The title "King of Italy" refers to the monarch who ruled the Kingdom of Italy from its unification in 1861 until the monarchy was abolished in 1946. The first king was Victor Emmanuel II, who played a significant role in the unification of Italy. The monarchy was a constitutional one, meaning the king had limited powers and shared authority with a parliament. The last king, Umberto II, reigned for a brief period in 1946 before Italy became a republic following a referendum. The abolition of the monarchy marked the end of centuries of royal rule in Italy, transitioning the country to a democratic government.