Victor Emmanuel was born in Naples on November 11, 1869.

He became King of Italy upon the assassination of his father in 1900, after which Victor Emmanuel ruled as a constitutional monarch. In 1915, he brought Italy into World War I on the side of the Allies, despite a lack of clear support for the move within the country.

In 1926, the chaos reigning in the streets of Italy resulted in the King offering Mussolini the position of Prime Minister. Mussolini systematically reduced the King's role to that of figurehead. The King supported Mussolini until 1944. Victor Emmanuel abdicated in 1946.