Victor Emmanuel II of Italy (b. 1820)

Victor Emmanuel II, known in Italian as Vittorio Emanuele II and born Vittorio Emanuele Maria Alberto Eugenio Ferdinando Tommaso di Savoia (March 14, 1820 – January 9, 1878), holds a paramount place in Italian history. He initially reigned as the King of Sardinia from 1849. However, his most significant achievement came on March 17, 1861, when he proudly assumed the title of King of Italy, effectively becoming the inaugural monarch of a unified and independent Italian state. This marked a monumental historical turning point, as it was the first time Italy had been united under a single crown since the 6th century, a period when the fall of the Western Roman Empire led to centuries of fragmentation and foreign domination across the peninsula. His reign as King of Italy continued until his passing in 1878. A testament to his pivotal role in forging the nation, the Italian people bestowed upon him the honorific epithet "Father of the Fatherland" (Italian: Padre della Patria), echoing the ancient Latin title "Pater Patriae" traditionally reserved for revered Roman emperors who profoundly shaped the destiny of the Roman state.

Early Life and Ascension to the Throne

Born in Turin, the capital of the Kingdom of Sardinia, Victor Emmanuel II was the eldest son of Charles Albert, Prince of Carignano, and Maria Theresa of Austria. His early life was marked by the tumultuous political climate of the Italian peninsula, which was deeply fragmented and largely under foreign, particularly Austrian, influence. He gained early military experience fighting in the First Italian War of Independence (1848–1849). This conflict, driven by nationalist aspirations, aimed to expel Austrian rule from Italian territories and was spearheaded by his father, King Charles Albert. Despite initial hopes, the war concluded with a decisive defeat for the Sardinian forces, most notably at the Battle of Novara in March 1849. Following this devastating loss, Charles Albert chose to abdicate, paving the way for Victor Emmanuel II to ascend to the throne of Piedmont-Sardinia in 1849. Inheriting a kingdom in crisis, he faced the immediate challenge of navigating a complex geopolitical landscape while harboring ambitions for national unity.

The Strategic Partnership with Cavour and International Diplomacy

Upon his accession, Victor Emmanuel II demonstrated remarkable foresight by appointing Camillo Benso, Count of Cavour, as his Prime Minister in 1852. Cavour, a brilliant statesman and master diplomat, became the chief architect of Italian unification, working tirelessly to modernize Piedmont-Sardinia and elevate its standing on the European stage. Together, they pursued a dual strategy: internally, consolidating the monarchy's power by suppressing elements of the republican left, whose revolutionary fervor, while nationalist, threatened the stability of a monarchical unification; and externally, seeking strategic alliances to counter Austrian dominance.

A pivotal move in this diplomatic strategy was Victor Emmanuel's decision, urged by Cavour, to send an expeditionary corps of 15,000 Sardinian troops to fight alongside French and British forces in the Crimean War in 1855. Although seemingly unrelated to Italian unification, this calculated deployment yielded significant political dividends. The gallantry displayed by Sardinian soldiers in engagements such as the Battle of the Chernaya (August 16, 1855) and during the lengthy siege of Sevastopol earned international respect and legitimacy. More importantly, it secured the Kingdom of Sardinia a coveted seat at the Congress of Paris in 1856, the peace conference at the war's conclusion. There, Cavour skillfully brought the "Italian Question"—the plight of a divided and foreign-dominated Italy—to the attention of the major European powers, laying the groundwork for future alliances and international support for unification.

Alliance with France and the Second War of Independence

The diplomatic groundwork laid at Paris bore fruit in 1858 when Victor Emmanuel II, through Cavour, forged a secret alliance with Emperor Napoleon III of France, formalized by the Plombières Agreement. This pact committed France to assist Sardinia in a war against Austria, with the ultimate goal of expelling Austrian influence from the Italian peninsula. The resulting conflict, known as the Second Italian War of Independence, erupted in 1859. French and Sardinian forces achieved decisive victories against the Austrians at the Battle of Magenta and the Battle of Solferino. These triumphs led to the liberation of Lombardy, which was subsequently annexed by Sardinia. While Napoleon III's unilateral decision to sign the Treaty of Villafranca with Austria prematurely ended the war and left Venice under Austrian control, the conflict significantly advanced the cause of unification by removing Austrian hegemony from a large part of northern Italy and galvanizing nationalist sentiment across the peninsula.

Garibaldi's Expedition of the Thousand and Southern Italy

In a dramatic turn of events, Victor Emmanuel II provided crucial, albeit sometimes covert, support for Giuseppe Garibaldi's legendary Expedition of the Thousand (1860–1861). Garibaldi, a charismatic revolutionary and military genius, led a volunteer force of "Red Shirts" in a daring campaign that sailed from Genoa to Sicily. His rapid and highly successful conquest of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies in southern Italy, culminating in the fall of the Bourbon dynasty, was a pivotal moment. Garibaldi's victories, fueled by widespread popular support, brought immense new territories under the de facto control of the unification movement.

