Revolution of 1821 Charles Felix of Sardinia

1 revolution of 1821

1.1 origin
1.2 beginning of revolt
1.3 abdication of victor emmanuel , regency of charles albert
1.4 intervention of charles felix
1.5 suppression

revolution of 1821
origin

following revolts in cadiz in 1820, king ferdinand vii of spain forced restore spanish constitution of 1812 , hope of obtaining similar concessions own sovereigns arose in many european states. insurrections broke out in naples , palermo.

the initial indications of crisis confirmed on 11 january 1821 when 4 students stopped police @ theatre performance in turin because wearing red caps black bows, symbol of carboneria. young men offered resistance , arrested, provoking large brawl.

the next day, students , many of teachers protested, calling release of youths and, when refused, blockaded in university , government forced call in army. although nobody killed, wounded numerous , situation escalated.

a connection made between protestors , secret society of federati , leaders santorre di rossi, giacinto collegno, carlo emanuele asinari, , guglielmo moffa di lisio gribaldi (all soldiers, officials, or sons of ministers) , roberto d’azeglio met charles albert on 6th of march. ready act, having identified prince new man house of savoy, might willing break absolutist past.

the goal of conspirators not abolish house of savoy, induce enact political , social reforms , undertake war against austria, seemed possible in light of anti-austrian sentiments of victor emmanuel i.

in this, conspirators took advantage of absence of charles felix, whom thought have been able induce victor emmanuel oppose plans. planned raise army, surround royal residence @ moncalieri castle , force him grant constitution , declare war on austria. role of charles albert have been mediate between conspirators , king, following morning, changed mind , attempted escape conspirators, although did not disavow them.

beginning of revolt

the conspirators grew suspiscious , prepared cancel insurrection had planned 10th. same day, charles albert, penitent, raced moncalieri in order confess victor emmanuel , beg pardon. in night garrison of alessandria, commanded 1 of conspirators, guglielmo ansaldi, rebelled , occupied city. although had been abandoned prince, rest of revolutionaries decided act @ point.

abdication of victor emmanuel , regency of charles albert

victor emmanuel i, abdicated in favour of charles felix after rebellion of 1821

on sunday 11 march 1821, king victor emmanuel met crown council, charles albert member of. result of king s indecision, no action taken.

on 12 march, citadel of turin fell hands of rebels. victor emmanuel encouraged charles albert , cesare balbo negotiate carbonari, refused listen messages. thus, in evening, in face of spreading military uprising, king abdicated in favour of brother charles felix. since latter in modena @ time, charles albert appointed regent.

the abdication of king, followed dismissal of ministers of state, led chaos because created dynastic crisis foreign powers not ignore , because split army , bureaucracy, preventing every possibility of maintaining order.#

the regent tried take control naming new government (the lawyer, ferdinando del pozzo (1768-1843) minister of intrior, general emanuele pes di villamarina minister of war, , lodovico sauli d igliano minister of foreign affairs) , attepted negotiate rebels, achieved nothing.

given impossibility of taking decisions without agreement of new king, charles albert sent charles felix account of events, seeking instructions, letter took long time reach destination.

fearful of becoming object of popular anger, on evening of 13 march 1821, charles albert signed decree granting constitution along lines of spanish constitution of 1812, not become law until approved king.

the next day, regent decided form junta, protect parliament. 2 days after that, swore observe spanish constitution, in savoyard version had been altered according requests of victor emmanuel s consort, maria therese.

intervention of charles felix

at point, charles felix, had received letter charles albert notifying him of brother s abdication, decided act. told messenger not address him majesty , asserted since abdication had been extracted through violence, not considered valid. finally, said, tell prince that, if there still drop of our royal blood in veins, should set out novara , wait there orders.

as spanish constitution, declared sovereign acts taken after abdication of brother null , void, issued following proclamation, far consenting change in pre-existing form of government nominal abdication of king, our beloved brother, consider royal subjects have aided or abetted traitors or have presumed proclaim constiution, rebels.

charles albert, discouraged, did charles felix commanded, went novara, , issued proclamation renouncing regency , calling on submit charles felix. on 29th, received letter charles felix ordering him depart family florence.

with charles albert out of way, charles felix dispatched several letters francis of austria, asking him send troops in order suppress revolt.

on 3 april, issued second proclamation granted pardon soldiers while applying strict sanctions rebel officials, ultimately, prevented form of compromise. chancellor metternich himself said francis iv of modena proclamation had been imprudent , written animosity, passion, , hatred.

the rebels, realising no other option remained them, marched on novara, forces loyal charles felix gathered under command of vittorio sallier de la tour. this, inevitably, convinced metternich intervene.

on 8 april there battle (noara-borgo vercelli) troops of de la tour , of austrian general ferdinand von bubna, occupied vercelli , alessandria on 11 april, while de la tour, had received full powers charles felix, occupied turin on 10th.

on 19 april, despite pressure emperors of russia , austria, metternich, charles albert, francis iv, , charles felix himself (who hated idea of receiving crown rebels), victor emmanuel reaffirmed abdication. thus, on 25 april, charles felix acceded throne.

suppression

once control of turin re-established, charles felix, still in modena, entered personal communication emperor of austria in order obtain recognition congress of laibach, in session, able assume full control of possessions, absolute monarch, , austria not allowed interfere in way in territories.

at subsequent congress of verona, charles felix feared pressure constitutional changes , reiterated in instructions ambassadors repression of revolutionary spirit inspired congress of laibach belonged exclusively him , firmly convinced of necessity of obligation.

having decided remain @ modena, appointed ignazio thaon di revel lieutenant general of kingdom, , placed g. piccono della valle , g.c. brignole in charge of foreign affairs , financial affairs respectively.

finally, began suppression of opposition. following extract work of guido astuti describes actions:

the new king, charles felix, let loose reaction arbitrary repressive methods, using extraordinary commissions judge rebels , establishing political investigators inorder purge army , bureaucracy

finally, king instituted 3 different jurisdictions: mixed civil , military tribunal called royal delegation penal powers, military commission investigating conduct of officers , non-commissioned officers, , scrutiny commission investigating conduct of every employee of kingdom.

the royal delegation sat 7 may october, in time issued 71 death sentences, 5 sentences of life imprisonment, , 20 sentences of imprisonment 5 20 years. after delegation s dissolution, senate issued further 24 death sentences, 5 sentences of life imprisonment, , 12 sentences of imprisonment 15–20 years. end of october military commission had dismissed 627 officers.

the scrutiny commission, divided superior tribunal , 7 divisional boards of scrutiny, issued numerous dismissals , suspensions of cvil servants , professors of every kind of school, whom found particularly culpable.

on instructions of minister of interior, roget de cholex, university of turin closed , many professors received severe admonitions because, king wrote in letter brother (9 may 1822): has studied @ university entirely corrupt: professors detestable, there no way replace them... bad taught , ignorant. .

in case, although oppressive climate established, accompanied habituation accusations , diversity of political ideas, offering pretext pursuing private vendettas, royal authority, governor of genoa, giorgio des geneys, did not prevent people fleeing. of people condemned, 2 executed.

further, reported letter of count d agliè charles felix never prevented secretly passing subsidies condemned men had gone exile , angelo brofferio reports when king discovered 1 of these subsidies going family of 1 of 2 individuals had been executed in 1821, king doubled sum.

the suppression of opposition terminated on 30 september 1821, when charles felix issued pardon of individuals had been implicated in revolt, excluding leaders, financiers , had been found guilty of homicide or extortion. few days later, charles felix entered turin.