Charles Albert of Sardinia

Charles Albert grew up in Napoleonic France with a liberal education, but his politics swung wildly. As Prince of Carignano in 1821, he backed a constitutional rebellion, then withdrew support and turned conservative - even marching with French legitimists against Spanish liberals in 1823. He became King of Sardinia in 1831 when his distant cousin died without an heir. After years of backing European monarchist causes, he shifted course in 1848: he granted the Statuto Albertino, Italy's first constitution, and declared war on Austria to free the north from Habsburg rule. Pope Pius IX and Ferdinand II abandoned him mid-campaign. His forces were crushed at the Battle of Novara in 1849. He abdicated in favour of his son Victor Emmanuel II and died in Porto a few months later. Italians called him "the Hesitant King" for the years he wavered between constitutional reform and absolute power; his son finished what he started, unifying Italy in 1861.