CASTAGNETTO, CESARE TRABUCCO di. — Born on 10 June 1802 in Turin, died on 25 October 1888 in Moncalieri, he first pursued a career in the judiciary, which he abandoned to join the side of Charles Albert, then Prince of Carignano, as his private secretary. He remained in the service of the prince even after his accession to the throne and was appointed Superintendent of the Royal Household, a position he held until the king’s abdication. Created a senator on 3 April 1848, he displayed during his parliamentary activity sentiments of both liberty and Catholicism.
On 23 April 1855, during the general debate on the bill for the suppression of religious communities, the Count of C. rightly observed that “it would be a true sophism to believe it possible to admit the present law without repealing Article 1 of the Statute.”
After the capture of Rome, in the sessions of 28 December 1870 and 21 April 1871, C. declared that he did not accept the plebiscite of the Roman provinces and opposed the Law of Guarantees, as it was detrimental to the free exercise of the pope’s spiritual authority.