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Italy
Since the fall of the
Western Roman Empire,
for the most part Italy remained divided. Various powers such as the
Goths, the
Ostrogoths,
the Eastern Romans in the
form of the Exarchate of Ravenna,
and then the Lombards vied for
power until the country was conquered by the
Carolingian Empire.
The empire fragmented, with Francia
Media controlling Italy and power passing from that to the
Holy Roman Empire in 961.
Small city states sprang up after that, such as those
Lugano,
Savoy, and Venice, some
outside the HRE's control. In the 1790s they were all conquered by
France's First
Republic and subsequent First
Empire, including Naples & Sicily
and Sardinia. |
1805 - 1815 |
The
French First Empire
under Napoleon Bonaparte consolidates its
Austrian acquisitions
(including that of Istria) by creating the satellite Kingdom of Italy. |
1815 - 1860 |
Austria
renews its control of northern Italy. |
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The Kingdom of Italy (House of Savoy)
AD 1861 - 1946
During 1859-1861,
Italy was forged by nationalist Giuseppe Garibaldi into a single kingdom in the the
War of Unification, freeing Italy from
Austrian control.
The Savoyard king of Sardinia became king
of Italy (a title previously held by the
Holy Roman Emperors),
gaining Parma, and Sicily & Naples, but
at the same time losing Savoy to
France. |
1861 - 1878 |
Victor Emanuel II |
Formerly king of
Sardinia (1849-1861). |
1870 |
Italy
achieves full union under the House of Savoy. Rome becomes its capital for
the first time since the collapse of the Western
Roman Empire. |
1878 - 1900 |
Umberto I |
Son. |
1900 - 1946 |
Victor Emanuel III |
Son. Abdicated. |
1915 |
In
the secret Treaty of London, Italy agrees to abandon its allies,
Germany and
Austro-Hungary,
declaring war on them instead. |
1918 |
With
the collapse of the
Austrian Empire
at the end of the Great War, Italy inherits the province of
Istria. |
1922 - 1943 |
The
fascist leader Benito Mussolini
is dictator of Italy and has the support (officially, at least) of the king. |
1936 |
Italy
formally annexes
Ethiopia after a short military campaign in which mustard gas is used. |
1939 |
Italy
invades and occupies Albania. |
1943 - 1945 |
With
the collapse and surrender of the Italians, much of Italy (especially the
north) is occupied by Nazi
Germans. Mussolini
is summarily executed after being captured by partisans in 1945. |
1946 |
Umberto II |
Son. Abdicated in June. |
1946 |
Italy
becomes a republic when the king is forced into exile as punishment for
his support of Mussolini. |
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Hereditary Kings of Italy
AD 1946 - Present |
1946 - 1983 |
Umberto II |
Exiled king of Italy. |
1983 - Present |
Victor Emanuel IV |
Son. b.1937. |
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2003 |
Victor Emanuel returns to Italy, 56 years after the House of Savoy was
forced into exile. |
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Emanuel Filiberto |
Son. |
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