The tiny spark which started the great con flagration was lighted in Sicily. The natives of Palermo rose in arms 12 Jan. 1848, and their was promptly followed by the entire and as soon as they also rose in Naples, the king, Ferdinand II, who had not imitated Pius IX and other princes in regard to re forms, was seized with great fear and did more than any of them, for he gave than directly a representative constitution. The excitement throughout the entire peninsula became enor mous at this piece of news, and the sovereigns were forced to concede also everything which the most reactionary of the princes had ever refused. Carlo Alberto on 8 February prom ised and on 4 March published the (Statute,) which, preserved by him and his successors, is still the foundation of all law in the kingdom of Italy. Yielding to the persistent demands of the citizens, Leopold II and Pius IX also pro mulgated a constitutional statute. Having be come free henceforth as far as the princes were concerned, the people could now think of secur ing freedom from foreign oppression, and a favorable occasion was not long in presenting itself.
When the news that on 24 February the Parisians had overturned the throne of Louis Philippe, arrived at Vienna, it incited an insur rection ; the news that this insurtection at Vienna had caused the fall of Minister Metter nich induced Venice first of all to rise against the Austrians, drive them out and proclaim a republic; then Milan in a heroic struggle of five days (18-23 March) succeeded in forcing the hated oppressors out of the city. Carlo Alberto thereupon on 23 March declared war against Austria and took the field to give in dependence to .Italy. The Pope, the king of Naples and the Grand Duke of Tuscany were constrained by the demands of the people to take part in the expedition and sent soldiers into the Valley of the Po. But the Pope, in a proclamation on 29 April = probably because he feared a schism in Germany—declared that he could not participate in a war against the Aus trians because they were Christians; and the king of Naples, declaring that he had not set forth on this road to liberty of his own free will, came into conflict with Parliament. dis missed it, smothered in blood the agitations in the principal cities and recalled to the kingdom the troops which had been started for the war. Carlo Alberto, who had ar rived at Mincio, found himself consequently quite alone and deserted, but nevertheless he conquered the Austrians at Goito (30 May), but was in turn beaten in several encounters; be was forced to a retreat, which was rendered more disastrous by other defeats, and which terminated in the Armistice of Salasco (10 Au gust), by the terms of which Lombardy and Venice, which had given themselves to the king, were left in the hands of the triumphant enemy. Venice, however, declared herself a re
public under the Presidency of Daniele Manin, and thought of defending herself alone. The Pope, terrified by the rage of the Democratic party and by the assassination of the president of the Council of Ministers — Pellegrino Rossi —fled on 24 November to Gaeta near the king of Naples. In Piedmont, the radical party wished a renewal of the war, although the country was quite unprepared; and the Icing did commence it again, but in a very few days all was over. At Novara (23 March 1849) the Sardinian army was completely defeated by the Austrians. and on the same evening, Carlo Alberto, convinced that the conquerors would make better condi tions with another sovereign, abdicated in favor of his eldest son (who became King Victor Emanuel II), and retired in exile to Oporto in Portugal, where he died 28 July in the same year.
Two glorious conflicts ended this first un fortunate war for Italian independence.
The Pope having fled to Gaeta and being invited in vain to return, a constitutional as sembly (9 Feb. 1849) abolished by proclamation the temporal power of the popes and set up the Roman Republic. Pius IX called for armed intervention from the Catholic nations to re cover his temporal domain, and Naples, Spain, Austria and France took arms. Rome prepared to defend herself and Italians from all over the peninsula flocked to her standards. General Giuseppe Garibaldi, although he was not com mander-in-chief of the military forces of the republic, played a splendid part. A triumvirate, composed of Giuseppe Mazzini, Aurelio Saffi and Carlo Armellini, with unlimited power, provided for the public necessities. The Aus trians occupied Bologna and took possession of Ancona; the Neapolitans were compelled to halt at Velletri by Garibaldi; the Spaniards, disembarking from their ships, covered them selves with ridicule. The French, landing at Civitavecchia under the command of Oudinot, were driven from Rome 30 April. And when they turned against Gianicola (Janiculum) the defenders in numerous attacks from the 3d to the 30th of June gave extraordinary proofs of valor and sacrificed many noble lives. But the enemy nevertheless constantly approached nearer the city and bombarded it. The French finished by entering Rome, while the constitutional assembly in the Campidoglio ordered the army to °cease a defence which had become impossible and to remain at its pose' The triumvirate was dissolved, and Garibaldi with some of the best of his men left the city 2 July and, pursued by France and Austria, commenced that famous retreat in which he aimed to go to the help of Venice, still in a state of siege, and during which he lost his heroic consort, Anita.