Yes, to avoid that Baden Princess and any other "scheming" princesses his mother might line up for him, Charles decisively followed his elder brother's earlier suggestion and took up the post of Governor of Ravenna.
Only recently Queen Mary had been sending more and more letters to Ravenna, endlessly urging her son to "leave the harsh land of Italy."
Helpless, Charles began an "art and tradition" tour across Italy—if I'm not in Ravenna, I can treat Mother's letters as if I never saw them.
Who could have known that on the very next day after he arrived in Rome, a massive protest march "against papal rule" would break out here.
Harsh whistles shrieked as a squad of brightly dressed Vatican Guard suddenly charged out from the street corner, led by Secret Police.
The leading policeman shouted loudly: "Everyone stay where you are and submit to inspection. Anyone who disobeys will be arrested on charges of complicity with the murderer!"
