Victor Emmanuel II of Italy

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King Victor Emmanuel II of Italy
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King Victor Emmanuel II of Italy
Italian Royalty
House of Savoy

Victor Emmanuel II
Children
   Princess Marie Clothilde
   Prince Umberto
   Prince Amadeo
   Princess Maria Pia
Umberto I
Children
   Prince Victor
Victor Emmanuel III
Children
   Princess Yolanda
   Princess Mafalda
   Prince Umberto
   Princess Giovanna
   Princess Maria
Umberto II
Children
   Princess Maria Pia
   Prince Victor
   Princess Maria Gabriella
   Princess Maria Beatrice

Victor Emmanuel II (Italian: Vittorio Emanuele II; March 14, 1820January 9, 1878) was the King of Piedmont, Savoy and Sardinia from 18491861. On February 18, 1861, he assumed the title as King of Italy to become the first king of a united Italy, a title he held till his death in 1878.

Contents

Life

Monument of Vittorio Emanuele II, erected 1895-1911 (Rome, Italy)
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Monument of Vittorio Emanuele II, erected 1895-1911 (Rome, Italy)

Victor Emmanuel was born in Turin. During the reign of his father, Charles Albert, the kingdoms of Sardinia and Piedmont were united. Charles Albert went to war in 1848 against the Austrian Empire (which ruled most of northern Italy), but was defeated at the Battle of Novara the following year. Charles Albert abdicated and Victor Emmanuel became king of Sardinia–Piedmont on March 24, 1849.


Under his command, and with the skillful action of his minister, Count Cavour, the Kingdom of Sardinia grew to include whole Italy (1860 – 1870), through the process of Italian Unification and thus Victor Emmanuel II of Savoy became Victor Emmanuel II of Italy.

Victor Emmanuel would keep the former ordinal number though he became the first king of Italy, in order to maintain the dynastical continuity.

Wife and sons

In 1842 he was married to a cousin, Maria Adelaide of Habsburg (b.1822-d.1855) and had children including:

Rosa Theresa Vercellona Guerrieri (nicknamed La Rosina) was once Victor Emmanuel's mistress. The Count of Mirafiori and Fontanafredda was probably their (illegitimate) son.

Monarchical Styles of
Victor Emmanuel II of Italy
Reference style His Majesty
Spoken style Your Majesty
Alternative style Sire

See also

External links


Preceded by:
Charles Albert
King of Sardinia
1849-1861
Succeeded by:
Preceded by:
King of Italy
1861-1878
Succeeded by:
Umberto I
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