More than Kings: The Role of the Italian Monarchs in the State-Building Process and Foreign Affairs

The chapter tries to outline the political and institutional weight of the House of Savoy during the process of state-building after the unification of 1861 focusing particularly on the foreign affairs, a traditional area of royal jurisdiction. Analysing the firm and decisive behaviours of the three Italian kings, it is evident since the beginning how they exercised a great authority over the foreign policy of the new reign: Victor Emmanuel II not only successfully negotiated the armistice with Austria in 1849, but controlled all the diplomats and the emissaries of the government; Humbert I steered Italy’s destiny through the Triple Alliance and Victor Emmanuel III did the same supporting the decision to enter World War I. To highlight the importance of the role of the Monarchs in this process, the essay also describes the dynamic public activity of the Crown and the many royal trips abroad.