<Tr> <Th> Religion </Th> <Td> Roman Catholicism </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Signature </Th> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <P> Victor Emmanuel II (Vittorio Emanuele Maria Alberto Eugenio Ferdinando Tommaso di Savoia; 14 March 1820--9 January 1878) was King of Sardinia from 1849 until 17 March 1861 . At that point, he assumed the title of King of Italy and became the first king of a united Italy since the 6th century, a title he held until his death in 1878 . The Italians gave him the epithet of Father of the Fatherland (Italian: Padre della Patria). </P> <P> Victor Emmanuel was born as the eldest son of Charles Albert, Prince of Carignano, and Maria Theresa of Austria . His father succeeded a distant cousin as King of Sardinia - Piedmont in 1831 . He lived for some years of his youth in Florence and showed an early interest in politics, the military, and sports . In 1842, he married his cousin, Adelaide of Austria . He was styled as the Duke of Savoy prior to becoming King of Sardinia - Piedmont . </P>

Who was named king of italy in 1861