# Victor Emmanuel II of Italy > King of Sardinia (1849–1861) and King of Italy (1861–1878) **Wikidata**: [Q168691](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q168691) **Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victor_Emmanuel_II) **Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/victor-emmanuel-ii-of-italy ## Summary Victor Emmanuel II was the King of Sardinia from 1849 to 1861 and the first King of Italy from 1861 until his death in 1878. He is best known for his pivotal role in the unification of Italy, leading the creation of the Kingdom of Italy as a sovereign state in Southern Europe. His reign marked the political consolidation of various Italian states, including the Kingdom of Sardinia, the Papal States, and the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, into a single monarchy. ## Biography - **Born:** March 14, 1820 - **Nationality:** Kingdom of Sardinia, Kingdom of Italy - **Education:** Not available in source material - **Known for:** Unification of Italy and establishing the Kingdom of Italy - **Employer(s):** Monarchy (King of Sardinia, King of Italy) - **Field(s):** Politics, Sovereignty, Military Leadership ## Contributions - **Establishment of the Kingdom of Italy:** On March 17, 1861, Victor Emmanuel II formally established the Kingdom of Italy, succeeding the Kingdom of Sardinia and the Papal States, and preceding the Italian Republic. - **Political Unification:** He oversaw the unification of Italy, bringing together the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, the Papal States, and territories previously held by the Austrian Empire into a single sovereign state. - **Infrastructure and Cultural Development:** His reign saw the inception of major infrastructure projects, including the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II in Milan (1867) and the Biblioteca Nazionale Centrale di Roma (1875). - **Capital Relocation:** He managed the transition of the Italian capital from Turin (1861–1865) to Florence (1865–1871), and eventually to Rome. ## FAQs **Who was Victor Emmanuel II?** Victor Emmanuel II was the monarch who served as King of Sardinia from 1849 to 1861 and subsequently became the first King of Italy from 1861 to 1878, playing a crucial role in the country's unification. **What awards did Victor Emmanuel II receive?** He received numerous international honors, including the Order of the Golden Fleece, the Order of the Black Eagle, the Order of the Garter, the Gold Medal of Military Valour, and the Médaille militaire. **What is named after Victor Emmanuel II?** Several landmarks bear his name, including the Corso Vittorio Emanuele II in Rome, Milan, and Turin; the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II in Milan; and the Bridge Vittorio Emanuele II in Rome. **Who preceded Victor Emmanuel II as King of Sardinia?** He was preceded by Carlo Alberto I of Sardinia, who reigned from 1831 to 1849. **When did the Kingdom of Italy begin?** The Kingdom of Italy was established on March 17, 1861, under the leadership of Victor Emmanuel II following the unification of the Italian peninsula. ## Why They Matter Victor Emmanuel II is significant for his foundational role in creating the modern Italian state. His leadership during the Risorgimento resulted in the unification of disparate states, including Sardinia, the Two Sicilies, and the Papal States, into the Kingdom of Italy. This political unification established the framework for Italy's subsequent economic growth, political stability, and cultural heritage. The institutions and infrastructure initiated during his reign, such as the national library in Rome and major urban thoroughfares, left a lasting physical and cultural legacy. Without his reign, the geopolitical landscape of Southern Europe would have remained fragmented, delaying the emergence of Italy as a unified sovereign nation. ## Notable For - Being the first King of Italy (1861–1878). - Serving as King of Sardinia (1849–1861). - Establishing the Kingdom of Italy as a sovereign state in Southern Europe. - Receiving the Gold Medal of Military Valour for gallantry. - Receiving the Order of the Most Holy Annunciation, a Roman Catholic order of knighthood originating in Savoy. - Being awarded the Order of the Black Eagle, the highest order of chivalry in the Kingdom of Prussia. - Receiving the Order of the Garter, an order of chivalry in England. - Being awarded the Order of St. Andrew, the highest order of the Russian Empire. - Having the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, a