160px|Charles Albert in Porto during the exile. In his hands, he holds a work of Gioberti, whose Neo-Guelf ideas he shared. Painting by Antonio Puccinelli (1822–1897).]]
Charles Albert's eldest son became king of Sardinia as [[Victor Emmanuel II]] and agreed to an armistice with Radetzky on 24 March 1849 at Vignale, effectively obtaining more favourable terms than previously offered. The Austrians were to occupy [[Lomellina]] for a while and only half of the fort of Alessandria, with "permission" rather than "by right".<ref>{{harvnb|Bertoldi|pp=258–259}}</ref>

=== Voyage to Portugal ===
Charles Albert, however, had left Palazzo Bellini in Novara a few minutes after midnight on 23 March. His carriage travelled to [[Orfengo]] (on the road halfway between Novara and [[Vercelli]]), probably without any specific destination in mind, but after a little while he was stopped at an Austrian roadblock. Charles Albert identified himself as the Count of Barge (a title which he actually possessed) and a colonel of the Piedmontese army. General Georg Thurn Valsassina (1788–1866) interrogated him and it is not clear whether he recognized him or not. Having been confirmed as the Count of Barge by a captured sharpshooter (when asked "can you confirm that this is the Count of Barge?" the soldier responded, "He is the Count of Barge."), Charles Albert was allowed to pass and continued his journey to the southwest.<ref name =Dizionario-Biografico-Treccani/><ref>{{harvnb|Bertoldi|pp=260–265}}</ref>

The former king continued via [[Moncalvo]], [[Nizza Monferrato]], [[Acqui Terme|Acqui]], [[Savona]], [[Ventimiglia]] and [[Monaco]], which he reached on 26 March. At [[Nice]] in France, he dispatched instructions to organize his family affairs, without adding any information for his wife. On 1 April, he was at [[Bayonne]], near the Atlantic coast, and on 3 April he received a message from Turin in order to get him to legally confirm his abdication.<ref>{{harvnb|Bertoldi|p=266}}</ref>

Charles Albert continued through [[Torquemada, Palencia|Torquemada]], [[Valladolid]], [[León, Spain|León]], and [[A Coruña]], which he reached on 10 April, and which was the end of the carriage road. On horseback, suffering from illness, he reached [[Lugo]] on 15 April and entered Portuguese territory at [[Caminha]]. From there he went to [[Viana do Castelo]], [[Póvoa de Varzim]] and, finally, on 19 April, at noon, he arrived in [[Porto]].<ref name="archpitt">{{Cite book | title = Archivo pittoresco Volume XI | publisher = Castro Irmão & C.ª | year = 1868}}</ref> From there he may have planned to travel to America, but he was forced to stop because he had become ill with a liver complaint.<ref>{{harvnb|Bertoldi|pp=266–267}}</ref>

=== Final days in Porto ===
[[File:Carlo Alberto morte.jpg|thumb|left|The death of Charles Albert in a contemporary print]]
[[File:Pr Carlos Alberto placa (Porto).JPG|thumb|right|Charles Albert Square, Porto, Portugal]]
Once his arrival in Porto became known, Charles Albert was hosted at the ''Hotel do Peixe'', where he remained for two weeks, as his condition worsened. Then he accepted a new residence from a private individual on the ''rua de Entre Quintas'', with a view of the ocean. On 3 May, he hosted [[Giacinto Collegno|Giacinto Provana di Collegno]] and [[Luigi Cibrario]], who brought him greetings from the Piedmontese government.<ref>{{harvnb|Bertoldi|pp=268–269}}</ref> To them, he said: 
{{Blockquote|Despite my abdication, if ever a new war arises against Austria... I will come running immediately, even if only as a simple soldier, among the ranks of her enemies... I am equally raised up by the thought and the hope that... the day will come which I tried to bring about... The nation could have had a better prince than me, but not one that loved her more. To make her free, independent and great... I carried out every sacrifice with a happy heart... I sought death [in battle] and did not find it...|Charles Albert to Collegno and Cibrario, May 1849, in {{harvnb|Bertoldi|p=269}}}}

During this time, Charles Albert suffered from progressive decay, coughing and abscesses. He had two heart attacks, but the doctors considered the condition of his liver the most serious issue, for which the former king abstained from eating very much and fasted on Wednesdays. He read the letters and newspapers which arrived from Italy. He wrote occasionally to his wife, but regularly and with feeling to the Countess of Robilant. He forbade his mother, wife, and children from visiting.<ref>{{harvnb|Bertoldi|pp=270–271}}</ref>
[[File:Casale Monferrato-piazza Mazzini7.jpg|thumb|Equestrian statue of Charles Albert at [[Casale Monferrato]]]]
In the month after his arrival, his health had deteriorated irreparably. From 3 July, he was assisted by the doctor [[Alessandro Riberi]], whom Victor Emmanuel had sent from Turin. He was no longer able to get out of bed and coughing fits were ever more frequent. He passed the night of 27 July in great difficulty. On the morning of 28 July, he seemed better, but then deteriorated as a result of a third heart attack. The Portuguese priest don Antonio Peixoto, who had assisted him spiritually, met with him and administered [[extreme unction]]. Charles Albert whispered in [[Latin]], ''In manus tuas, Domine, commendo spiritum meum'' (Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit). He fell asleep with the crucifix on his chest and died at 3:30 in the afternoon, a little over 51 years old.<ref>{{harvnb|Bertoldi|pp=271–272}}</ref>

His body was embalmed and displayed in the [[Porto Cathedral|Cathedral of Porto]]. On 3 September, the ships, ''Mozambano'' and ''Goito'' arrived under the command of his cousin Eugene Emmanuel. On 19 September the corpse was brought on board the ''Monzambano'', which departed for Genoa that evening. It arrived on 4 October. The funeral took place in [[Turin Cathedral]] on 13 October, with [[Alexis Billiet]], Archbishop of [[Chambéry]], presiding along with five Piedmontese bishops, and was well-attended by the people. The day after, the body was solemnly interred in the crypt of the [[Basilica of Superga]], where it still lies.<ref>{{harvnb|Comandini, II|pp=1705, 1710, 1712, 1714}}</ref>