'''Victor Emmanuel II''', (1820 - 1878) was the first king of a united [[Italy]] and the final king of the Italian city-state [[Kingdom of Sardinia-Piedmont|Piedmont-Sardinia]]. He inherited the throne from his father, King Charles Albert, after the latter suffered several humiliating defeats against the [[Austro-Hungarian Empire]].<ref>[http://www.ohio.edu/chastain/rz/victorem.htm Victor Emmanuel II]</ref> | '''Victor Emmanuel II''', (1820 - 1878) was the first king of a united [[Italy]] and the final king of the Italian city-state [[Kingdom of Sardinia-Piedmont|Piedmont-Sardinia]]. He inherited the throne from his father, King Charles Albert, after the latter suffered several humiliating defeats against the [[Austro-Hungarian Empire]].<ref>[http://www.ohio.edu/chastain/rz/victorem.htm Victor Emmanuel II]</ref> |