Editing Charles Albert of Sardinia (section)

==Reactionary period (1821–1831)==
[[File:Carlo Alberto principe ritratto equestre.jpg|upright=0.9|thumb|Charles Albert, Prince of Carignano in a French [[Lithography|lithograph]] of the period]]
At midnight on 21 March 1821, Charles Albert secretly departed from the Palazzo Carignano. His departure was not discovered by the revolutionaries until the next day. From [[Rondissone]], on 23 March he made for [[San Germano Chisone|San Germano]], from which he intended to travel to Novara, which remained loyal to the king. At Novara he remained for six days before a dispatch arrived from Charles Felix on the 29th, ordering him to depart immediately for Tuscany.<ref>{{harvnb|Bertoldi|pp=103–106}}</ref>

=== Florence ===
On the afternoon of 2 April 1821, the prince arrived in Florence. His wife and son, who had been in France, followed on the 13th. The Prince's father-in-law, Grand Duke Ferdinand III granted them the [[Palazzo Pitti]] as a residence.<ref>{{harvnb|Bertoldi|pp=109–110}}</ref> In May, Charles Felix, who had successfully secured Austrian assistance to restore order, met with Victor Emmanuel I at [[Lucca]]. The two discussed Charles Albert's conduct for a long time and, although the new queen [[Maria Cristina of Naples and Sicily|Maria Christina]] spoke in his defence, they decided that he was responsible for the conspiracy.<ref>{{harvnb|Bertoldi|pp=116–118}}</ref>

As a result of this decision and the circumstances, Charles Albert decided to disavow his liberal ideas, especially as Charles Felix had entertained the idea of eliminating him from the line of succession and passing the crown straight to his son Victor Emmanuel. Charles Felix asked the opinion of [[Metternich]] on this, who was unexpectedly opposed to the idea.<ref>{{harvnb|Bertoldi|p=119}}</ref>

On 16 September 1822, the infant Victor Emmanuel barely escaped from a fire in his cot, exposing the tenuous nature of the line of succession, which was taken out of danger by the birth of a second son, [[Prince Ferdinando, Duke of Genoa (1822–1855)|Ferdinand]], on 15 November. In Florence, Charles Albert cultivated various cultural interests. He became a collector of old books, but was also interested in contemporary authors, acquiring the poetry of [[Alphonse de Lamartine]] and the conservative [[Joseph de Maistre]].<ref>{{harvnb|Bertoldi|pp=135–136, 149}}</ref>

=== Spanish Expedition ===
{{See also|Hundred Thousand Sons of Saint Louis}}
[[File:Carlo Alberto eroe del Trocadero.jpg|upright|thumb|left|Charles Albert as a hero of the [[Battle of Trocadero]]]]
[[File:Carlo Alberto Trocadero 1823.jpg|200px|thumb|Charles Albert in the assault on Trocadero. From a miniature donated by King [[Charles X of France]].]]
At the beginning of 1823, Duke [[Louis Antoine, Duke of Angoulême]] assumed command of the French expeditionary force which the European powers had entrusted with the task of suppressing the [[Trienio Liberal|liberal revolution in Spain]] and restoring King [[Ferdinand VII]] to the Spanish throne after he had been captured by Spanish revolutionaries in Cadiz. Charles Albert wished to demonstrate his penitence and therefore asked to be part of the contingent. He wrote to Charles Felix on this subject for the first time on 20 February 1823, but only received permission to depart on 26 April.<ref>{{harvnb|Bertoldi|pp=123–125, 127–128}}</ref>

On 2 May, Charles Albert embarked on the Sardinian frigate ''Commercio'' at [[Livorno]], which arrived in [[Marseille]] on 7 May. The next day, Charles Albert set out, arriving in [[Boceguillas]] on the 18th. By the time he arrived there, he had been assigned to the division of the French General [[Étienne Tardif de Pommeroux de Bordesoulle|Étienne de Bordesoulle]]. on the 24th, he arrived at [[Madrid]], where he remained until 2 June, and then he set out for the south. At a clash with the enemy during the crossing of the [[Sierra Morena]], he demonstrated courage and the French made him a member of the [[Legion of Honour]]. He proceeded to [[Córdoba, Spain|Córdoba]], [[Utrera]], [[Jerez de los Caballeros]] and [[El Puerto de Santa María]], where he waited for the order to attack the fortress of Cadiz, the [[Isla del Trocadero|Trocadero]], which was the last remaining refuge of the Spanish constitutional government.<ref>{{harvnb|Bertoldi|pp=128–131}}</ref>

At the end of August 1823, with the French fleet aiding from the sea, the troops [[Battle of Trocadero|launched an assault on the Trocadero]]. Charles Albert fought at the head of the troops crossing the canal—the sole point of entry to the fortress. He plunged into the water holding the flag of the 6th regiment of the royal guards, forded the canal and leapt into the enemy trenches. He sought to prevent the enemy prisoners from being killed,<ref>{{harvnb|Bertoldi|pp=140–141}}</ref> and the French soldiers gave him the epaulettes of an officer killed in the assault, so that he might be distinguished from a regular grenadier.<ref>{{harvnb|Comandini, I|p=1222}}</ref>

