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Victor Emmanuel II, King of Italy (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.
Life
Crimean War Piedmont joined Britain and France in a war against Russia, to get their "good will". After ingratiating himself with France's Napoleon III at the Congress of Paris following the end of the Crimean War, as well as gaining British support, Count Cavour arranged a secret meeting with Napoleon III. They met at Plombieres in 1858 where they agreed that if France would help Piedmont battle against Austria for the lands of Venetia and Lombardy, France would be given Nice and Savoy. War of Italian Unification Cavour and Napoleon III fought against Austria in 1858 and were winning the war, however, there were serious casualties for France. Napoleon III secretly made a treaty with Francis Joseph of Austria at Villafranca, whereby Piedmont gained Lombardy — but nothing more. France received Nice and Savoy, while Austria kept Venetia which displeased the Piedmontese; the treaty had been made without their knowledge. Soon after this Cavour died and the king had to find other advisors. The alliance with France ended, but Italy was united between 1861 to 1870. The north lead by Victor Emannuel II and the south, whose insurgencies were lead by Garibaldi, united in 1861. In 1866, Italy lost battles against Austria but, as a result of her alliance with Prussia, received Venetia via France. After two failed marches on Rome, led by Garibaldi, Italian forces finally took the city in 1870 because of French pre-occupation with a possible Franco-Prussian war. Venice was given to Piedmont by Prussia after the Austro-Prussian war in 1866. Italian unification was thus not complete until Rome was made capital in 1871. Wives and children In 1842 he was married to a cousin, Maria Adelaide of Habsburg (b.1822-d.1855) and had children including: In 1869 he married morganatically his mistress Rosa Theresa Vercellona Guerrieri (3 June 1833–26 December 1885). Popularly known in Piedmontese as “Bela Rosin”, she was born a commoner but made Countess of Mirafiori and Fontanafredda in 1858. Their offspring were: Titles & Honours as King of Italy Victor Emmanuel II, by the Grace of God, King of Italy, King of Sardinia, Cyprus, Jerusalem, Armenia, Duke of Savoy, count of Maurienne, Marquis (of the Holy Roman Empire) in Italy; prince of Piedmont, Carignan, Oneglia, Poirino, Trino; Prince and Perpetual vicar of the Holy Roman Empire; prince of Carmagnola, Montmellian with Arbin and Francin, prince bailliff of the Duchy of Aosta, Prince of Chieri, Dronero, Crescentino, Riva di Chieri e Banna, Busca, Bene, Brà, Duke of Genoa, Monferrat, Aosta, Duke of Chablais, Genevois, Duke of Piacenza, Marquis of Saluzzo (Saluces), Ivrea, Susa, del Maro, Oristano, Cesana, Savona, Tarantasia, Borgomanero e Cureggio, Caselle, Rivoli, Pianezza, Govone, Salussola, Racconigi con Tegerone, Migliabruna e Motturone, Cavallermaggiore, Marene, Modane e Lanslebourg, Livorno Ferraris, Santhià Agliè, Centallo e Demonte, Desana, Ghemme, Vigone, Count of Barge, Villafranca, Ginevra, Nizza, Tenda, Romont, Asti, Alessandria, del Goceano, Novara, Tortona, Bobbio, Soissons, Sant'Antioco, Pollenzo, Roccabruna, Tricerro, Bairo, Ozegna, delle Apertole, Baron of Vaud e del Faucigni, Lord of Vercelli, Pinerolo, della Lomellina, della Valle Sesia, del marchesato di Ceva, Overlord of Monaco, Roccabruna and 11/12th of Menton, Noble patrician of Venice, patrician of Ferrara. See also | ||||||||||
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