Editing Charles Albert of Sardinia (section)

=== 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>