The Vittoriano, also known as the Vittorio Emanuele II Monument (Italian: "Monumento Nazionale a Vittorio Emanuele II") or Altare della Patria (English: "Altar of the Fatherland"), is a monument built in honor of Victor Emmanuel II, the first king of a unified Italy.
In the middle of the monument, the massive equestrian statue of Victor Emmanuel II is a bronze work by Enrico Chiaradia. It took at least twenty years to manufacture and was completed in 1889 and inaugurated in 1911 for the 50th anniversary of the unification of Italy. It represents the king with his head slightly to the left gazing to the horizon. He holds the stirrups firmly with his left hand and pulls the horse back slightly. The personifications of the noble Italian cities are carved on the marble base of the statue. The statue is 12 meters high and 10 meters long and weighs 50 tons. With the marble base, the entire sculptural group measures 24.80 meters.
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Victor Emmanuel II (full name: 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.
From 1849 to 1861 he was also Duke of Savoy, Prince of Piedmont and Duke of Genoa. For not having repealed the Albertine Statute, he was given the nickname by which he is still remembered as King gentleman or King gentleman.
Assisted by Prime Minister Camillo Benso, Count of Cavour, he completed the national Risorgimento and the Italian unification process. For these events he is referred to as " Father of the Fatherland ".
List of Honours (Italian):
Grand Master of the Supreme Order of the Most Holy Annunciation
Grand Master of the Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus
Grand Master of the Military Order of Savoy
Founder and first Grand Master of the Order of the Crown of Italy
Grand Master of the Civil Order of Savoy
Gold Medal of Military Valour
Silver Medal of Military Valour
Medal of the Liberation of Rome (1849–1870)
Commemorative Medal of Campaigns of Independence Wars
Commemorative Medal of the Unity of Italy
Tuscany Tuscan Grand Ducal family: Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Saint Joseph.
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