King Victor Emmanuel II
King Victor Emmanuel II was the King of Sardinia from 1849 until 1861, when he assumed the title of the first King of Kingdom of Italy. Born on March 14, 1820, in Turin, he was the eldest son of Charles Albert of Sardinia and Archduchess Maria Theresa of Austria.
Early Life and Accession
Victor Emmanuel II received a military education and was known for his strong, commanding presence. Upon the abdication of his father following the defeat in the First Italian War of Independence, Victor Emmanuel II ascended to the throne at the age of 29. His reign marked the beginning of a series of events that would lead to the unification of Italy.
Unification of Italy
Victor Emmanuel II played a pivotal role in the Risorgimento, the movement for Italian unification:
- 1859-1860: He allied with Napoleon III of France against Austria, leading to the Second Italian War of Independence. This resulted in the annexation of Lombardy to Sardinia.
- 1860: Through the efforts of Giuseppe Garibaldi and his "Thousand" volunteers, Sicily and Naples were captured, paving the way for their union with Sardinia. Victor Emmanuel II then marched into Naples, symbolically completing the unification.
- 1861: On March 17, 1861, Victor Emmanuel II was proclaimed King of Italy, marking the official unification of the country.
Reign and Legacy
As King of Italy, Victor Emmanuel II faced numerous challenges:
- He had to balance the power between the various factions within Italy, including the monarchists, republicans, and nationalists.
- His reign saw the capture of Rome in 1870, which was then declared the capital of Italy, although he never officially entered the city due to the Roman Question.
- Victor Emmanuel II also oversaw the implementation of reforms aimed at modernizing the Italian state, including legal and educational reforms.
Death and Aftermath
King Victor Emmanuel II died on January 9, 1878, in Rome, after a reign that saw Italy transform from a patchwork of states into a single nation. His son, Umberto I, succeeded him.
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