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3 unusual facts about Victor Emmanuel II of Italy


Emanuele Tovo

He completed portraits, in miniature on ivory, of Vittorio Emanuele II, King Umberto I, Queen Margherita, Princess Elisabetta, Duchess of Genoa, and Prince of Naples.

Pavel Pavlovich Demidov, 2nd Prince of San Donato

He developed the family fortunes and inherited Anatole's title of Prince of San Donato after the latter's death without legitimate issue in 1870 (with the title recognised by king Victor Emmanuel II of Italy two years later).

Villa del Poggio Imperiale

The new King of Italy, Victor Emmanuel II, with many palaces at his disposal and an obligation to travel across Italy in the interests of the unification, had little need for a second large palace, such as Villa del Poggio Imperiale, in such close proximity to the Palazzo Pitti.


Amélie Gex

Upon the formation of the Kingdom of Italy in 1861, Gex, like many Liberals who preferred the Italian Cavour to Napoleon III of France, supported King Victor Emmanuel II.

Ferrante Aporti

He received from the French Government the title of Chevalier of the Legion of Honour in 1846, and from Victor Emmanuel the rank of Senator in 1848.

Jean-Baptiste Bailly

In 1848 he was given permission by Charles Albert of Sardinia (1798–1849) to collect bird specimens in Savoy (then part of Italy) an authorization later renewed by Victor Emmanuel II of Italy (1820–1878).

John Henry Parker

In recognition of his work Parker was decorated by King Victor Emmanuel II of Italy and received a medal from Pope Pius IX.

Pearl Maxima

In 1865, King Victor Emmanuel II of Italy bought the pearl, but around 1868 he sold it to Willem van Kooten, a Dutch goldsmith from Amsterdam.

Pio Siotto

He made a tryptich of sardonyx cameos to celebrate the family of the Queen Margherita of Savoy: the first depicts the monument raised in Turin for the Prince Ferdinand, Duke of Genoa (Queen's father), the other an equestrian statue of King Victor Emmanuel II of Italy, father of the then present king; and the third medal was the portrait of the then Prince of Naples, later King Victor Emmanuel III of Italy.


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