fwo_750450 - ITALIE - VICTOR EMMANUEL II 5 centesimi, frappe décentrée 1862

ITALY - VICTOR EMMANUEL II

(1861-1878)

Son of Charles-Albert of Savoie-Carignan and Marie-Thérèse Albertina, Victor-Emmanuel II was successively Prince of Piedmont, Duke of Savoy, King of Sardinia from 1849 to 1861 after his father's abdication, then first King of Italy from March 14, 1861 to his death. He champions the unification of Italy. His country being too weak to confront Austria, he allied himself with Napoleon III in exchange for the cession of Nice and Savoy. The victories of Magenta and Solferino give hope to the Italian patriots. Italy grew with Lombardy, Romagna, Modena, Parma and Tuscany, then, in 1866, Venetia. In 1870, he occupied Rome despite the protests of Pius IX. Having become master of Italy, he chose Turin as his capital.