Italian Revolutions of 1848-1870

Torino (Turin), Italy

Untitled On March 23 Charles Albert of Sardinia-Piedmont declares war on Austria. It is a risky decision, but prospects for a national war seem promising; and he wants to seize the initiative to preclude republican and democratic domination of the insurgency. Annexing Parma and Modena, whose rulers have been driven out by insurgents, the Piedmontese win a few more victories before suffering reverses. Pius IX, Leopold II, and Ferdinand II, all of whom had initially sent troops to northern Italy to support the Piedmontese army, hastily withdraw their forces.

by Jeff Moran