Clemente Solaro, Count La Margherita facts for kids
Clemente Solaro, Count della Margherita (born November 21, 1792, in Mondovì, Italy – died November 12, 1869, in Turin) was an important politician from Piedmont. He played a big role in the government of the Kingdom of Sardinia during a time of major changes in Italy.
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Early Life and Career
Clemente Solaro studied law in Siena and Turin. At that time, his home region of Piedmont was controlled by France. Because he was loyal to the House of Savoy, the royal family of Piedmont, he refused to officially finish his studies. This was because it would have meant recognizing the French rulers. After the Kingdom of Sardinia was restored, he finally graduated.
In 1816, he began working in diplomacy, which means he represented his country in dealings with other countries.
Becoming a Minister
Later, Clemente Solaro returned to Turin. He earned the trust of King Charles Albert. In 1835, the King made him the minister of foreign affairs. This meant he was in charge of how the Kingdom of Sardinia dealt with other nations.
Solaro was a very strong Roman Catholic. He was loyal to the Pope and supported the Jesuits, a religious order. He was also friendly with Austria. He believed strongly in traditional rule by kings, known as autocracy. Because of these beliefs, he was against any new ideas or changes in politics. This made him very unpopular with people who wanted more freedom and new laws, known as liberals.
Political Challenges and Beliefs
When people started demanding changes and a new constitution, King Charles Albert had to let Solaro go from his job. Even though Solaro was a good leader and very loyal, the King needed to respond to the public's wishes. Solaro had always worked hard to protect the kingdom's honor, even when Austria acted arrogantly.
In 1851, Solaro wrote a book called Memorandum storico-politico. In this book, he explained his political ideas and what he did as a minister for King Charles Albert from 1835 to 1847. This book is very helpful for understanding what life was like in Piedmont and Italy during that period.
Later Years and Retirement
In 1853, Clemente Solaro was elected as a deputy for San Quirico. However, he still believed his power came from the King, not from the people who voted for him.
In parliament, he became a leader of the Clerical Right group. This group strongly opposed the policies of Cavour. Cavour's goal was to unite all of Italy, which eventually led to Italian unification. When the Kingdom of Italy was finally formed, Clemente Solaro decided to leave public life and retire.
See also
In Spanish: Clemente Solaro della Margarita para niños
