The Rambunctious Boy Who Became Italy's First King

When he was born in Turin (where the 2006 Winter Olympics were held), Victor Emmanuel—the son of Charles Albert (Carlo Alberto) and Maria Teresa (a woman of Austrian ancestry)—was not in line to take the throne of Italy.

At that time—in 1820—there was no Italian throne because Italy was not-yet a unified country.

Also, at that time, the soaring spire of the Mole Antonelliana was not part of Turin's landscape (since the grand building was not opened until 1888).