Why did Charles Albert of Piedmont-Sardinia refuse Giuseppe Garibaldi’s offer of military service?

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King Charles Albert of Piedmont-Sardinia refused Giuseppe Garibaldi’s offer of military service in 1848 for two primary reasons:

  • Past Conviction: Charles Albert still remembered Garibaldi’s 1834 conviction as a rebel, which made him an untrustworthy candidate in the eyes of the monarchy.1
  • Professional Distrust: The regular Piedmontese army held the self-taught guerrilla leader in contempt, viewing him as an outsider rather than a professional soldier.1

Because of this rejection, Garibaldi instead offered his services to the city of Milan, where he continued to fight for the Risorgimento independently.1