La questione dei sequestri austriaci del 1853: echi e reazioni nel regno sardo.

The insurrection in Milan of February 6, 1853, caused the heavy Austrian reaction. Among the repressive measures there was the sequestration of property of the political refugees, many of whom had settled in the Kingdom of Sardinia and had obtained in some cases citizenship. Austrian Government set out to humiliate the country, weaken its liberal institutions and hit print financed by rich exiles. The result was only partially achieved, despite the poor outcomes of Sardinian diplomacy, which did not prevent the repatriation of many blackmailed exiles. Furthermore, the sequestration was removed only when the Austrian Cabinet made this decision on its own initiative. The article examines diaries, correspondence and newspapers of various political tendencies to explore the assessments on the Austro-Sardinian dispute and on the Cabinet Cavour policy; it further analyses the initiatives taken to counter the Austrian move also in terms of representations. The case placed the government in difficulties and increased tensions in the Kingdom and between the exiles, but also contributed to the strengthening of a patriotic public opinion in favour of Piedmont.