Key dates
Dates that shaped the story.
This is the historical timeline. Dates the section actively marks appear in the activities calendar.
- 1814
Royal Letters Patent
On 13 July 1814, in Turin, Victor Emmanuel I, King of Sardinia, established the Corpo dei Carabinieri Reali with the Regie Patenti. The name comes from the carbine, the carabina, they carried. The Carabinieri are older than Italy itself.
BBC News - 1832
The flaming grenade
On 23 February 1832 the flaming grenade was adopted: still the emblem of the Arma today.
carabinieri.it - 1848
The charge of Pastrengo
On 30 April 1848, during the First War of Independence, three squadrons of mounted Carabinieri charged the Austrian positions and saved the life of King Carlo Alberto, who had ridden into the line of fire. The flag of the Arma received a Silver Medal for Military Valour.
carabinieri.it - 1861
The “Arma”
On 24 January 1861 the royal decree reorganising the national army referred to the Carabinieri Reali several times as the “Arma”, the name still used today.
carabinieri.it - 1864
La Benemerita
On 24 June 1864 a report of a parliamentary committee first called the Carabinieri “la Benemerita”, the well-deserving: a sign of public gratitude that has stayed with the Arma ever since.
carabinieri.it - 1886
The association begins
On 1 March 1886 Carabinieri in congedo founded a mutual-aid society, the root of the Associazione Nazionale Carabinieri.
carabinieri.it - 1914
Nei secoli fedele
On 13 July 1914, the centenary of the founding, the Arma adopted its motto: “Nei secoli fedele”, faithful through the centuries.
carabinieri.it - 1920
The first Gold Medal
On 5 June 1920 the flag of the Arma received its first Gold Medal for Military Valour, for its service in the First World War. From the following year, 5 June became the Arma’s annual day.
carabinieri.it - 1949
Virgo Fidelis
With an apostolic brief dated 11 November 1949, Pope Pius XII declared the Virgo Fidelis patroness of the Carabinieri. Her feast is on 21 November.
carabinieri.it - 2000
An Armed Force
In 2000, with law no. 78 of 31 March and the legislative decrees of 5 October, the Arma dei Carabinieri became an autonomous Armed Force within the Ministry of Defence.
carabinieri.it - 2026
First section in Asia
ANC Singapore, the first section of the Associazione Nazionale Carabinieri in Asia, is inaugurated and dedicated to Vittorio Iacovacci.
ANC Singapore