Charles Albert succeeds Charles Felix as King of Sardinia

Background. Charles Felix ruled the Kingdom of Sardinia from 1821 until his death in 1831. His reign was characterized by conservative policies, including the closure of the University of Turin and reliance on Austrian military support to restore order. He died without issue on 27 April 1831, in Turin at the Palazzo Chablais, ending a ten-year reign.

Succession. Charles Albert, a distant cousin of Charles Felix, became King of Sardinia in 1831 upon the death of the latter, who had no heir. Charles Albert had previously served as Prince of Carignano and had been involved in political events in 1821, including a meeting with the Crown Council. He ascended the throne on 27 April 1831.

Political Context. The succession occurred in a period of political tension. In 1821, as Prince of Carignano, Charles Albert granted and then withdrew his support for a rebellion that sought to force Victor Emmanuel I to institute a constitutional monarchy. Earlier, in 1824, he had been required to swear to respect and religiously maintain all the fundamental laws of the monarchy when he ascended to power, and on 29 January 1824 he received permission to depart for Turin.