Vittorio Emanuele II was the first king of a unified Italy, reigning from 1861 until his death in 1878. He played a crucial role in the Italian unification, known as the Risorgimento, which brought together various states and territories into a single nation. His leadership helped to establish a constitutional monarchy in Italy. Born on March 14, 1820, in Turin, he was the son of Charles Albert, the King of Sardinia. Vittorio Emanuele II is often remembered for his efforts to promote national unity and for his support of key figures like Giuseppe Garibaldi and Count Camillo di Cavour during the unification process.