However, as Garibaldi's forces advanced north and appeared poised to march on Rome, which was still under the temporal rule of the Papal States and protected by French troops, Victor Emmanuel made a critical strategic decision. He intervened to halt Garibaldi, recognizing that an assault on Rome would provoke a severe international backlash, particularly from Catholic powers and France, jeopardizing the entire unification project. This pragmatic move highlighted the delicate balance Victor Emmanuel maintained between revolutionary zeal and diplomatic necessity.

The Annexation of Central Italy and the Capture of Rome

The year 1860 witnessed further consolidations of Italian unity. Through popular plebiscites, regions such as Tuscany, Modena, Parma, and Romagna overwhelmingly voted to join Sardinia-Piedmont, reinforcing the growing momentum for a unified state. To link the burgeoning northern and southern territories, Victor Emmanuel's forces then marched victoriously through the central Italian regions of Marche and Umbria. This advance was solidified by a decisive victory over the Papal forces at the Battle of Castelfidardo in September 1860. The annexation of these Papal territories, while strategically vital for geographical unity, also led to Victor Emmanuel II's excommunication from the Catholic Church, a significant religious and political condemnation that persisted until shortly before his death in 1878.

The culmination of these efforts came on October 26, 1860, when Victor Emmanuel II met Garibaldi at Teano. In a deeply symbolic gesture, Garibaldi, prioritizing national unity over his republican ideals, formally handed over control of southern Italy to the King. This historic meeting cemented the foundation of the new nation, leading to the formal proclamation of the Kingdom of Italy on March 17, 1861, with Victor Emmanuel II as its first King.

The unification process, though largely complete, still had two key territories outstanding: Veneto and Rome. The opportunity to acquire Veneto arose in 1866 during the Third Italian War of Independence. Italy allied with Prussia against Austria in the Austro-Prussian War. Despite some military setbacks for Italy, Prussia's decisive victory forced Austria to cede Veneto to Italy, further expanding the national territory.

The final piece of the puzzle, Rome, was acquired in 1870. Victor Emmanuel II skillfully capitalized on the outbreak of the Franco-Prussian War, which compelled France to withdraw its protective garrison from the Papal States. With French protection removed, Italian forces launched the "Capture of Rome" on September 20, 1870, famously breaching the city's walls at Porta Pia. This definitive act brought Rome, the historical heart of Italy, into the unified kingdom. On July 2, 1871, Rome was officially declared the new capital of Italy, shifting the seat of government from Florence. This event, however, also initiated the "Roman Question," a long-standing dispute between the newly formed Italian state and the Papacy over the Pope's temporal power, which would only be resolved much later with the Lateran Treaty in 1929.

Legacy and Final Resting Place

Victor Emmanuel II passed away in Rome on January 9, 1878, having overseen the remarkable transformation of a fragmented peninsula into a unified nation. He was interred in the Pantheon in Rome, a former Roman temple consecrated as a church and now a mausoleum for distinguished Italians, a burial place befitting a monarch who achieved so much for his country.

In enduring tribute to his monumental achievement, the Italian national Victor Emmanuel II Monument, often affectionately known as "Il Vittoriano" or the "Altare della Patria" (Altar of the Fatherland), stands prominently in Rome. This grand, imposing white marble structure, inaugurated in 1911, not only honors Victor Emmanuel II as the first King of Italy but also serves as a potent symbol of national unity and a memorial to fallen soldiers, notably housing the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier (Milite Ignoto).

Frequently Asked Questions about Victor Emmanuel II

Who was Victor Emmanuel II?
Victor Emmanuel II was the first King of a unified Italy, reigning from 1861 until his death in 1878. Prior to this, he was King of Sardinia (Piedmont-Sardinia) from 1849.
Why is Victor Emmanuel II considered the "Father of the Fatherland"?
He earned the epithet "Padre della Patria" (Father of the Fatherland) from the Italian people because he successfully led the complex process of Italian unification (Risorgimento), bringing together disparate states and regions into a single, independent nation for the first time in centuries.
What was the Risorgimento?
The Risorgimento refers to the political and social movement that consolidated different states of the Italian peninsula into the single state of the Kingdom of Italy in the 19th century. Victor Emmanuel II, along with key figures like Cavour and Garibaldi, played a central role in this process.
How did Italy achieve unification under Victor Emmanuel II?
Unification was achieved through a combination of strategic diplomacy (e.g., alliance with France, participation in the Crimean War), military campaigns (e.g., Second and Third Italian Wars of Independence, Garibaldi's Expedition of the Thousand), popular plebiscites, and shrewd political maneuvering by his Prime Minister, Count Camillo Benso di Cavour.
Where is Victor Emmanuel II buried?
Victor Emmanuel II is buried in the Pantheon in Rome, a historic and architecturally significant building that serves as a tomb for several notable Italian figures.
What is the Altare della Patria?
The Altare della Patria, also known as the Monument to Victor Emmanuel II or "Il Vittoriano," is a massive national monument in Rome dedicated to Victor Emmanuel II. It symbolizes Italian national unity and also houses the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.