Victor Emmanuel II of Italy

King of Sardinia (1849–1861) and King of Italy (1861–1878)

Victor Emmanuel II (Vittorio Emanuele Maria Alberto Eugenio Ferdinando Tommaso; 14 March 1820 – 9 January 1878) was king of Sardinia from 1849 until 17 March 1861. On that date, he took the title King of Italy to become the first king of a united Italy since the 6th century. He held that title until his death in 1878. The Italians called him "Father of the Homeland" (Italian: Padre della Patria).

Vittorio Emanuele II
Victor Emmanuel II
King of Italy
Reign17 March 1861 – 9 January 1878
PredecessorNapoleon (1814)
SuccessorUmberto I
Prime Ministers
See list
King of Sardinia; Duke of Savoy
Reign23 March 1849 – 17 March 1861
PredecessorCharles Albert
Prime Ministers
Born14 March 1820
Palazzo Carignano, Turin, Piedmont-Sardinia
Died9 January 1878(1878-01-09) (aged 57)
Quirinal Palace, Rome, Italy
Burial
Spouse
(m. 1842; died 1855)
(m. 1869)
Issue
see details...
Full name
Italian: Vittorio Emanuele Maria Alberto Eugenio Ferdinando Tommaso
English: Victor Emmanuel Mario Albert Eugene Ferdinand Thomas
HouseSavoy
FatherCharles Albert of Sardinia
MotherMaria Theresa of Austria
SignatureVittorio Emanuele II's signature

Victor Emmanuel was born at the Palazzo Carignano in Turin. He was born the heir to the title of Prince of Carignano, which was one of the most senior members of the Sardinian royal court behind the monarch himself. He became ruler of the Kingdom of Sardinia when his father abdicated.

Titles and styles

change
  • 14 March 1820 - 23 March 1849: His Highness Prince Vittorio Emanuele of Savoy
  • 23 March 1849 – 17 March 1861: His Majesty The King of Sardinia
  • 17 March 1861 – 9 January 1878: His Majesty The King of Italy