CHAPTER XII.
BATTLE OF SOLFERINO—1859.
In the revolutions which blazed over Europe in 1848, Charles Albert, King of Sardinia, presented himself as the champion of Italian independence. He gave military aid to the insurgents in Lombardy, Parma, and Piedmont, and refused offers of assistance from the French with the reply that Italy would help herself. At first he was successful and defeated the Austrians on the fields of Pastrenga and Goito, but later he was defeated at Custozza, and forced into full retreat; his reverses resulted in an armistice, and on its expiration he renewed hostilities, relying on the simultaneous attack of the Hungarians upon the Austrians. On the 23d March, 1849, he was utterly defeated at Novara, and the Austrian rule upon Italy was confirmed and made stronger than ever before. The hope which Italy had based upon his efforts was utterly lost, Charles Albert surrendered the crown to his son, Victor Emanuel II., and retired to Oporto, where he died four months after his abdication.
A statesman who had much to do with Sardinia's declaration of war against Austria in 1848 and '9, was Camilio Benso Cavour, better known as Count Cavour. In 1850 he was called to the Cabinet of Victor Emanuel, and two years later was named President of the Council. All his energies were bent in the direction of renewing the struggle with Austria in the hope of uniting all Italy under the rule of the king of Sardinia. By joining France,
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