Victor Emmanuel II. First king of Italy. Born in 1820. Became king of Sardinia on the abdication of his father in 1849, and immediately began to reorganize the kingdom and to enforce toleration. He sent a contingent during the war with Russia to help the allies in the Crimea and, in 1859, he secured the alliance of France in his struggle with Austria. The price agreed on was the cession of Savoy and Nice, but the result was the union of Italy under the ruler of Sardinia. By the help of Prussia, the liberation of Venice was gained in 1866, and Rome was evacuated by the French in 1870. Victor Emmanuel was called by his people "Re Galantuomo." Died 1878.

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