Charles Albert remained at his post until nightfall, and the next day he was among the first to break into Trocadero. King Ferdinand VII and queen [[Maria Josepha Amalia of Saxony|Maria Josepha]], his cousin, were freed and embraced him in joy at seeing him. On 2 September there was a grand military parade, after which the Duc d'Angoulême decorated Charles Albert with the Cross of the [[Order of Saint Louis]].<ref>{{harvnb|Bertoldi|pp=141–142}}</ref>

=== Visit to Paris and return to Turin ===
[[File:Castello di Racconigi.jpg|thumb|left|The facade of [[Castle of Racconigi|Racconigi Castle]], the preferred residence of Prince Charles Albert]]
[[File:Carlo Alberto di Savoia (a cavallo).jpg|thumb|200px|Charles Albert returns to Turin in February 1824, after the Spanish Expedition in this painting by [[Horace Vernet]], 1834]]
With the dissolution of the expeditionary force, Charles Albert travelled from [[Seville]] to Paris, arriving on 3 December 1823. In the French capital, he participated in balls, receptions, and parties, and developed a close relationship with [[Marie-Caroline de Bourbon-Sicile, duchesse de Berry|Marie Caroline]], widow of the Duc de Berry. On 15 December, King [[Louis XVIII]] held a grand reception for the victors of Trocadero, at which Charles Albert was among the guests of honour.<ref>The event involved a very large dinner. Charles Albert generally ate very little and noted a certain "terror" at such occasions. {{harvnb|Bertoldi|pp=142–144}}</ref>

King Charles Felix of Sardinia decided that, as a result of his success, it was time for Charles Albert to return to Turin. The prince was required to swear "to respect and religiously maintain all the fundamental laws of the monarchy when I ascend to power, which have led to fortune and glory over the centuries." On 29 January 1824, Charles Albert received permission to depart for Turin. At a final meeting with Louis XVIII, he received some advice on rulership and was enrolled in the [[Order of the Holy Spirit]], the most prestigious chivalrous order of the French monarchy.<ref>{{harvnb|Bertoldi|pp=144–145}}</ref>

On 2 February, Charles Albert departed and on the 6th he reached [[Mont Cenis]], where he received orders to enter Turin by night, in order to avoid protests. Charles Albert did so, probably on the 23rd.<ref>{{harvnb|Bertoldi|pp=145–146}}</ref> Once he had returned to Turin, Charles Albert resided mainly at [[Castle of Racconigi|Racconigi Castle]], where he began preparations for reigning. He began to study a subject which received little attention at court – the economy – and in 1829 he received permission to visit Sardinia. As a result of this visit, he gained an accurate understanding of the conditions on the island. He was a prolific writer. In 1827, along with his wife, he wrote 38 fairy tales for their children in French, the language which the family used at home, entitled ''Contes moraux'' ("Moral Tales"). The next year, he tried his hand at comedy and after that, he occupied himself with literary criticism and history. He would publish three works: ''Notes on the [[Waldensians]]'', ''Records of [[Andalusia]]'' and ''Voyage to Sardinia''. Charles Albert regretted all of these and subsequently ordered them to be withdrawn from circulation. He also wrote a great volume of letters and literary exercises.<ref>{{harvnb|Bertoldi|pp=153–156}}</ref>

Despite the conservative attitudes of the period, Charles Albert supported literati who held liberal ideas, such as [[Carlo Giuseppe Guglielmo Botta]], whose books were banned in Piedmont. He owned the works of [[Adam Smith]] and the ''Collection of Classic Italian Writers on Political Economy'', edited by [[Pietro Custodi]], a supporter of Napoleon.<ref>{{harvnb|Bertoldi|p=156}}</ref>

=== Accession to the throne ===
[[File:Carlo Alberto by Cavalleri.jpg|150px|right|thumb|Charles Albert after his coronation, by Ferdinando Cavalleri (1831)]]
In 1830, Charles Felix became very ill. He summoned Charles Albert to his sick bed on 24 April 1831. The entire government was present in the room as the king said to the ministers, "Behold my heir and successor, I am sure that he will act for the good of his subjects".<ref>{{harvnb|Bertoldi|pp=159–162}}</ref>

Charles Felix died on 27 April at 2:45 pm. Charles Albert closed the corpse's eyes, kissed its hand and then assumed the throne. He received the dignitaries of court and brought his sons into the [[Royal Palace of Turin|Royal Palace]]. At 5:00 pm, the troops rendered their oaths to the new king at the direction of Governor {{ill|Ignazio Thaon di Revel|it}}, who published the proclamation relating to this. Thus the throne passed to the House of Carignano and the direct line of Savoy came to an end.<ref>{{harvnb|Comandini, II|p=290}}</ref>