Kingdom of Italy

Quick Facts: Who was Kingdom of Italy?

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Kingdom of Italy

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A unitary state in Southern Europe, existing from 1861 to 1946 through unification and collapse.

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Origins & Early Life

The Kingdom of Italy was a unitary state that existed from 17 March 1861, when Victor Emmanuel II, King of Sardinia, was proclaimed King of Italy, until 18 June 1946, when the monarchy was abolished, following civil discontent that led to an institutional referendum on 2 June, resulting in the establishment of the modern Italian Republic. The kingdom was established through the unification of several states over a decades-long process, called the Risorgimento. That process was influenced by House of Savoy-ruled Sardinia, which was one of Italy's legal predecessor states. In 1866, the Third Italian War of Independence broke out; it was part of the Italo-Prussian Alliance against the Austrian Empire. Upon victory, Italy received Veneto.

Career & Major Achievements

Italian troops captured Rome in 1870, ending the more than one thousand years of Papal temporal power. In the last two decades of the 19th century, Italy developed into a colonial power, resulting to the establishment of the Italian Empire in 1882; that year, it entered into the 'Triple Alliance' with the German Empire and the Austro-Hungarian Empire, following strong disagreements with the French Third Republic about their respective colonial expansions. Although relations with Berlin became very friendly, the alliance with Vienna remained purely formal, due in part to Italy's desire to acquire Trentino and Trieste from Austria-Hungary. As a result, Italy accepted the British invitation to join the Allies of World War I, as the western powers promised territorial compensation (at the expense of Austria-Hungary) for participation that was more generous than Vienna's offer in exchange for Italian neutrality. Victory in the war gave Italy a permanent seat in the Council of the League of Nations, but it did not receive all the territories it was promised.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

In 1922, Benito Mussolini became prime minister and the National Fascist Party took control of the Italian government, thus ushering an era of the Fascist period in Italy known as "Fascist Italy". Authoritarian rule was enforced, crushing all political opposition while promoting economic modernization, traditional values, and territorial expansion. In 1929, the Italian government reconciled with the Roman Catholic Church through the Lateran Treaties, which granted independence to the Vatican City. The following decade presided over the Spazio vitale, an aggressive foreign policy that launched successful military operations in the Second Italo-Ethiopian War in 1935, Italian military intervention in Spain in 1937, and the Italian invasion of Albania in 1939. This led to economic sanctions, departure from the League of Nations, growing economic autarky, and the signing of the Pact of Steel and Anti-Comintern Pact with Nazi Germany and the Empire of Japan.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1861: 1861 Milestone — The Kingdom of Italy was a unitary state that existed from 17 March 1861, when Victor Emmanuel II, King of Sardinia, was proclaimed King of Italy, until 18 June 1946, when the monarchy was abolished, following civil discontent that led to an institutional referendum on 2 June, resulting in the establishment of the modern Italian Republic.
2. 1866: 1866 Milestone — In 1866, the Third Italian War of Independence broke out; it was part of the Italo-Prussian Alliance against the Austrian Empire.
3. 1870: 1870 Milestone — Italian troops captured Rome in 1870, ending the more than one thousand years of Papal temporal power.
4. 1882: 1882 Milestone — In the last two decades of the 19th century, Italy developed into a colonial power, resulting to the establishment of the Italian Empire in 1882; that year, it entered into the 'Triple Alliance' with the German Empire and the Austro-Hungarian Empire, following strong disagreements with the French Third Republic about their respective colonial expansions.
5. 1922: 1922 Milestone — In 1922, Benito Mussolini became prime minister and the National Fascist Party took control of the Italian government, thus ushering an era of the Fascist period in Italy known as "Fascist Italy".
6. 1929: 1929 Milestone — In 1929, the Italian government reconciled with the Roman Catholic Church through the Lateran Treaties, which granted independence to the Vatican City.
7. 1935: 1935 Milestone — The following decade presided over the Spazio vitale, an aggressive foreign policy that launched successful military operations in the Second Italo-Ethiopian War in 1935, Italian military intervention in Spain in 1937, and the Italian invasion of Albania in 1939.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Kingdom of Italy

True or False: “Did the Kingdom of Italy immediately gain all its desired territories, such as Northern Dalmatia, after World War I?”

Answer (FALSE ❌): No, Italian claims on Northern Dalmatia were abandoned following the signing of the Treaty of Versailles in 1919.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Abdülmecid I — Historical peer (Died in 1861) (1861): 31st Sultan of the Ottoman Empire, known for initiating the Tanzimat era of reform.
• Aleksey Yermolov — Historical peer (Died in 1861) (1861): Prominent Russian general known for service in the Napoleonic Wars and the Caucasian Campaign.
• Adam Michnik — Historical peer (Born in 1946) (1946): Prominent Polish intellectual, dissident, and journalist advocating for democracy.
• Ahmad Zahir — Historical peer (Born in 1946) (1946): Iconic Afghan singer, songwriter, and composer, dubbed the "Elvis of Afghanistan".
• Abraham Flexner — Historical peer (Born in 1866) (1866): Pioneering American educator known for reforming US and Canadian medical and higher education.
• Alfred Werner — Historical peer (Born in 1866) (1866): Pioneering Swiss chemist who established modern coordination chemistry.
• Adam Lindsay Gordon — Historical peer (Died in 1870) (1870): Pioneering British-Australian poet, horseman, and politician of the Victorian era.
• Adolf Loos — Historical peer (Born in 1870) (1870): Pioneering architect and theorist of modernism, known for his critique of ornamentation.
• A. A. Milne — Historical peer (Born in 1882) (1882): Celebrated English author, famed for Winnie-the-Pooh and children's literature.
• Abd el-Krim — Historical peer (Born in 1882) (1882): Moroccan revolutionary leader who spearheaded the revolt against French and Spanish Protectorates.

Frequently Asked Questions about Kingdom of Italy