Revolutions of 1848 in the Italian states
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The 1848 revolutions in the Italian states were organized revolts in the states of Italy led by persons who desired a liberal government and wanted to get Italy rid of the conservative Austrian presence. During this time period, Italy was still not a unified country, and was divided into many states, which, in Northern Italy, were ruled by the Austrian Empire. A desire to be free from foreign rule, and the conservative leadership of the Austrians, led the Italian people to stage a revolution in order to drive out the Austrians. The revolution was led by the state of Piedmont, one of the four states where the Austrian leaders were forced to grant liberal rights. Also, the uprisings in the Kingdom of Lombardy–Venetia, particularly in Milan, forced the Austrian General Radetsky to retreat to the Quadrilatero fortresses.
Soon after this Charles Albert appeared on the scene and launched a full-out attack on the Quadrilateral, with the support of Italy's other princes. They soon had a major victory. However, this enraged the tyrants who recalled their troops and in the case of Fredrick II abolished the liberal constitution. This seemed not to matter to Albert and a few of Fredrick's generals who continued their offensive with the men they had left and a year later were completely defeated by Radetsky's forces in the Battle of Novara.
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