Victor Emmanuel II (Italian: Vittorio Emanuele II; March 14, 1820 – January 9, 1878) was the King of Piedmont, Savoy and Sardinia from 1849–1861. 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.
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Life
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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:
- Marie Clothilde 1843-1911, who married Napoleon Joseph 1822-1891 (the Prince Napoleon). Their grandson Louis was the pretender of Bonaparte.
- Umberto (b.1844-d.1900), later King of Italy.
- Amedeo (b.1845-d.1890), later King of Spain.
- Oddone Eugenio (b.1846-d.1866), Duke of Montferrat.
- Maria Pia 1847-1911, married Louis of Portugal.
- Carlo Alberto (b.1851-d.1854), Duke of Chablais.
- Vittorio Emanuele (1852).
- Vittorio Emanuele (1855) Count of Geneva.
Rosa Theresa Vercellona Guerrieri (nicknamed La Rosina) was once Victor Emmanuel's mistress. The Count of Mirafiori and Fontanafredda was probably their (illegitimate) son. Template:Infobox kgstyles
See also
External links
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