Cialdini

Cialdini, ENRICO, was born at Castelvetro, Modena, August 10, 1811. Designed for the medical profession, he studied at Parma, but by his share in the abortive insurrection of 1831 was forced to escape to France. He joined the foreign legion raised by Don Pedro against the Miguelists, but, in 1835 passing over to the Spanish service, he fought against the Carlists, and was made colonel. When Charles Albert headed the Italian rising in 1848, he hurried to Italy; in the struggle which ensued he received a dangerous wound, and fell into the hands of the Austrians. On his release, he was employed by the Sardinian government to reduce the volunteers to discipline, and fought at the head of his new regiment in the brief campaign of 1849. In the Crimea he com- manded a division of the Sardinian contingent; and on his return was appointed aide-de-camp to the king. He was intrusted by Cavour with the formation of the famous Cacciatori delle Alpi. In the war of 1859 the victory at Palestro was his chief exploit. In 1860 he defeated the Papal army at Castelfidardo; in 1861 Gaeta and Messina yielded to him. Created Duke of Gaeta, and for a few months governor of Naples, he had to act against Garibaldi in the second Sicilian expedition (1862). In 1864 he became a senator; and in the war of 1866 he occupied Venice. In 1876 he was sent as ambassador to Paris, but retired finally in 1881. He died at Livorno, 8th September 1892.