5 B. Victor Emanuel II (1820–1878; King of Piedmont 1849, of Italy 1861–61+)

The "honest king" (re galantuomo) — the constitutional survivor of 1849's disasters (Novara) who kept the Statuto when absolutism rolled back everywhere else — making Piedmont the hope ofthe liberals: the exile-haven after every failed rising. His patience — the throne as the national cause's vessel — plus his choice of servants: Cavour the minister, La Marmora the army-builder. In 1861 the Kingdom of Italy proclaimed (Turin the first capital — then Florence — then Rome, 1871): Victor Emanuel II — not "I of Italy" the numbering kept (a Savoy king first, Italy's king by addition — the constitutional monarchy's character in a numeral).