famous shopping mall in Milan, named after him. - His tomb is located in the Pantheon in Rome. ## Body ### Reign and Succession Victor Emmanuel II, born Vittorio Emanuele Maria Alberto Eugenio Ferdinando Tommaso di Savoia on March 14, 1820, reigned as the King of Sardinia from 1849 until 1861. He succeeded Carlo Alberto I of Sardinia. Following the unification of Italy, he became the first King of Italy, a title he held from 1861 until his death on January 9, 1878. His full name reflects his extensive lineage within the House of Savoy. ### The Kingdom of Italy Under Victor Emmanuel II's leadership, the Kingdom of Italy was officially established on March 17, 1861. This sovereign state in Southern Europe succeeded the Kingdom of Sardinia and the Papal States, and absorbed territories from the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies and the Austrian Empire. The kingdom was characterized by political stability and economic growth, playing a significant role in shaping modern Italy. * **Capital Transitions:** During his reign, the capital moved from Turin (1861–1865) to Florence (1865–1871), and finally to Rome. * **Demographics:** At the inception of the kingdom in 1861, the population was approximately 22,182,000. * **Geography:** The kingdom encompassed diverse geographies, including the Alps, the Apennine Mountains, and coastal plains. * **Politics:** The state operated as a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary system, balancing power between the monarchy and the parliament. * **Economy and Culture:** The era saw a mixed economy with a strong industrial base and a rich cultural heritage, contributing to music, literature, and the arts. ### Awards and Decorations Throughout his life, Victor Emmanuel II was the recipient of numerous prestigious awards and orders of chivalry from across Europe and beyond. These honors recognized his sovereignty and military leadership. * **French Honors:** Médaille militaire, Commemorative medal of the 1859 Italian Campaign. * **Russian Honors:** Order of Saint Alexander Nevsky, Order of St. Andrew. * **Italian and Savoyard Honors:** Civil Order of Savoy, Gold Medal of Military Valour, Silver Medal of Military Valour, Order of the Most Holy Annunciation. * **British and Prussian Honors:** Order of the Garter, Order of the Black Eagle. * **Other European Honors:** Royal Order of the Seraphim (Sweden), Order of the Elephant (Denmark), Order of Saint Stephen of Hungary, Order of the Golden Fleece (Catholic order of chivalry). * **Global Honors:** Royal Order of Kamehameha I (Hawaiian order of knighthood). ### Legacy and Monuments The legacy of Victor Emmanuel II is preserved in numerous monuments and institutions named in his honor throughout Italy. * **Streets and Thoroughfares:** The Corso Vittorio Emanuele II is a major thoroughfare in Rome, as well as a significant street in Milan and Turin. * **Architecture:** The Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, a shopping mall in Milan inaugurated in 1867, stands as a landmark of his era. The Bridge Vittorio Emanuele II in Rome, completed in 1911, also bears his name. * **Institutions:** The Biblioteca Nazionale Centrale di Roma, the national public library, was established during his reign in 1875. * **Final Resting Place:** He is interred in the Pantheon in Rome, a site of significant historical importance. ### Related Entities and Context Victor Emmanuel II's reign intersected with many key figures and entities of the 19th century. The Kingdom of Italy, which he founded, eventually became a member of major international organizations such as the European Union (1957), NATO (1949), and the United Nations (1955), long after his death but as a result of the state he unified. His era was connected to notable cultural and historical figures like Giuseppe Garibaldi, Giuseppe Mazzini, and Alessandro Manzoni, who contributed to the cultural and political landscape of the kingdom. ## References 1. BeWeB 2. Integrated Authority File 3. The Peerage 4. [Le livre d'or de l'ordre de Léopold et de la croix de fer](https://books.google.be/books?id=_6lAAAAAcAAJ&printsec=frontcover&hl=nl#v=onepage&q&f=false) 5. International Standard Name Identifier 6. Virtual International Authority File 7. Encyclopædia Britannica Online 8. Find a Grave 9. Brockhaus Enzyklopädie 10. Croatian Encyclopedia 11. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013 12. CERL Thesaurus 13. Treccani's Enciclopedia on line 14. LIBRIS. 2012 15. Sejm-Wielki.pl 16. Bibliography of the History of the Czech Lands