Italian Monarch. The Royal House of Savoy. First King of united Italy. The King was born in Turin and died in Rome. His Majesty's father was King Charles Albert of Piedmont-Sardinia. In 1849, Charles Albert abdicated and his son became King Victor Emmanuel II of Piedmont-Sardinia. The new King championed Italian unification under the leadership of Prime Minister Camillo Cavour. With the assistance of Emperor Napoleon III, Sardinia fought Austria and received the Austrian territories in Italy. The King was active in the war by commanding the troops in the Battles of Magenta and Solferino. King Victor Emmanuel II supported Giuseppe Garibaldi's conquest of the Bourbon held Kingdom of the Two Sicilies and the Papal States. Victor Emmanuel II became King of Italy in 1861. Rome and Venetia subsequently joined the Kingdom of Italy. After his death His Majesty's son became Umberto I.

Italian Monarch. The Royal House of Savoy. First King of united Italy. The King was born in Turin and died in Rome. His Majesty's father was King Charles Albert of Piedmont-Sardinia. In 1849, Charles Albert abdicated and his son became King Victor Emmanuel II of Piedmont-Sardinia. The new King championed Italian unification under the leadership of Prime Minister Camillo Cavour. With the assistance of Emperor Napoleon III, Sardinia fought Austria and received the Austrian territories in Italy. The King was active in the war by commanding the troops in the Battles of Magenta and Solferino. King Victor Emmanuel II supported Giuseppe Garibaldi's conquest of the Bourbon held Kingdom of the Two Sicilies and the Papal States. Victor Emmanuel II became King of Italy in 1861. Rome and Venetia subsequently joined the Kingdom of Italy. After his death His Majesty's son became Umberto I.

Bio by: John Hinkle