Carbonari

kar-bo-na'ri, a secret revolutionary society in Italy. It was formed in the days of Napoleon to drive out the French. It was prolonged to expel the Austrians and to unite Italy. The name signifies charcoal burners. Their places of meeting were called huts; Italy, the forest; and their enemies, the wolves. They were known to each other as good cousins. They had no central organization. Their number, therefore, is not known, but is estimated at half a million in 1820-1. They imitated many observances of the Masons. The order was succeeded by Young Italy, founded by Mazzini.